What Is Ordinance and Law Coverage?

Ordinance and law coverage pays for the additional costs of bringing your home up to current building codes during a covered repair. Without this coverage, you may be responsible for code-required upgrades out of pocket.

Why It Matters for Roof Claims

Building codes evolve over time. When you replace a roof today, you may be required to:

Add additional roof deck fasteners
Install ice and water shield underlayment
Upgrade ventilation systems
Meet new wind resistance standards
Add hurricane straps or clips

These upgrades can add $1,000-$5,000+ to your project.

What Ordinance and Law Coverage Includes

Most policies break this into three parts:

Coverage A: Loss to the Undamaged Portion

Pays to demolish and remove undamaged parts that must be replaced due to code requirements.

Coverage B: Demolition Cost

Pays for demolishing damaged structures.

Coverage C: Increased Cost of Construction

Pays for the additional cost of rebuilding to meet current codes.

Common Coverage Limits

10% of dwelling coverage is standard on many policies

Higher limits (25%, 50%) are available as endorsements
Some policies include it automatically; others require you to add it

How to Check Your Coverage

Look at your declarations page or policy documents for:

"Ordinance or Law Coverage"
"Building Code Upgrade Coverage"
Listed as a percentage of your dwelling coverage

Key Takeaways

Building codes require upgrades that standard coverage may not pay for
Ordinance and law coverage fills this gap
Check your policy limits before filing a claim
Consider increasing coverage if you have an older home