LOCAL RULES

Illinois roof inspection report requirements

Your Illinois roof inspection report has 2 rules to meet. ReportDraft puts every one on your checklist and checks your draft before you sign.

  • The owner's express permission before going on the roof
  • No representing the owner on the claim; the estimate and damage description are fine
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Illinois licenses roofing contractors and adds storm repair rules on top through its Home Repair and Remodeling Act. Before a roofer even looks at storm damage, the owner has to say yes, and the report and estimate that follow have firm limits on the insurance claim. Here is each rule with a link to the Illinois Compiled Statutes, and what an Illinois roof report should record.

Last reviewed October 13, 2026 against the official sources listed below.

Roof inspectionILLINOIS / SAMPLE

Sample notes, 125 words

Client: Maria Delgado
2215 Palmetto Ave
Date: 10/07/2026 9am, sunny, roof dry
Inspector: Kevin Brandt
License: RC-29117
...
FREE PREVIEW OF THESE NOTES
92%of your draft is ready from these notes

We sorted 15 items into 7 sections and flagged 2 to fix soon.

  • Fix soonFlashing and penetrations

    Plumbing vent boot on rear slope cracked

  • Fix soonGutters, edges and drainage

    Gutters full of leaves at the back, downspout extension missing at the left corner

  • Worth watchingRoof covering

    Light granule loss, no exposed mat

2 Illinois rules on your checklist, including the owner's express permission before going on the roof.

Still to add

  • NeededRoof covering type

Filled in for you

Client nameMaria Delgado
Property address2215 Palmetto Ave
Inspection dateOct 7, 2026
Inspector nameKevin Brandt
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What Illinois requires

  • A contractor offering home repair or remodeling services does not climb on a roof or inspect for exterior damage without the insured's express permission815 ILCS 513/18 (i) (Home Repair and Remodeling Act)
  • A contractor may not represent, or offer or advertise to represent, a homeowner on an insurance claim for roof or other repair work, call in or file a claim on the insured's behalf, or otherwise break the Public Adjusters Law. It may give the insured an estimate that can be submitted to the insurer, confer with the insurer's representative about the damage, and discuss repair or replacement options815 ILCS 513/18 (i)
  • A state licensed roofing contractor puts its license number and its name as shown on the license on all contracts, bids and advertisements for roofing work. Building permits for roofing go only to state licensed roofing contractors; a limited license covers residential properties of 8 units or less225 ILCS 335/5 (a), (a-3), (d) (Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act) ยท 815 ILCS 513/18 (d)
  • No one may provide professional roofing services or hold out as a roofing contractor without a license from the Department, and roofing or waterproofing work of any kind is done only by a licensed roofing contractor or credentialed qualifying party (employees of a licensed contractor excepted); roofing work may be subcontracted only to licensed roofing contractors225 ILCS 335/9
  • Before any roofing work, the contractor gives the owner a written contract signed by both that states the scope and materials, approximate dates, for repairs the approximate cost based on damage known then, a street address, email and phone, its surety and liability insurer, its cancellation and refund policy including the owner's right to rescind within 72 hours for a full refund of any deposit, and that it cannot pay, waive or rebate any insurance deductible; the face of the contract says in bold that payments are held in trust until materials are delivered or most of the work is done225 ILCS 335/5.5 (b), (c)
  • A contractor may not advertise or promise to pay or rebate any part of an insurance deductible to win the sale, which includes any allowance or discount against its fees or any payment to the insured815 ILCS 513/18 (b)
  • A contract to be paid from insurance proceeds may be canceled before midnight of the earlier of the fifth business day after the insurer says in writing that all or part of the claim is not covered, or the thirtieth business day after the insurer receives the proof of loss. The contract carries a bold 10 point statement of this right with a detachable notice of cancellation form in duplicate, and payments are returned within 10 days, except the reasonable value of catastrophe work the insured agreed in writing was needed to prevent damage815 ILCS 513/18 (e) to (h)
  • Home repair work over 1,000 dollars starts only after the customer is given a written contract or work order stating the total cost, parts and materials, any charge for the estimate, and the business name and address, and after the customer receives the pamphlet "Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights" and signs its acknowledgment form815 ILCS 513/15, 513/20

Getting on the roof and the insurance claim

A contractor may not climb on a roof or inspect for exterior damage without the insured's express permission, so the report should say who allowed the inspection. It may not represent the homeowner on the claim, call in or file the claim, or otherwise act as a public adjuster.

What a contractor may do is give the owner an estimate that can go to the insurer, talk with the insurer's representative about the damage, and discuss repair or replacement options. Promising to pay, rebate or discount the deductible to win the job is not allowed.

Licenses, contracts and cancellation

Roofing work in Illinois is done by state licensed roofing contractors, whose license name and number go on every contract, bid and advertisement; building permits for roofing are issued only to them. Every roofing job starts with a signed written contract covering scope, dates, approximate repair cost, contact details, insurers, a 72-hour full refund rescission right and the deductible statement, with payments held in trust until materials arrive or most of the work is done.

When insurance is paying, the owner can also cancel within five business days of a written denial, or thirty business days after the insurer gets the proof of loss, whichever comes first. Jobs over 1,000 dollars also need the home repair contract and the state's consumer rights pamphlet with a signed acknowledgment.

Common mistakes

  • Walking a roof after a storm without the owner's express permission.
  • Offering to call in or file the claim for the homeowner.
  • A bid or contract without the roofing license name and number.
  • A contract with no 72-hour rescission clause or no bold trust statement.
  • Advertising that you will cover or discount the deductible after a hail storm.

Sources

Last reviewed October 13, 2026. Next review due January 13, 2027. This page explains published rules to help you write your report. It is not legal advice; the official text linked above governs.