What Louisiana requires
- A person performing contracting services may not interpret property insurance policy provisions on coverage or duties, adjust a property insurance claim for an insured as a public adjuster, or advertise or solicit as an insurance claims specialist or as providing claim or policy interpretation services; the contractor is responsible when an employee or a compensated nonemployee does any of theseLa. R.S. 37:2159.1 (A) (1), (2), (7), (8), as amended by Act 757 of 2026 · La. R.S. 37:2159.1 (text before the 2026 amendments)
- A contractor may not give an insured an agreement authorizing remediation, repairs or construction on an insured property damage claim before, and without first, providing a good faith estimate of the itemized and detailed costs of services and materials; a later difference caused by the insurer's adjustment of the claim is not a violationLa. R.S. 37:2159.1 (A) (3), as amended by Act 757 of 2026
- From August 1, 2026, no person may solicit or accept an assignment of any post-loss benefit under a residential or commercial property insurance policy (an instrument transferring benefits, a right of action or proceeds to a person inspecting, protecting, repairing, restoring or replacing the property or mitigating damage); such an assignment is against public policy and void, and a violation is an unfair or deceptive trade practice under R.S. 22:1969. Assignments to a federally insured lender, mortgagee or later purchaser, and liability coverage, are exceptedLa. R.S. 37:2159.1 (A) (9), (B) to (D), enacted by Act 757 of 2026
- A contract for goods or services of 1,000 dollars or more that is reasonably expected to be paid wholly or partly from a property insurance claim contains, in at least 12-point boldface type, the law's notice that Louisiana requires the insured to pay any deductible and that a seller may not knowingly allow or help the insured avoid paying itLa. R.S. 51:452
- A seller of goods or services paid from a property insurance claim may not, without the insurer's consent, pay, waive, absorb or decline to collect the insured's deductible, rebate any part of it, or otherwise help the insured avoid paying it, or charge more than the usual price by the amount of the deductible; an insured who submits such a claim also violates the law unless they promptly tell the insurer, and each offense carries a fine of up to 500 dollars, up to 30 days in jail, or bothLa. R.S. 51:451
- Since January 1, 2026, anyone who advertises, solicits, bids, quotes or estimates, or does work on any part of the roofing system of a residential structure for a project value of 7,500 dollars or more holds the Residential Roofing or Residential Construction classification from the State Licensing Board for Contractors, after passing the residential roofing trade examination; from August 1, 2026, a residence of up to four dwelling units in one structure counts as residential roofingLa. R.S. 37:2156.4 (A) to (C) · La. R.S. 37:2156.4 (D), 37:2150.1 (25), enacted by Act 757 of 2026
- Every agreement for contracting services that needs a license includes the complete agreement, the contractor's full name, address and license number, a description of the work, the total amount (or an approximation for cost-plus or time and materials), all parties' signatures, and current certificates of workers' compensation and liability insurance; everyone gets a signed copy, and no work begins before all parties signLa. R.S. 37:2159 (A), (B)
- A person performing contracting services may not share in an attorney's legal fee, require an insured to sign an attorney representation agreement for an attorney, or accept anything of value for referring someone to an attorney or law firm; from August 1, 2026, the board may also discipline a licensee for damaging or altering property to get someone to sign a contractLa. R.S. 37:2159.1 (A) (4) to (6) · La. R.S. 37:2158 (A) (25), enacted by Act 757 of 2026
Licensing and the written contract
Since January 1, 2026, anyone who advertises, bids, estimates or works on a residential roofing system for a project of 7,500 dollars or more needs the Residential Roofing or Residential Construction classification, which requires passing the roofing trade exam. Act 757 of 2026 extends residential roofing to buildings with up to four dwelling units.
The contract names the contractor with its license number, describes the work and the total, carries every party's signature and the insurance certificates, and nothing starts until all parties have signed. When insurance will pay and the contract is 1,000 dollars or more, it also carries the state's 12-point bold notice that the insured must pay the deductible.
Claims, deductibles and assignments
Contractors may not interpret coverage, adjust claims as public adjusters or market themselves as insurance claims specialists, and they answer for employees and paid helpers who do. Before an owner signs anything authorizing repairs on an insured claim, the contractor gives an itemized good faith estimate.
Paying, waiving or rebating the deductible, or padding the price by its amount, is a criminal offense for the seller and can be one for the insured. Since August 1, 2026, soliciting or accepting an assignment of post-loss insurance benefits is void and an unfair trade practice, and attorney fee sharing and referral payments remain off limits.
Common mistakes
- Bidding a 7,500 dollar reroof without the Residential Roofing classification.
- A repair authorization signed before the owner has an itemized estimate.
- Asking the homeowner to assign the insurance benefits to the roofer.
- Leaving the 12-point deductible notice off an insurance-paid contract.
- Calling the company's inspectors insurance claims specialists.
Sources
- La. R.S. 37:2159.1 (A) (1), (2), (7), (8), as amended by Act 757 of 2026, checked October 17, 2026
- La. R.S. 37:2159.1 (text before the 2026 amendments), checked October 17, 2026
- La. R.S. 37:2159.1 (A) (3), as amended by Act 757 of 2026, checked October 17, 2026
- La. R.S. 37:2159.1 (A) (9), (B) to (D), enacted by Act 757 of 2026, checked October 17, 2026
- La. R.S. 51:452, checked October 17, 2026
- La. R.S. 51:451, checked October 17, 2026
- La. R.S. 37:2156.4 (A) to (C), checked October 17, 2026
- La. R.S. 37:2156.4 (D), 37:2150.1 (25), enacted by Act 757 of 2026, checked October 17, 2026
- La. R.S. 37:2159 (A), (B), checked October 17, 2026
- La. R.S. 37:2159.1 (A) (4) to (6), checked October 17, 2026
- La. R.S. 37:2158 (A) (25), enacted by Act 757 of 2026, checked October 17, 2026
Last reviewed October 17, 2026. Next review due January 17, 2027. This page explains published rules to help you write your report. It is not legal advice; the official text linked above governs.