Roofing Contract Checklist NY: What the Law Requires (2026)

Short answer: in New York, a roofing contract over $500 must be in writing and signed, and General Business Law §771 requires it to include the contractor's name, address, phone and license number; approximate start and completion dates; the work and the materials by make or model; the price; a mechanic's lien notice; a notice that your advance payments must be held in escrow or bonded; a progress payment schedule in dollars; and a three-business-day cancellation notice. Roofers face extra rules under GBL §771-b: they can't require a deposit, must name their insurer and policy limits in the contract, and can't offer to cover your insurance deductible.

Below is each requirement with the statute it comes from, the extra Nassau and Suffolk county rules, the federal Cooling-Off Rule, and a printable checklist to bring to the kitchen table. Statute text was checked on the New York State Senate's official site on October 10, 2026. This is a plain-English guide, not legal advice; for a large or disputed job, an attorney can review the contract.

Does the Law Cover Your Roofing Job?

Almost certainly. GBL §770 lists roofing by name as a "home improvement," and a "home improvement contract" is one where the total price exceeds $500. The same section defines a "roofing contractor" broadly: anyone, including a subcontractor, day laborer or out-of-state contractor, in the business of roofing, gutter, downspout or siding work for a fee. So the roofer-specific rules in §771-b also cover gutter and siding jobs.

The Terms GBL §771 Requires in Every Contract

Section 771(1) says every covered contract "and all amendments thereto, shall be evidenced by a writing and shall be signed by all the parties." It must contain the following.

§771(1)	What the law requires	What to look for in a roofing contract
(a)	Contractor's name, address, telephone number and license number	The Nassau or Suffolk County home improvement license number printed on the contract
(b)	Approximate start and substantial-completion dates, any contingencies that would materially change them, and whether a definite completion date is "of the essence"	Real dates, plus weather and material-delay language you understand
(c)	Description of the work, the materials "including make, model number or any other identifying information," and the agreed price	Shingle brand, product line and color; underlayment; ice-and-water shield; flashing; ventilation; tear-off and disposal
(d)	A notice that unpaid contractors, subcontractors or suppliers may have a claim against your property, plus a mandatory mechanic's lien notice in bold type	The bold notice (quoted below) on the contract itself
(e)	A notice that the contractor must deposit payments received before completion under Lien Law §71-a(4), or post a bond, contract of indemnity or irrevocable letter of credit instead	Ideally, the bank's name already filled in
(f)	If there are progress payments: a schedule showing each payment "as a sum in dollars and cents" and the stage of work due before each, in amounts that bear "a reasonable relationship" to the work, materials or expenses at that point	Dollar amounts tied to milestones, not "50% to start"
(g)	Hourly or time-based billing for work already done isn't treated as a progress payment	Rare on a re-roof; ask if you see hourly terms
(h)	A notice that you may cancel until midnight of the third business day after signing	The cancellation notice and how to send it
(i)	Before work begins, disclosure of any property or casualty insurance policy covering the contractor's work, with the insurer's phone number and address (in effect since April 23, 2022)	Insurer name and contact details written into the contract

Section 771(2) adds that the contract must be legible, in plain English, and must clearly describe any document it incorporates (a warranty, a product spec sheet, a drawing). You must receive a copy signed by the contractor before any work is done.

The bold mechanic's lien notice required by §771(1)(d) reads:

"Any contractor, subcontractor, or materialman who provides home improvement goods or services pursuant to your home improvement contract and who is not paid may have a valid legal claim against your property known as a mechanic's lien. Any mechanic's lien filed against your property may be discharged. Payment of the agreed-upon price under the home improvement contract prior to filing of a mechanic's lien may invalidate such lien. The owner may contact an attorney to determine his rights to discharge a mechanic's lien".

If that paragraph is missing, the contract is probably a generic form that wasn't written for New York.

Extra Rules for Roofers: GBL §771-b

New York added a section aimed specifically at roofing contractors (Chapter 550 of the Laws of 2019, signed November 25, 2019 and effective 180 days later). Most homeowners, and many contract templates, don't reflect it. Under §771-b:

No required deposit. Subdivision 5: a roofing contractor "shall not require an owner to provide a deposit for the work and materials," and can't insist on a particular form of payment before starting. The roofer may invoice for the materials portion when materials are delivered to your property, as long as the material cost was disclosed to you in writing beforehand, and may invoice the remainder "upon successful completion of all contracted work."
Insurance details in the contract. Subdivision 1: the contract must state the name of the insurer, the type of coverage and the policy limits.
Proof of insurance. Subdivision 9: the roofer must give you a workers' compensation certificate covering all employees, or, if the business has no employees, a Workers' Compensation Board exemption certificate (Form CE-200). It must also provide certificates of general liability and property damage insurance of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, and $50,000 per occurrence and aggregate for property damage. The statute says these minimums apply where the local government has no insurance requirements of its own, so treat them as a floor and compare them with the limits on the actual certificate.
No deductible deals. Subdivision 2: a roofer can't advertise or promise to pay or rebate any part of your insurance deductible, including through discounts, gifts, credits or referral fees.
Insurance-funded jobs can be cancelled after a denial. Subdivision 3: if the job is to be paid under your property insurance, you can cancel until midnight of the third business day after your insurer tells you in writing that all or part of the claim isn't covered. Subdivision 4: the roofer must return your payments within ten days, though it can keep the reasonable value of emergency work you acknowledged in writing.
No claim handling. Subdivision 8: a roofer can't report, adjust or negotiate your claim, or take a fee for referring you to someone who does. It may share technical information when your insurer contacts it.
Stick to the plans and the code. Subdivision 6: no material deviation from the plans or specifications without your consent, and the work must meet the local building code.

If your job involves a storm claim, our roof insurance claim guide covers the claim side.

Where Your Money Goes: Lien Law §71-a(4)

If you do pay anything before the job is substantially complete, Lien Law §71-a(4) says it remains your property until it's properly applied to the job. The contractor must:

Deposit it within five business days in an escrow account at a bank or savings institution located in New York;
Tell you the name of the bank in writing within ten business days, unless the contract already names it; or
Instead of escrow, give you a bond, contract of indemnity or irrevocable letter of credit within ten business days.

The contractor can't withdraw more than the payment schedule allows at any point, and "failure to place customer deposits in escrow" is a violation. Under GBL §773, failing to escrow or bond, or failing to provide a substantially compliant written contract, carries a civil penalty of up to the greater of $250 per violation or 5% of the contract price, capped at $2,500 per contract. Other violations of the article carry up to $100.

Nassau and Suffolk Rules on Top of State Law

Both Long Island counties license home improvement contractors, and both put requirements on the contract itself.

Nassau County

The Nassau County Department of Consumer Affairs' Home Improvement Regulations (current PDF linked from the county's licensing page, with rules dated through June 2026) require:

License number on the paperwork (Rule 1(c)): any memorandum, agreement or contract must carry the contractor's name, office address, phone and Nassau County license number, plus the salesperson's name if there is one.
Specific materials (Rule 1(d)): brand names, colors, dimensions, model numbers and the final price for labor and materials. Addendums must be in writing and signed by everyone (Rule 1(b)).
Printed name under the signature (Rule 10) of the contractor's representative.
Subcontractor disclosure (Rule 14): the contract must say whether subcontractors are used, and the contractor must give you their names and license numbers when you sign.
Insurance certificate naming you (Rule 12): at contracting, the contractor must give you a certificate of insurance describing the covered operations and naming you as the certificate holder.
Completion date (Rule 8): the contract must have one, and the work must be finished no later than 30 days after it.
Three-day cancellation notice (Rule 7): in bold, at least 10-point type, next to your signature. Nassau's notice says postal mail, text or email are all acceptable written notice, and work can't start within three days of signing unless you sign a handwritten emergency waiver. Refunds are due within ten business days of a cancellation.
Workers' comp for roofers (Rule 28): roofing licensees must file a workers' compensation certificate (Form C-105.2 or U-26.3), and the county won't accept a CE-200 waiver for roofing.

Check a Nassau license on the county's license lookup or by calling (516) 571-2600.

Suffolk County

Suffolk's licensing law is Chapter 563 of the County Code:

§563-15.1: a licensee must give you, in writing, the service employee's name, business name, address, phone and county license number, on the contract or paid receipt. The same information is required for any subcontractors.
§563-21(C) and (E): it's a prohibited act to fail to give a written contract with start and completion dates and a description of labor and material costs, or to fail to follow GBL §771.
§563-17(D): all home improvement advertising must show the license number, so a flyer or truck with no number is a warning sign.

Look up a Suffolk license and complaint history on the county's license and complaint search or call (631) 853-4600. Our guide on how to choose a roofing contractor on Long Island covers the rest of the vetting process.

The Three-Day Right to Cancel: State vs Federal

Rule	When it applies	Key details
GBL §771(1)(h)	Every home improvement contract over $500; the statute's wording doesn't limit it to contracts signed at home	Cancel until midnight of the third business day after signing, by written notice. A mailed notice counts when it's deposited in the mailbox. Any written notice showing you don't intend to be bound is enough.
FTC Cooling-Off Rule (16 CFR Part 429)	Sales made at your home of $25 or more (or $130 or more at a temporary location)	Cancel until midnight of the third business day. The FTC says Saturdays count as business days, and the seller has 10 days to refund you.
GBL §771-b(3)	Roofing jobs to be paid by property insurance	An extra window: three business days after the insurer's written denial of all or part of the claim.

All three have a similar emergency exception: if you called the contractor for a genuine emergency, you can waive the right to cancel, but only with a separate, dated statement in your own handwriting describing the emergency. A contractor who hands you a pre-printed waiver to sign hasn't met that standard. Send any cancellation in a way you can prove; Suffolk's consumer fact sheet recommends certified mail, return receipt requested.

Insurance Proof: What to Ask For

Liability certificate: have it sent by the contractor's insurance agent, naming you as certificate holder (required in Nassau, sensible everywhere). Check that it lists roofing in the description of operations and that the dates cover your job.
Workers' compensation: New York's standard certificates are Form C-105.2, or U-26.3 from the State Insurance Fund. The Workers' Compensation Board says ACORD forms are not acceptable proof of New York workers' comp coverage for permits. You can also use the "Does Employer Have Coverage?" search on wcb.ny.gov.
In the contract: the insurer's name, coverage type and limits (§771-b(1)), and the insurer's phone and address (§771(1)(i)).

Permits: Who Pulls Them

Whether a re-roof needs a permit depends on the town or village; some exempt like-for-like re-covering and others don't. See our Long Island roofing permit guide for your jurisdiction. If a permit is required, the contract should say who files it and whether the fee is included. Suffolk's consumer fact sheet puts it this way: the owner is responsible for getting the permits or seeing that the contractor gets them, if the contract says the contractor is responsible. Under Workers' Compensation Law §57, a building department must confirm that a business applying for a permit has workers' comp coverage, so a contractor who pulls the permit has to show that proof to the town. Ask for a copy of the permit before work starts, and tie the final payment to a passed final inspection.

Lien Waivers

Under Lien Law §10, a contractor, subcontractor or supplier on a single-family home can file a mechanic's lien during the work or within four months after the last work or materials, in the county clerk's office. If your roofer doesn't pay its supplier, the supplier can lien your house even though you paid the roofer. Two protections:

Ask for a written lien waiver with each payment, from the roofer and, for larger jobs, from the main material supplier. Lien Law §34 voids any advance agreement to waive lien rights, but it expressly allows a written waiver delivered "simultaneously with or after payment."
Add a clause promising that subcontractors and suppliers will be paid. Suffolk's fact sheet recommends exactly this "lien release" clause.

Warranty Terms: Manufacturer vs Workmanship

A roof usually comes with two different warranties, and the contract should spell out both:

Manufacturer warranty: covers defects in the shingles or other products. Upgraded manufacturer warranties can add some installation coverage, but generally only when a manufacturer-certified contractor installs a qualifying system and registers it. The contract should name the specific warranty and say who registers it.
Workmanship warranty: the contractor's own promise covering installation errors such as leaks at flashing, nailing problems and ventilation mistakes. Get the length, what's excluded, whether it transfers to a buyer, and how to make a claim.

Nassau's regulations (Rule 3(e)) require any warranty or guarantee a contractor mentions to be clearly disclosed, including its terms and requirements. Suffolk's fact sheet suggests the labor warranty "should be a year or more."

Change Orders

Roof jobs often turn up surprises once the old shingles come off, usually rotted decking. Because §771(1) applies to "all amendments," every change must be written and signed by both of you, and Nassau's Rule 1(b) says the same for addendums. Ask for a unit price per sheet of decking in the original contract and a clause saying no extra work is billed without your signed approval. Under §771-b(6), a roofer can't materially deviate from the specifications without your consent.

Payment Schedules That Fit New York Law

Suffolk County's Home Improvement Fact Sheet (revised October 2024) advises homeowners that "a fair down payment would be under 15%" for home improvement work in general. For roofing specifically, §771-b goes further: the roofer can't require any deposit. A schedule built around the statute looks like this:

Stage	Payment	Basis
Signing	No deposit can be required	GBL §771-b(5)
Materials delivered to your property	The materials portion, at the cost disclosed to you in writing in advance	GBL §771-b(5)
Successful completion	The remainder	GBL §771-b(5)
Any payment made before substantial completion	Held in a New York escrow account or covered by a bond	Lien Law §71-a(4); GBL §771(1)(e)

Many homeowners also tie the final payment to the passed final inspection, the cleanup, the lien waivers and receipt of the warranty paperwork. Write those conditions into the contract.

Printable Roofing Contract Checklist

Print this page and check each line against the contract before you sign.

☐	Item	Source
☐	Written contract, signed by you and the contractor; you have a signed copy before work starts	GBL §771(1), (2)
☐	Contractor's name, address, phone and Nassau or Suffolk license number (verified on the county lookup)	GBL §771(1)(a); Nassau Rule 1(c); Suffolk §563-15.1
☐	Salesperson's name and the representative's printed name under the signature (Nassau)	Nassau Rules 1(c), 10
☐	Approximate start and completion dates, delay contingencies, and whether the date is "of the essence"	GBL §771(1)(b); Nassau Rule 8
☐	Scope: tear-off, decking inspection, underlayment, ice-and-water shield, flashing, ventilation, disposal, cleanup	GBL §771(1)(c)
☐	Materials by brand, product line, color and model	GBL §771(1)(c); Nassau Rule 1(d)
☐	Total price	GBL §771(1)(c)
☐	Bold mechanic's lien notice	GBL §771(1)(d)
☐	Escrow or bond notice, ideally with the bank named	GBL §771(1)(e); Lien Law §71-a(4)
☐	No required deposit; materials invoiced on delivery at a pre-disclosed cost; balance on completion	GBL §771-b(5)
☐	Any progress payments listed in dollars and cents, tied to stages of work	GBL §771(1)(f)
☐	Three-business-day cancellation notice, in bold (Nassau), with a separate cancellation form	GBL §771(1)(h); Nassau Rule 7; 16 CFR 429
☐	Insurer's name, coverage type and policy limits	GBL §771-b(1)
☐	Insurer's phone and address for the policy covering the work	GBL §771(1)(i)
☐	Liability certificate naming you as certificate holder; workers' comp certificate (C-105.2 or U-26.3)	GBL §771-b(9); Nassau Rules 12, 28
☐	Subcontractors disclosed, with names and license numbers	Nassau Rule 14; Suffolk §563-15.1(B)
☐	Who files the permit (if one is required), and whether the fee is included	Town or village code
☐	Written change-order process and a per-sheet decking price	GBL §771(1); §771-b(6)
☐	Lien waiver with each payment; clause that subs and suppliers will be paid	Lien Law §34
☐	Manufacturer warranty named, with who registers it; workmanship warranty length, exclusions, transferability	Nassau Rule 3(e)
☐	No offer to pay, rebate or "absorb" your insurance deductible	GBL §771-b(2)
☐	Final payment tied to completion, final inspection, cleanup and warranty paperwork	GBL §771-b(5)

One more protection to know about: under GBL §772, a homeowner who signed because of false or fraudulent written statements can sue for damages plus a $500 penalty and reasonable attorney's fees. That's another reason to get every promise in writing.

Want quotes from local roofers? Request free quotes; we'll connect you with independent contractors. Long Island Roofing Pros is a free referral service and doesn't do roofing work. Use this checklist with any contract you're offered, including one from a roofer we refer.

Roofing Contract Checklist for New York: What the Law Requires (Long Island, 2026)