If your insurer has asked about your roof's age, you have more options than “replace it now”. Here is what Florida law says, and the two inspections you will hear about.
The 15-year rule
Florida law says an insurer may not refuse to issue or renew a homeowner's policy solely because of the age of the roof if the roof is less than 15 years old. For a roof that is 15 years or older, the insurer must let you have it inspected by an authorized inspector, at your expense, before requiring a replacement. If that inspection shows the roof has 5 years or more of useful life remaining, the insurer may not refuse to issue or renew solely because of roof age.
Lawmakers revisit this section often, so check the current text (linked below) or ask your agent before you decide.
The 4-point inspection
A 4-point inspection looks at the roof, electrical, plumbing and heating and cooling. Insurers often ask for one on older homes. One Florida insurer puts the cost at about $75–$150.
The wind mitigation inspection
A wind mitigation inspection records the features that help a home stand up to wind, such as the roof shape and how the roof is attached. Insurers give credits for those features, so it can lower your premium. A 2023 Jacksonville-area report put the cost at $100–$150 and said the report is good for 5 years.
The 25% rule, as it works now
Under the old reading of the rule, repairing 25% or more of a roof could force the whole roof up to current code. Florida changed this: if the existing roof was built, repaired or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, and 25% or more of it is repaired or replaced, only the repaired part has to meet current code. The 2007 code took effect in March 2009, so newer roofs usually qualify. Ask your roofer which applies to your house before agreeing to a full replacement.
After a storm
Check the roofer's Florida license on the license lookup before you sign, and keep the deposit small: a contractor who takes more than 10% up front must apply for the permit within 30 days and start within 90 days after it's issued. Contracting without a license during a declared emergency is a felony in Florida.
Sources: Florida Statutes 627.7011 (2025) · Florida Statutes 553.844 · J.S. Held: Florida 25% rule · Security First: 4-point inspections · News4Jax: wind mitigation (2023) · Florida Statutes 489.126 · Florida Statutes 489.127