What are the roof requirements for homeowners insurance?
There is no single statewide roof standard for insurance in Georgia. Each insurer writes its own underwriting guidelines, but the same themes show up again and again.
Common requirements
- Age: a maximum roof age for new policies, and sometimes a lower age for full replacement cost coverage on the roof
- Condition: no missing, curled, cracked, or blistered shingles, and no visible patching or sagging
- No active leaks or tarps: a tarp tells an underwriter there is an open problem
- Layers: building codes generally do not allow a new roof over two or more existing layers, and insurers often prefer a single layer
- Debris and growth: no heavy moss, limbs resting on the roof, or piled debris
- Material: some insurers restrict wood shakes or certain older products
How they check
Expect aerial imagery reviews, exterior inspections by a field inspector, or a request for photos. You may receive a letter listing conditions to correct by a deadline. Read it carefully, fix the listed items, and send dated photos and invoices before the date shown.
If you cannot meet the requirements
The insurer may non-renew, add actual cash value terms for the roof, or decline a new application. Georgia requires insurers to give advance written notice before a non-renewal takes effect, so check the date on any notice and start shopping right away.
See roof age and insurance for how age bands work, and Robust Roofing's guide to insurance inspection letters for how to respond to one.