How to verify a Florida roofer before you sign
A step-by-step guide using Florida DBPR public records
Check a roofer now:
Before you sign a contract for a roof repair or replacement in Florida, you can check whether your contractor is properly licensed — and whether they have complaints or disciplinary actions on record — using publicly available data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
This takes less than a minute and costs nothing. Here's how to read what you find.
License status
Florida law (Chapter 489, F.S.) requires contractors performing most construction work to hold an active state license. An active license means the contractor passed a state examination and met financial responsibility requirements. It does not guarantee quality of work — but the absence of a license is a serious red flag.
Complaints on file
DBPR records include formal complaints filed against licensed contractors. Complaints alone don't prove wrongdoing — they can result from disputes or misunderstandings. But multiple complaints, or complaints with specific patterns (deposit disputes, abandoned work, unlicensed subcontracting), warrant closer attention before you sign.
Disciplinary actions
When the Construction Industry Licensing Board investigates a complaint and finds violations, it can impose disciplinary actions — fines, probation, suspension, or revocation. These are the most serious red flags in a contractor's public record. A contractor with disciplinary actions isn't necessarily someone to avoid entirely, but you should understand what happened before signing a contract.
Business age
How long a contractor has been licensed in Florida. A longer track record gives you more public data to evaluate. Newly licensed contractors aren't inherently risky, but a company licensed for 15+ years has a longer observable history.
Most homeowners don't verify every contractor they hire. But certain situations should prompt a check before you sign anything:
After a storm: Severe weather brings an influx of out-of-state contractors ("storm chasers") who may not be licensed in Florida. Some operate legitimately. Others pressure homeowners into signing contracts quickly, collect deposits, and move to the next town.
Unusually low bids: When one bid is thousands below the others, the contractor may be cutting corners on materials, using unlicensed subcontractors, or planning to add costs mid-project. Check whether they're actually licensed for the work they're proposing.
No web presence: A contractor with no website, no reviews, and no online footprint isn't necessarily a scam — but it makes independent verification more important.
Door-to-door solicitation: Contractors who show up uninvited after a storm with offers to inspect your roof for free may be legitimate. They may also be unlicensed operators working high-damage areas. A quick license check takes 30 seconds.
Pressure to sign immediately: Any contractor who insists you sign a contract today, or who discourages you from getting other quotes, warrants extra scrutiny. Reputable contractors give you time to make a decision.
DBPR records confirm whether a contractor is licensed and whether they have formal complaints or disciplinary actions. They do not tell you about the quality of their work, their responsiveness, their pricing fairness, or whether they'll honor their warranty. A license check is a baseline filter — it catches obvious red flags, not subtle ones. Use it alongside other evaluation methods: references, reviews, in-person estimates, and your own judgment.
Check your roofer's public records
Search by contractor name, business name, or Florida license number.
About this guide: PublicWarden displays public records from the Florida DBPR. We verify public record accuracy, not contractor quality. A clean public record does not constitute an endorsement. All data is sourced under Florida's Sunshine Law (Chapter 119, F.S.).