Roof inspections in Jupiter Farms, FL

Florida Statute 627.7011(5) protects newer roofs: an insurer cannot turn away a homeowner's policy only because the roof is under 15 years old. After your roof turns 15, you can pay for an authorized inspector to look at it yourself. Age by itself cannot end your coverage when that report shows 5 or more years of useful life remaining.

The insurer picks who counts as authorized. The list includes a roofing contractor, a licensed home inspector, a building code inspector, an engineer and an architect. Palm Beach County's median build year is 1986, close to the 1989 figure here, so this rule reaches many of your neighbors.

The roof section of the 4-point form records the covering, roof age, remaining useful life, last permit date, whether the replacement was full or partial, overall condition and a damage list. Citizens asks for that form on properties past 20 years of age. Before you order anything for a Jupiter Farms house, call your agent and ask which form the insurer wants.

The inspector looks for cracking, curling, heavy granule loss, exposed felt, loose or missing tabs, soft decking and leaks in the attic or on ceilings. A wind mitigation inspection adds attic items you cannot see, such as deck nailing and roof-to-wall connectors, with photos.

Order one when you buy or sell, when your insurer sends a roof-age letter, and after a storm. Hurricane Milton's tornado on October 9, 2024 did EF-1 to EF-2 damage to trees, outbuildings and power poles here. Florida bars a new property claim unless the insurer gets notice within 1 year of the date of loss, so a post-storm inspection should not wait.

Florida law bars roofers from offering anything of value for a roof inspection or soliciting claims. We explain the roof, not your coverage. Any repair permit goes through the Palm Beach County Building Division, because Jupiter Farms is unincorporated. Confirm current requirements with that office.