Florida's "15-year roof rule" refers to a guideline used by many homeowners insurance carriers — not an actual state law — that allows them to deny coverage or non-renew a policy if the roof is 15 years or older and hasn't been inspected or certified. While the Florida Legislature has pushed back on the most extreme versions of this practice, carriers still use roof age as a primary underwriting factor, and a roof over 15 years old will almost always trigger scrutiny at renewal.
At Coastal Roofing and Waterproofing Inc. (CRWP), we've helped hundreds of homeowners throughout Palm Beach, Broward, Collier, Lee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties — and throughout the Caribbean — navigate the insurance-roofing relationship. As a licensed contractor (License: CCC1330718) with over 25 years of experience, we know exactly what insurers are looking for and how to keep your coverage intact.
After billions in losses from Hurricane Irma, Michael, Ian, and Idalia, Florida's insurance carriers got aggressive about risk. A roof over 15 years old statistically has degraded underlayment, aging fasteners, and potential deck deterioration that makes it far more likely to fail in a storm. From the insurer's perspective, an old roof is a liability — and they price or exclude accordingly.
Concrete and clay tile roofs are often treated differently than shingle roofs. Some carriers will extend coverage on a tile roof up to 25 years if the tiles are in good condition and the underlayment can be verified. Others still apply the 15-year standard regardless.
If your carrier has flagged your roof at renewal, you'll typically receive one of three notices:
Option 3 is particularly dangerous — it means you're paying for a policy that won't pay out for the most common type of claim in South Florida.
A wind mitigation inspection, performed by a licensed inspector, documents the specific features of your roof that reduce hurricane damage risk: the roof deck attachment method, the roof-to-wall connection type, the roof shape, and the age and type of the roof covering. This report goes directly to your insurer.
If your roof has been recently replaced with a self-adhered underlayment system, re-nailed decking, and hurricane straps — which is exactly what CRWP installs on every full replacement — your wind mitigation report will reflect that. Many CRWP customers see insurance premium reductions of $800 to $2,500 per year after a roof replacement and a fresh wind mitigation inspection.
If your roof is 15 years or older, it's time for a professional assessment. CRWP can inspect your roof, document its current condition, and give you an honest evaluation of whether it has remaining life or needs replacement. In many cases, we can provide a roof certification letter that satisfies your insurer's requirements without requiring an immediate full replacement.
If replacement is the right call, we'll walk you through the full process — permit, product selection, timeline, and the wind mitigation inspection that follows — so you come out the other side with a new roof and lower insurance premiums.
Call CRWP at 844-730-7663 or visit crwpinc.com for a free roof inspection.