Storm Damage & Insurance

Your Rights When Insurance Pays for a Roof in Tennessee

Updated October 2026 · 7 min read · By the Knoxville Roofing Quotes team

If your roof is being repaired or replaced with insurance money, Tennessee law gives you specific protections. A state law passed in 2012 sets rules for roofing contracts on homes when an insurance policy is paying for the work: what the roofer has to give you in writing, when you can cancel, and when they can ask for money. Here's what it says in plain English, with links to the statute so you can read it yourself.

Quick answer

Who it covers: roof repair or replacement on a 1-4 family home paid, or likely to be paid, by a property insurance policy
Before you sign: the roofer must give you contact details, license numbers and a written description of the damage and repairs
You can cancel if your insurer says in writing that all or part of the claim isn't covered, by midnight of the 3rd business day after that notice
No payment required until your insurer confirms coverage in writing or that cancellation window has passed

This article summarizes Tennessee law for general information. It isn't legal advice. For a specific dispute, talk to an attorney or the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.

Why this law exists

After hail and wind storms, homeowners are often approached by roofers who want a signed contract before the insurance adjuster has even looked at the roof. If the claim is later denied or only partly paid, the homeowner can end up stuck with a contract for work they can't afford. Tennessee lawmakers passed the residential roofing law in 2012 in response to storm-related roofing complaints. It's found in Tennessee Code Annotated sections 62-6-601 through 62-6-604.

Does it apply to your roof?

The law applies to contracts with a residential roofing services provider to repair or replace a roof on a residential property with one to four units, when the cost is paid, or likely to be paid, in whole or in part by a property and casualty insurance policy. In practice, that covers most single-family homes, duplexes and small multi-unit homes with storm-damage claims.

If you're paying for a roof entirely out of pocket, this specific law doesn't apply, but other protections do. For example, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) says state law limits deposits on home improvement projects to no more than one-third of the contract price. Our guide to Tennessee roofing contractor licenses covers the licensing side.

What the roofer must give you in writing before you sign

Under section 62-6-603, before you enter the contract the roofer must give you, in writing:

A business mailing address where you can send a cancellation notice
A phone number
Any contractor, home improvement or public adjuster license or registration numbers they hold in any state
An email address or fax number for cancellations, if they have one
A detailed description of the damage and the repairs the contract covers

The contract also has to include a cancellation statement in boldface type and a detachable "NOTICE OF CANCELLATION" form, provided in duplicate, that you can fill out and send if you need to cancel.

Quick check: If a contract for an insurance-paid roof doesn't have a boldface cancellation statement and a tear-off cancellation form, that's a red flag. Ask for a compliant contract before you sign anything.

Your right to cancel if insurance won't pay

Section 62-6-602 is the heart of the law. If you receive written notice from your insurance company that all or any part of the claim is not covered, you can cancel the roofing contract. You have until midnight on the third business day after you receive the insurer's notice.

How to cancel:

Deliver the notice to the roofer's business address (or the email or fax they listed) before the deadline
Use the detachable cancellation form, or write your own notice. No special wording is required
Sign and date it, and make clear you don't intend to be bound by the contract
Keep a copy and proof of when you sent it

Note what triggers this right: a written notice from the insurer that the claim, or part of it, isn't covered. It isn't a general "change your mind for any reason" period, so read your contract and any other cancellation terms it includes.

When the roofer can ask for money

Section 62-6-604 limits payments. The roofer can't require you to pay under the contract until either your insurer confirms coverage in writing or the cancellation period has passed. If you validly cancel, the roofer has to return any payments within 10 business days.

There's one exception: charges for emergency repairs that you acknowledged in writing as necessary, such as tarping a hole to stop a leak, don't have to be refunded. The law also says a roofer may not misrepresent that emergency repairs are necessary. If someone says your roof needs immediate paid work before the adjuster comes, ask what exactly is urgent and get it in writing. Our emergency roof repair page explains what a real emergency looks like.

Public adjusters are licensed, too

A public adjuster works for you (not the insurance company) to negotiate a claim, usually for a percentage of the settlement. In Tennessee, nobody can act as or advertise as a public adjuster without a license from TDCI, and public adjusters must carry a $50,000 surety bond and $500,000 in errors and omissions coverage. TDCI advises confirming the license, asking for references and getting fees in writing. A roofer who offers to "handle your claim" isn't a substitute for a licensed public adjuster.

What about deductibles?

Some states have laws that specifically ban roofers from waiving or rebating insurance deductibles. We did not find a Tennessee statute that does this. That doesn't make deductible offers a good idea: your deductible is part of your insurance contract, and an estimate inflated to "cover" it can create problems with your insurer. If a roofer offers to waive or absorb your deductible, ask how, and be cautious.

Practical steps for an insurance-paid roof

File promptly. TDCI advises filing as soon as possible, since policies can have notification deadlines. Photograph and video the damage.
Don't sign on the doorstep. TDCI warns homeowners to beware of door-to-door roofing solicitations and not to be pressured into signing on the spot.
Get written estimates. A detailed scope helps you compare roofers and lines up with the adjuster's estimate. Our quote comparison worksheet can help.
Have your roofer meet the adjuster. TDCI notes a contractor can meet with you and the adjuster, and if the contractor finds damage the adjuster missed, you can contact your insurer to resolve the difference.
Watch for escrow. If you have a mortgage, your lender may hold the insurance check and release money as repairs are completed.
Know where to get help. TDCI can help mediate complaints about denied claims on policies written in Tennessee: 615-741-2218 or 1-800-342-4029.

For the full claims process, see our step-by-step guide to filing a storm damage insurance claim in Tennessee and our roof insurance claims page.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel a roofing contract if my insurance claim is denied in Tennessee?

Yes, for contracts covered by Tenn. Code Ann. 62-6-602. If your insurer tells you in writing that all or part of the claim isn't covered, you can cancel by a signed, dated notice delivered before midnight on the third business day after you receive the insurer's notice.

Can a roofer make me pay before my insurance approves the claim?

Not under a contract covered by the law. Section 62-6-604 says the roofer can't require payment until your insurer confirms coverage in writing or the cancellation period has passed. Emergency repairs you acknowledged in writing as necessary are the exception.

Does this law apply to commercial buildings?

No. It covers residential properties with one to four units where the roof work is paid, or likely to be paid, by a property and casualty insurance policy.

Who do I call with a problem?

For insurance claim questions or complaints, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance: 615-741-2218 or 1-800-342-4029. For a contract dispute, consider talking to an attorney.