Roof certification: what's on Citizens' Roof Inspection Form (RCF-1)
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Not insurance advice. General information only. Your insurer or agent decides what it needs.
Short answer: the roof certification Citizens asks for is its Roof Inspection Form, sample form RCF-1 03 25, or a similar report with at least the same detail. Citizens wants it for shingle or other soft roofs older than 25 years and tile, slate, clay, concrete or metal roofs older than 50 years, and the roof must show at least five years of remaining useful life. A Florida-licensed contractor, building code inspector or home inspector must sign and date it, with photos of each roof slope.
What the Roof Inspection Form is
Citizens' sample form says it "must be completed and signed by a Florida-licensed professional." Its special instructions say "this specific form is not required," but any other inspection report submitted "must include at least this level of detail to be acceptable."
The form says underwriting uses the information "only to determine insurability" and that it "is not a warranty or assurance of the suitability, fitness or longevity of the roof inspected." It also says it "does not verify loss mitigation features," and points to the wind mitigation form, OIR-B1-1802, for that. Our guide to the wind mitigation form, question by question covers that report.
Citizens updated the form to RCF-1 03 25 in March 2025 so that it would "mirror the roof condition requirements" on its updated 4-Point Inspection Form. Citizens said then that it would not reject another version, but that underwriting "may reach out to the agent regarding information missing from the form."
When Citizens asks for it
Citizens' inspections page says roofs older than 25 years (soft, such as shingle) or 50 years (hard, such as tile, slate, clay, concrete or metal) "require documentation showing at least five years of remaining useful life." A Florida-licensed inspector checks the roof for visible signs of damage or deterioration and completes the Roof Inspection Form.
Citizens' roof age FAQ lists the same two ages for homes, and 25 years for mobile home roofs. It says documentation of full roof replacement is required for those properties to be eligible, notes that "some exceptions apply," and asks for documentation verifying at least five years of remaining useful life for underwriters to review.
If the roof has less than five years of remaining useful life, Citizens' inspections page says the owner "must provide proof of a full-roof replacement to the inspector before any policy is written on the property." Our guide to Florida's reroof rules covers what a replacement involves.
Who can sign it
The form says it "will not be accepted without the dated signature" of one of these Florida-licensed professionals:
- A general, residential, building or roofing contractor.
- A building code inspector.
- A Florida-licensed home inspector.
The signature block asks for the inspector's title, license number, license type, company name and work phone, and says all forms "must be completed and signed by a verifiable Florida-licensed inspector." You can check a license number yourself; see how to look up an inspector's license on DBPR.
Florida's roof age law uses a longer list. Section 627.7011(5)(a) defines an "authorized inspector" as one approved by the insurer who is a licensed home inspector, a certified building code inspector, a licensed general, building or residential contractor or a roofing contractor, a licensed professional engineer or architect, or anyone else the insurer recognizes as qualified.
What the form records
The form has two columns, one for the predominant roof and one for a secondary roof. For each, the inspector fills in:
- Covering material, roof age in years and remaining useful life in years.
- Date of last roofing permit and date of last update.
- Type of update: full or partial replacement, and the percentage replaced.
- Overall condition: satisfactory, or unsatisfactory with an explanation.
- Visible damage or deterioration: cracking, cupping or curling, excessive granule loss, exposed asphalt, exposed felt, missing, loose or cracked tabs or tiles, soft spots in decking, and visible hail damage.
- Visible signs of leaks: yes or no, with separate yes or no boxes for the attic or underside of the decking and for interior ceilings. A yes must be explained.
The form defines acceptable condition as each system "working as intended" with "no visible hazards or deficiencies."
Photos and comments
The form says photos must accompany every Roof Inspection Form. The minimum is a photo of each roof slope and of all hazards or deficiencies.
The additional comments section must be filled in with full details if the inspection notes any of these:
- Updates, with the types of updates, the dates they were completed and who did them.
- Any visible hazards or deficiencies.
- Any roof not in good working order.
The form's note to agents says agents must review each form before submitting it, and "may not submit applications for properties with roof(s) not in good working order or with existing hazards/deficiencies."
How remaining useful life is set
Citizens' FAQ says remaining useful life "is an estimate made by a trained professional who has experience and works in the industry." Citizens relies on that professional to judge the roof's overall condition and identify deficiencies, and says the condition rating should take into account "the age, remaining useful life and any signs of deterioration."
Roof age has its own definition in Florida law. Section 627.7011(5)(d) counts it from "the last date on which 100 percent of the roof's surface area was built or replaced" under the building code in effect at the time. Your permit records show that date; see how to find your roof permit in Palm Beach County.
Using a 4-point instead
Citizens says its Four-Point Inspection Form "can be submitted in lieu of the Roof Inspection Form (RCF-1) if photos of each side of the roof are provided" and the form is signed and dated by a verifiable, Florida-licensed professional. For timing, that FAQ points to Citizens' rule on 4-point age, which says the report "must be dated within the last 12 months prior to the new-business application submission date," with shorter windows for lender-placed coverage and prior sinkhole claims.
Because Citizens built the roof form to mirror the 4-point's roof condition requirements, the two ask for much the same roof details. Our guide to common 4-point problems covers the electrical, plumbing and HVAC sections that come with it.
What Florida law adds for older roofs
For homeowners' policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2022, s. 627.7011(5) says an insurer may not refuse to issue or renew a policy "solely because of the age of the roof" if the roof is less than 15 years old. For a roof at least 15 years old, the insurer must let you get a roof inspection by an authorized inspector, at your expense, before requiring a replacement. If that inspection shows 5 years or more of useful life, the insurer may not refuse to issue or renew solely because of roof age. Section 627.7011(6) says the section does not apply to mobile home policies. See Florida's roof age rules for more.
Before you book
- Find your roof's permit date: the form asks for the date of the last roofing permit and the last update.
- Expect an attic check: the form asks about visible signs of leaks in the attic or on the underside of the decking, as well as on interior ceilings.
- Gather repair records: updates must be listed in the comments with dates and who did them.
- Compare prices: 8 of the 16 companies we list publish a roof certification price. Listed prices run from $85 to $235, some of them starting prices, with a median of $142.50 counting each company once. See the Palm Beach County prices page or find an inspector on the city pages.
FAQ
What is a roof certification in Florida?
For Citizens, it is the Roof Inspection Form (sample form RCF-1 03 25) or a similar report with at least the same detail, completed and signed by a Florida-licensed professional. It records the roof's covering, age, remaining useful life, permit and update dates, condition and any signs of damage or leaks, with photos of each slope.
When does Citizens require a roof inspection form?
Citizens says shingle or other soft roofs older than 25 years and tile, slate, clay, concrete or metal roofs older than 50 years need documentation showing at least five years of remaining useful life. Its roof age FAQ lists 25 years for mobile home roofs.
Who can sign Citizens' Roof Inspection Form?
The form lists Florida-licensed general, residential, building or roofing contractors, building code inspectors and Florida-licensed home inspectors. It will not be accepted without the dated signature of one of them.
Can a 4-point inspection replace the roof certification?
Citizens says its Four-Point Inspection Form can be submitted in place of the Roof Inspection Form if photos of each side of the roof are provided and it is signed and dated by a verifiable Florida-licensed professional. Citizens wants a 4-point dated within 12 months before a new-business application.
What happens if my roof has less than five years of life left?
Citizens' inspections page says the property owner must provide proof of a full roof replacement to the inspector before any policy is written on the property.
Sources
- Citizens sample Roof Inspection Form (RCF-1 03 25): citizensfla.com (PDF) (checked Nov 3, 2026)
- Citizens Property Insurance, Inspections (Older Roofs): citizensfla.com/web/public/inspections (checked Nov 3, 2026)
- Citizens, "What are the roof age requirements for personal residential policies?" (updated 03/17/2026): securesupport.citizensfla.com (checked Nov 3, 2026)
- Citizens, "How is the remaining useful life of a roof determined?" (updated 03/19/2026): securesupport.citizensfla.com (checked Nov 3, 2026)
- Citizens, "Can an agent submit the Citizens Four-Point Inspection form to meet the roof condition requirements?" (updated 02/25/2026): securesupport.citizensfla.com (checked Nov 3, 2026)
- Citizens, "What is the acceptable age of a four-point inspection report?" (updated 05/20/2026): securesupport.citizensfla.com (checked Nov 3, 2026)
- Citizens, Roof and 4-Point Inspection Form Updates (Mar 20, 2025): citizensfla.com (checked Nov 3, 2026)
- Florida Statutes s. 627.7011 (2026), subsections (5) and (6): leg.state.fl.us (checked Nov 3, 2026)