Texas Roofing Rules: What Homeowners Should Know
Texas has no roofer license, yet it does set firm rules on deductibles, door-to-door sales and who may work an insurance claim. This page explains those rules for homeowners in McAllen, TX, names the statute behind each one, and lists the permit offices across Hidalgo County.
Prefer to talk? Call now(956) 555-0186Short Version
The essentials first. Each point gets more detail below.
- No state roofer license. Anyone can sell roofing in Texas, so you check insurance, address, references and the bid yourself.
- Your deductible is yours to pay. A roofer who offers to cover it without your insurer's consent is committing a crime.
- Roofers aren't adjusters. They can document and price damage. The claim is between you and your insurer.
- Door-knock sales come with a short window. You get until midnight of the third business day after signing to cancel.
- A denied claim doesn't undo a contract. Texas gives no special exit, so read the cancellation terms first.
- McAllen expects a permit. Plan on one for a re-roof and confirm with the city.
What Texas Requires of Roofers
Texas doesn't license or register roofing contractors. A bill to create a state license for re-roofing contractors died in the Legislature in 2025, so nothing changed. Some roofers earn RCAT certification, which is voluntary; it's a plus but not a stand-in for checking the basics. The City of McAllen doesn't register roofers either. Its contractor licenses cover trades such as electrical, A/C and plumbing.
Since no agency screens roofers, the checking is yours. Work through this list before you sign.
- Liability insurance on paper. Ask for the certificate, then call the agent named on it to confirm the policy is active.
- A local address. A storefront or office in the Valley you can visit is worth more than a phone number on a truck.
- An itemized written bid. It should list materials, tear-off, decking prices, permit and warranty terms.
- References you can call. Ask for recent jobs nearby and call two of them. If you'd rather talk it through in Spanish, ask when you call.
- A clear answer on the permit. Ask who pulls the city permit. A roofer who says to skip it is a warning sign.
The Deductible Ban, Explained
Texas Business and Commerce Code §27.02, amended in 2019 by HB 2102, makes it a Class B misdemeanor for a roofer to advertise or promise to waive, rebate or absorb your insurance deductible, or to actually do any of those things, unless your insurer consents. Put simply, it's a crime in Texas. Be wary of offers dressed up as a "discount" that happens to match your deductible.
The same law adds a paperwork rule: if a contract is for $1,000 or more and is expected to be paid from insurance, it must include a notice in bold type stating that Texas law requires the insured to pay the deductible. If you don't see it, ask before you sign.
Chapter 707 of the Insurance Code backs this up from the insurer's side. Section 707.002 says the insured pays the deductible on a first-party claim. Section 707.004 lets the insurer hold back the depreciation payment until it gets reasonable proof that you paid. Keep the receipt or canceled check.
Your Right to Cancel
Business and Commerce Code chapter 601 covers home-solicitation sales of $25 or more, such as a deal struck after a knock on your door. Under §601.051 you may cancel until midnight of the third business day after you sign, and the seller has to give you a written cancellation notice in bold. The rule is about how the sale was made, so it doesn't reach every roofing contract.
Here's where Texas differs from some states: it has no rule that lets you back out of a roofing contract because your insurance claim was denied. A contract you sign before the claim is settled can hold you even if the insurer pays nothing, unless the contract says otherwise. Read its cancellation terms closely, and if a roofer pushes you to sign before the adjuster visits, ask for any exit terms in writing.
Programs That Lower the Cost
Neither Texas nor the City of McAllen offers a grant to replace a roof. The real savings come through your insurance premium.
Many Texas insurers give a discount for a roof rated Class 4 for impact resistance. The Texas Department of Insurance says the amount is set company by company, and Class 4 earns the largest credit. After the job, your roofer fills out TDI form PC068 so you can send it to your insurer. A September 2026 TDI bulletin encourages these discounts but doesn't require them. No city in this area requires Class 4 shingles, so treat them as an option and ask your agent for the dollar figure first.
Local Rules Around McAllen
McAllen requires a city building permit for repair and alteration work unless it's cosmetic finish work, and roofing isn't on the exempt list. Plan on a permit for a re-roof, and confirm with Building Permits & Inspections at (956) 681-1300. You can apply online at onlinepermits.mcallen.net.
The city adopted the 2024 International Residential Code, in effect since January 1, 2026. Permits expire a year after they're issued, and the city can charge twice the normal fee when it finds unpermitted work. Outside city limits, ask Hidalgo County Planning, (956) 318-2840, what applies.
Nearby cities run their own permit desks. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the city first.
- Pharr. Building and Code Compliance, (956) 402-4210. The city waived "re-roofing (shingle replacement)" permit fees after the April 2023 storm, so a re-roof normally needs one. Contractors register with the city.
- Mission. Permits Department, (956) 580-8691. The city has waived re-roof permit fees after a storm, so plan on a permit.
- Edinburg. Building Safety, (956) 388-8203. Contractors applying there must show $10,000 of general liability coverage or post a surety bond, per the city's form.
- Alamo, TX. The city fee ordinance (§9-1-3) lists re-roofs at $55, and Alamo waived roof-permit fees after the March 2025 floods.
- Palmview. Palmview lists roofing among the work that needs a permit. Permits & Code Enforcement, (956) 432-0300, Ext. 3.
- Weslaco. Building Permit and Inspections Division, (956) 973-3123.
- Donna. Building Permits and Inspections, (956) 464-3314.
- The City of Hidalgo. Building Department, (956) 843-2286.
- San Juan, TX, Palmhurst and Alton, TX. Call the city's permit office before work starts.
The Fine Print, Asked
Does a new roof in McAllen need a windstorm certificate?
No. The coastal windstorm certificate (WPI-8) is tied to the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, and Hidalgo County sits outside TWIA's catastrophe area. That certificate doesn't apply to homes here. The city permit and inspection still do, so plan on the McAllen permit rather than any coastal paperwork.
Can my roofer negotiate with my insurance company for me?
No. Under Insurance Code §4102.163, a contractor can't act as a public adjuster or advertise to adjust claims on a property it is or may be working on. Your roofer can share photos, measurements and a written estimate, and can be there when the adjuster inspects. Settling the claim stays with you and your insurer, or a public adjuster you hire.
A roofer offered a "free roof." Is that legal?
If the offer depends on the roofer covering, refunding or ignoring your deductible without the insurer's consent, it breaks §27.02, a Class B misdemeanor. A legitimate bid prices the work and leaves the deductible with you, as the law requires. Walk away from any deal built on making the deductible disappear.
Our Sources
Official texts and agency pages behind this page, all read on 2026-10-02.
- Bus. & Com. Code §27.02 (deductible). tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/bc/htm/bc.27.htm
- Ins. Code ch. 707 (§707.002, §707.004). tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/IN/pdf/IN.707.pdf
- Ins. Code §4102.163 (public adjusting). texas.public.law/statutes/tex._ins._code_section_4102.163
- Bus. & Com. Code ch. 601 (home solicitation). tcss.legis.texas.gov/Docs/BC/htm/BC.601.htm
- TDI roofing discounts and form PC068. tdi.texas.gov/company/roofing-discounts.html
- TDI Bulletin B-0008-26 (2026-09-16). tdi.texas.gov/bulletins/2026/commissioners-bulletin-b-0008-26.html
- TWIA catastrophe area. twia.org/?p=40566
- City of McAllen permits. mcallen.net/departments/permits/violations and ecode360.com/43387506 (2024 IRC)
- Hidalgo County Planning. tx-hidalgocounty.civicplus.com/261/Planning
- Nearby cities. pharr-tx.gov, missiontexas.us, cityofedinburg.com, Alamo code (codelibrary.amlegal.com), cityofpalmview.gov, weslacotx.gov, cityofdonna.org, cityofhidalgo.net
Ask About Your Situation
This page explains the rules; it isn't legal advice. If you're weighing a replacement, we can connect you with an independent local roofer for a free inspection and a written, itemized estimate that follows these rules from the start.