What Wisconsin requires
- Before entering a written contract to repair or replace a roof system or do other exterior work on a one- or two-family home, the residential contractor gives the consumer a boldface statement (at least 10 point) in the law's form on which the consumer marks YES or NO, to the best of their knowledge, whether the work relates to a property insurance claim, signed and dated by the customer and the contractor, with the three-business-day cancellation sentence; the contractor keeps the statement and gives the consumer a copyWis. Stat. 100.65 (3) (a), (4)
- A residential contractor may not represent, or negotiate for, a consumer on any insurance claim for roof or exterior work, or offer or advertise to. With the insured's express consent it may discuss the damage with the insured or the insurer's representative, give the insured an estimate, submit that estimate to the insurer, and discuss repair or replacement optionsWis. Stat. 100.65 (8)
- A consumer whose roof or exterior contract is to be paid in whole or part by property insurance may cancel it before the end of the third business day after receiving the insurer's written denial, in whole or in part, by personal delivery or first class mail to the contractor's address in the contract. The contractor attaches a completed, detachable NOTICE OF CANCELLATION form in duplicate, returns payments, deposits and notes within 10 days apart from the reasonable value of emergency services the consumer acknowledged in writing, and cannot enforce any other fee against a consumer who cancelsWis. Stat. 100.65 (3) (b), (5) to (7)
- No residential contractor may, in advertising or otherwise, promise to pay or rebate all or part of a property insurance deductible to get a consumer to contract for roof or exterior work; a promise includes any allowance or discount against fees, or any compensation, gift, prize, bonus, coupon, credit or referral fee. Each violation is a forfeiture of 500 to 1,000 dollarsWis. Stat. 100.65 (1) (c), (2), (9)
- Before a buyer enters a home improvement contract, the seller tells the buyer every building or construction permit the work needs, and starts no work until the required state and local permits are issued; where inspections are required, copies of the inspection certificates go to the buyer before final payment is dueWis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.03
- A home improvement seller may not gain entry to a home or onto the property under the guise of a government or utility inspection, or claim any official right, duty or authority to inspect; it may not misrepresent that it is licensed, bonded or insured, and when it says it is, it gives the buyer a written statement of the license, bond or insuranceWis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.02 (4) (a), (d)
- A home improvement contract is in writing when the buyer pays anything before the work is complete, or when the seller started the sale by face-to-face, mail or phone solicitation away from its place of business or by leaving handbills; the written contract, signed by all parties, names the seller and the sales representative, describes the work and principal materials, and states the total price, start and completion dates, any security interest and any warranty, and the buyer gets a copy before work starts or payment is takenWis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.05 (1) to (3)
- Before the contract, the seller gives the buyer the verbatim Notice of Consumer's Right to Receive Lien Waivers as a separate document the buyer can keep, keeps evidence the buyer received it, and on request provides written lien waivers from all contractors, subcontractors and suppliers when payments are madeWis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.025
Insurance work on homes
Before a roof or exterior contract is signed, the homeowner marks YES or NO on a bold statement saying whether the work relates to an insurance claim, and both sides sign it. The contractor keeps it and hands over a copy, together with a detachable NOTICE OF CANCELLATION form. If the insurer then denies the claim in whole or in part, the owner may cancel until the end of the third business day after the written denial.
A roofer may not negotiate the claim for the owner or offer to. With the owner's express consent it may discuss the damage with the insurer's representative and submit its estimate, so a Wisconsin roof report can record who gave that consent. Promising to cover the deductible, or giving gifts, credits or referral fees in its place, carries a forfeiture of 500 to 1,000 dollars for each violation.
Home improvement rules for every roof job
DATCP's rules apply whether or not insurance is involved. The roofer names the permits the job needs before the contract and starts only once they are issued. A written, signed contract is required whenever money is paid before completion or the sale began with a knock on the door, and the owner gets the lien waiver notice as a separate page.
A seller may never get onto a property by suggesting a government or utility inspection, so a free roof inspection should be presented as what it is: a company's own inspection.
Common mistakes
- Signing a storm contract without the YES or NO insurance claim statement.
- Sending the estimate to the insurer without the owner's express consent.
- Offering a referral credit that offsets the deductible.
- Tearing off a roof before the required permit is issued.
- Leaving out the separate lien waiver notice.
Sources
- Wis. Stat. 100.65 (3) (a), (4), checked October 17, 2026
- Wis. Stat. 100.65 (8), checked October 17, 2026
- Wis. Stat. 100.65 (3) (b), (5) to (7), checked October 17, 2026
- Wis. Stat. 100.65 (1) (c), (2), (9), checked October 17, 2026
- Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.03, checked October 17, 2026
- Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.02 (4) (a), (d), checked October 17, 2026
- Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.05 (1) to (3), checked October 17, 2026
- Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.025, 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.