Florida: what the law says about your contract
3 Florida rules, each quoted from the statute with its link and the date we checked it, after the federal rule that applies everywhere.
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
Search certified and registered contractors statewide, including roofing, plumbing, HVAC and electrical.
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.
Florida rules
Deposits over 10%: permit within 30 days, work within 90
“A contractor who receives, as initial payment, money totaling more than 10 percent of the contract price for repair, restoration, improvement, or construction to residential real property must: 1. Apply for permits necessary to do work within 30 days after the date payment is made… and 2. Start the work within 90 days after the date all necessary permits for work, if any, are issued…”
A Florida deposit above 10% is not banned, but it obliges the contractor to apply for permits within 30 days and start within 90 days of the permits, unless there is just cause or you agreed in writing to longer.
Fla. Stat. §489.126(2)(a) · checked 2026-10-05Home solicitation sales: 3 business days to cancel
“…the buyer has the right to cancel a home solicitation sale until midnight of the third business day after the day on which the buyer signs an agreement or offer to purchase.”
Florida law repeats the federal 3-business-day right for sales over $25 solicited away from the seller’s business, and cancellation by mail counts from the postmark. Under §501.021 it does not cover a sale that results from your own request for specific goods or services, and Florida counts every day except Sundays and federal holidays as a business day.
Fla. Stat. §501.025 · checked 2026-10-05Roof claims: no deductible waivers or gifts for an inspection or claim
“Offering to a residential property owner a rebate, gift, gift card, cash, coupon, waiver of any insurance deductible, or any other thing of value in exchange for: 1. Allowing the contractor to conduct an inspection of the residential property owner’s roof; or 2. Making an insurance claim for damage to the residential property owner’s roof.”
A Florida contractor may not offer you money, gifts or a deductible waiver to inspect your roof or to file a roof claim, and may not advise you on your policy unless licensed as a public adjuster. Roof contracts signed within 180 days of a declared state of emergency can be cancelled within 10 days or by the official start date, whichever comes first (§489.147(6)).
Fla. Stat. §489.147(2)(b) · checked 2026-10-05What the law says, quoted with its source. Not legal advice: for your situation ask your state's contractor board or attorney general.