How Long Do You Have to File a Roof Claim in Arkansas?

Your policy sets the deadline, but in Arkansas the state's insurance regulator considers a 365-day limit from the date of the storm reasonable for reporting wind and hail damage, and it treats denials of claims reported more than 24 months after the storm as reasonable. Between one and two years, an insurer that denies your claim as late has to let you show good cause for the delay. So the practical answer is simple: report roof damage as soon as you find it, and do not let it go past a year from the storm.

This is general information to help you know where you stand. It is not insurance or legal advice. Your policy, and your insurance company, decide what is covered.

The short answer, by how long it has been

Time since the storm (date of loss)	Where you stand in Arkansas
Days or weeks	Best case. Report it now. The NAIC notes that most insurance companies have a time requirement for reporting a claim, and the evidence on the roof is freshest.
Up to 365 days	The Arkansas Insurance Department says a policy limit of 365 days from the date of loss is reasonable in most cases. Check your own policy: it may ask for notice sooner.
365 days to 24 months	The insurer can deny the claim as late, but it must recognize a good cause exception. You can rebut the denial by showing good cause for the delay.
More than 24 months	The Department treats a denial of a claim reported this late as reasonable under the policy.

What the Arkansas Insurance Department actually said

The one-year rule homeowners hear about in Arkansas comes from two bulletins Insurance Commissioner Alan McClain sent to insurers in 2020, after the Department heard from homeowners whose wind and hail claims were denied for late reporting.

• Bulletin 19-2020, "Windstorm and Hail Claims" (May 4, 2020) took the position that at least 365 days must be allowed from the date the homeowner discovers, or should have discovered, the damage.
• Bulletin 19A-2020 (September 1, 2020) amended it. It says a policy requirement to report wind or hail claims within 365 days of the date of loss may be reasonable in most cases; that an insurer "must recognize a good cause exception to a claims filing deadline"; and that the Department will treat denials of claims reported more than 24 months after the date of loss as reasonable, because older losses are hard to adjust.

Two things the bulletins make clear. First, they do not excuse you from reporting promptly. Second, whether a delay was reasonable or was the homeowner's own neglect is a question of fact, decided case by case. The bulletin recognizes that a homeowner may not identify wind and hail damage in time "through no fault of his or her own." That is the heart of good cause.

These are the Department's guidance to insurers, read through copies of the bulletins (links above). If your claim is denied as late and you disagree, the Department's Consumer Services Division is at 1-800-852-5494, and an attorney can tell you about your rights in your situation.

Why roof damage gets found late

Most homeowners do not climb on their roof after a storm, and they should not. Hail bruising on asphalt shingles is often invisible from the yard: granules can be knocked loose and the mat underneath can crack, but the roof still looks fine from the driveway. A leak from a lifted or creased shingle can take months of rain to show up as a ceiling stain. That is how a homeowner in Little Rock or Maumelle ends up finding spring hail damage in the fall.

Here is a real date to check. The Arkansas Insurance Department issued Bulletin 06-2025 after the severe storms and tornadoes on or about March 14, 2025. Twelve months from that date passed in March 2026, and 24 months arrives on March 14, 2027. If your roof was in the path of those storms and nobody has looked at it since, have it inspected now, and be ready to explain to your insurer when and how you found the damage.

If you are not sure whether marks on your roof are damage at all, see cosmetic vs functional hail damage and how hail damages asphalt shingles.

What to do this week if you find storm damage

1. Stop the water first. If the roof is leaking, get it covered. The Arkansas Insurance Department's guide When A Disaster Strikes says to make necessary temporary repairs and keep receipts for your clean-up expenses. You pay for emergency tarping and can submit the receipt to your insurer. See emergency roof repair.
2. Take photos before anything is repaired, inside and out. The same guide says to photograph damage before you clean up or repair.
3. Get a storm inspection. There is no charge for a storm damage inspection from Patriot Roofing and Restoration. You get the 21-Point Roof Inspection Report with photos, slope by slope, and if there is no storm damage we tell you that too. See roof inspections.
4. Report it to your agent or insurer and write down the claim number. The Department's guide says insurance companies are required to acknowledge receipt of your claim within 15 working days.
5. Do not guess at dates. If you are asked for a storm date you do not know, say you are not sure.
6. Ask for a licensed insurance adjuster to look at the roof, not only a third-party inspector who takes photos.

Every step, from the storm to the adjuster's decision, is on our storm claim checklist.

Three different clocks, so they do not get mixed up

• The time to report the damage. That is this article: your policy, read with Bulletin 19A-2020.
• The time the claim takes once it is filed. See how long a roof insurance claim takes.
• Any other time limit in your policy, such as a deadline to finish repairs or to bring a legal action. These vary by policy, so read yours or ask your agent.

Does an older roof change the deadline?

No. The reporting rules are the same. What can change on a roof 7 years or older is how much the policy pays, because Arkansas insurers may add a roof payment schedule and a separate wind and hail deductible. Read roof over 7 years old: Arkansas insurance rules before you file.

Will Patriot Roofing pay or waive my deductible?

No. Your deductible is your responsibility under your policy. Patriot Roofing follows Arkansas HB 1308 (2025) on deductibles and never waives, absorbs or pays a deductible. Arkansas Code 23-66-501 to 513 (fraudulent insurance acts) requires that what is sent to your insurer is true, and that includes the date and cause of the damage.

The easiest way to never miss the window

Have your roof looked at at least once a year and after major storms. The Patriot Care Club includes a yearly 21-Point Roof Checkup and Attic Analysis with photos you can reach any time. A dated record of your roof's condition can help if a question ever comes up about when damage happened. It does not decide a claim; your insurer does.

Questions about storm damage on a home in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Maumelle, Conway, Benton or Cabot? Call 501.441.2900 or start with storm damage repair.

Quick answers

How long do I have to file a roof claim in Arkansas?

Your policy sets the deadline, so read it first. The Arkansas Insurance Department (Bulletin 19A-2020) says a policy limit of 365 days from the date of loss is reasonable in most cases for wind and hail claims, that insurers must allow a good cause exception for claims reported later, and that it treats denials of claims reported more than 24 months after the date of loss as reasonable. Report roof damage as soon as you find it.

Does the one year start on the day of the storm or the day I found the damage?

Under Bulletin 19A-2020, the 365 days run from the date of loss, which is the day of the storm. The earlier Bulletin 19-2020 counted from when you discovered or should have discovered the damage, but 19A-2020 amended it. If you found the damage late through no fault of your own, that is the good cause question.

Can I still file a claim for hail damage from more than a year ago?

You can report it, but the insurer may deny it as late. Under Bulletin 19A-2020 you can rebut that denial by showing good cause for the delay, decided case by case. Past 24 months from the date of loss, the Department treats a late-notice denial as reasonable. Do not guess at a storm date; tell the insurer what you know.

What if I do not know the date of the storm that damaged my roof?

Do not guess. If the insurer asks for a date you do not know, say you are not sure. An inspection with dated photos shows what is on the roof now, and your insurer can look up storm dates for your address.

Will reporting a roof claim raise my insurance rates in Arkansas?

It depends on your insurer and the claim. Bulletin 19A-2020 points to Arkansas Code 23-63-110, under which an insurer may not cancel a policy or raise its premium solely because of claims that resulted in no loss to the insurer. Ask your agent how your company handles a claim that is paid.

Sources: Arkansas Insurance Department, Bulletin 19-2020, Windstorm and Hail Claims (May 4, 2020) and Bulletin 19A-2020 (September 1, 2020), both read from copies hosted by Merlin Law Group; Arkansas Insurance Department, Bulletin 06-2025 (March 21, 2025); Arkansas Insurance Department Consumer Services Division, When A Disaster Strikes: What to Do After an Insured Homeowners Loss (rev. 11/25); NAIC, Navigating the Claims Process. All checked November 4, 2026.

This article is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Coverage, deductibles and deadlines vary by policy and insurance company. Confirm the details with your agent or insurer.