What the law says about your contract
The federal Cooling-Off Rule applies everywhere. State rules appear here only after we have read the statute itself and logged the text, the link and the date (10 states so far, checked 2026-10-05). Everywhere else we say so instead of guessing.
FTC Cooling-Off Rule (16 CFR 429)
Three business days to cancel in-home sales of $25 or more
“You, the buyer, may cancel this transaction at any time prior to midnight of the third business day after the date of this transaction.”
The rule covers sales of $25 or more made at your home, and $130 or more at a seller’s temporary location such as a hotel, fair or convention center. It applies even when you invited the salesperson in. The seller must give you two copies of a cancellation form, tell you about the right out loud, and refund within 10 business days of a valid cancellation.
16 CFR 429 · checked 2026-10-05The scope, in the rule’s words
“…which has a purchase price of $25 or more if the sale is made at the buyer’s residence or a purchase price of $130 or more if the sale is made at locations other than the buyer’s residence…”
Exceptions include sales negotiated at the seller’s permanent place of business, real estate, insurance and securities, and genuine emergencies you started where you sign a handwritten waiver.
FTC consumer guide to the ruleThe emergency exception
“In which the buyer has initiated the contact and the goods or services are needed to meet a bona fide immediate personal emergency of the buyer, and the buyer furnishes the seller with a separate dated and signed personal statement in the buyer’s handwriting describing the situation requiring immediate remedy and expressly acknowledging and waiving the right to cancel the sale within 3 business days…”
A pre-printed waiver handed to you by the seller is not this. The statement has to be in your own handwriting, for an emergency you asked them to fix.
16 CFR 429 §429.0What the law says, quoted with its source. Not legal advice: for your situation ask your state's contractor board or attorney general.
States with verified rules
License search and rules for your state
36 states license or register home contractors statewide; 11 license only some trades; 4 leave it to cities and counties.