Minnesota roof age and home insurance
Minnesota treats refusing or non-renewing a home policy solely because of the age of the main structure as an unfair practice, but still lets insurers rate by the age of a building part. A non-renewal needs 60 days' written notice with a specific reason.
Short answer: Minnesota bars refusing a home policy solely over the age of the main structure; non-renewal needs 60 days' notice and a stated reason.
5 of 7 topics have a rule we could quote. 12 points below, 12 from statute or rule text.
Seven topics, what we found in Minnesota
Age of the primary structure alone cannot justify refusal; part-age rating allowed
No roof payment-schedule rule found in the pages we opened
Percentage hail/wind deductible: flat-dollar deductible applies if not elected
No cosmetic-damage rule found in the pages we opened
60 days' written notice, specific reason, closed list of grounds, 30-day objection
FORTIFIED discount required; applies to the wind part of the premium
Two written requests before non-renewal over a known hazard
"Nothing found" means we opened the official pages listed below and the topic was not there. It does not mean Minnesota has no rule.
In plain English
Minnesota Statutes §72A.20 subd. 13 says an insurer may not decline, refuse to renew or charge differential rates solely because of the age of the primary structure. The same subdivision lets an insurer rate on the age of plumbing, electrical, heating or cooling systems or another part of the structure when that age affects the risk. The text names no roof, so we cannot say how a roof fits that exception.
Non-renewal has its own rules. The insurer needs 60 days' advance notice, a specific reason, and a reason from the closed list in Minn. R. 2880.0200. You have 30 days after the notice to file a written objection with the Commissioner.
Hail, wind and lightning losses do not count toward the rule's two-or-more-losses ground. A separate part of §65A.29 lets insurers non-renew after repeated large storm losses, so this protection has limits. If the insurer says you left a hazard in place, the rule requires two written requests first.
We found no Minnesota statute or rule on payment schedules by roof age or on cosmetic-damage exclusions. Roof wear and actual-cash-value terms sit in your policy and endorsements, not in these texts.
What we found, with the exact words
12 points, 12 of them from the text of a statute or rule. Each quote was matched against the source page by a script, and the date is when it matched.
| Point | In short | Exact words from the source | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age of the home alone is not a reason Refusal because of age |
An insurer commits an unfair practice if it declines, refuses to renew or charges differential rates solely because of the age of the primary structure. | “declining to offer or write, or charging differential rates ... solely because: ... (2) of the age of the primary structure sought to be insured” | Minn. Stat. §72A.20 subd. 13(a)(2) Statute. Accessed 2026-10-09; quote matched 2026-10-09 |
| Age of a part can still be rated Refusal because of age |
The age rule does not stop rating by the age of plumbing, electrical, heating or cooling systems or another part of the structure when that age affects the risk. The text does not name roofs. | “based upon the age of the insured structure's plumbing ... other part of the structure, the age of which affects the risk of loss” | Minn. Stat. §72A.20 subd. 13(c) Statute. Accessed 2026-10-09; quote matched 2026-10-09 |
| Non-renewal notice Non-renewal and cancellation |
60 days' advance written notice before a refusal to renew, a limit cut or a dropped coverage on a homeowner's policy. | “refuse to renew, or reduce limits of coverage, or eliminate any coverage ... at least 60 days' advance notice of its intention” | Minn. Stat. §65A.29 subd. 7 Statute. Accessed 2026-10-09; quote matched 2026-10-09 |
| The stated reason must be specific Non-renewal and cancellation |
The notice must give a reason clear enough that you do not need to ask what it means. | “sufficiently specific to convey, clearly and without further inquiry, the basis for the insurer's refusal to renew” | Minn. Stat. §65A.29 subd. 4 Statute. Accessed 2026-10-09; quote matched 2026-10-09 |
| Your window to object Non-renewal and cancellation |
30 days from receiving the notice to file a written objection with the Commissioner. | “within 30 days after receipt of the notice, file in writing an objection to the action with the commissioner” | Minn. Stat. §65A.29 subd. 9 Statute. Accessed 2026-10-09; quote matched 2026-10-09 |
| Non-renewal grounds are a closed list Non-renewal and cancellation |
A homeowners policy can be non-renewed only for reasons on the list in the rule. | “refuse to renew a policy of homeowners insurance unless based on one or more reasons which shall be limited to the following” | Minn. R. 2880.0200 Agency rule. Accessed 2026-10-09; quote matched 2026-10-09 |
| Hail, wind and lightning losses Non-renewal and cancellation |
Losses from natural causes such as hail, wind and lightning do not count toward the rule's ground of two or more losses in the experience period. | “two or more losses during the experience period ... natural causes including but not limited to lightning, wind, or hail” | Minn. R. 2880.0200 item G Agency rule. Accessed 2026-10-09; quote matched 2026-10-09 |
| Warning before a loss-based non-renewal Non-renewal and cancellation |
An insurer must send a written warning that future losses may lead to non-renewal before it can non-renew for loss experience. | “unless the insurer has sent a written notice that any future losses may result in nonrenewal due to loss experience” | Minn. Stat. §65A.29 subd. 11 Statute. Accessed 2026-10-09; quote matched 2026-10-09 |
| Known hazard: two written requests first Right to fix or inspect |
Before non-renewing because you refused to remove a known hazard, the insurer must send two written requests naming the condition and why it raises risk. | “two written requests stating the condition to remove and the reason why the condition increases the potential for loss” | Minn. R. 2880.0200 item E Agency rule. Accessed 2026-10-09; quote matched 2026-10-09 |
| Cancellation for uncorrected physical changes Right to fix or inspect |
A home policy can be cancelled for physical changes not fixed within a reasonable time that leave the property uninsurable. | “Physical changes in the insured property which are not corrected or restored within a reasonable time ... result in the property becoming uninsurable” | Minn. Stat. §65A.01 subd. 3a(1)(d) Statute. Accessed 2026-10-09; quote matched 2026-10-09 |
| Percentage hail/wind deductible: flat default Percentage deductibles |
If you do not elect the percentage deductible but renew, the policy carries the flat-dollar deductible. | “if the insured fails to elect the percentage-based deductible but renews the policy, the policy's deductible is the flat-dollar deductible” | Minn. Stat. §65A.29 subd. 8a(d) Statute. Accessed 2026-10-09; quote matched 2026-10-09 |
| FORTIFIED discount applies to the wind part Roof upgrade discounts |
The required FORTIFIED discount applies only to policies with wind coverage and may be limited to the wind portion of the premium. | “applies only to policies that include wind coverage and may be applied to: (1) only the portion of the premium for wind coverage” | Minn. Stat. §65A.298 subd. 4(d) Statute. Accessed 2026-10-09; quote matched 2026-10-09 |
Roof payment and storm rules from our claim research
These rows come from the Minnesota page of our claim deadlines research. They are shown here so the roof rules sit in one place.
| Kind | Rule | Exact words | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof payment | Under actual cash value terms the insurer may not settle for less than the value of the property just before the loss | “settling or attempting to settle a claim or part of a claim with an insured under actual cash value provisions for less than the value of the property immediately preceding the loss, including all applicable taxes and license fees.” | Minn. Stat. §72A.201 subd. 5(7) Checked 2026-10-09 |
| Roof payment | No depreciation on items not adversely affected by age, use or obsolescence | “reducing or attempting to reduce for depreciation any settlement or any offer of settlement for items not adversely affected by age, use, or obsolescence;” | Minn. Stat. §72A.201 subd. 5(9) Checked 2026-10-09 |
| Roof payment | Replacement cost coverage: covers code-required work and, in a partial loss, only the damaged portion unless the policy says more | “In the case of a partial loss, unless more extensive coverage is otherwise specified in the policy, this coverage applies only to the damaged portion of the property.” | Minn. Stat. §65A.10 subd. 1 Checked 2026-10-09 |
| Storm claim | Non-renewal for wind or hail losses: only after 3 or more covered losses over $10,000 in 5 years, with 60 days notice | “An insurer may refuse to renew a policy of homeowner's insurance if the insured had three or more covered losses each over $10,000 resulting from lightning, wind, rain, or hail during the five-year period immediately preceding the refusal to renew.” | Minn. Stat. §65A.29 subd. 8a(a)-(b) Checked 2026-10-09 |
| Storm claim | Percentage wind/hail deductible: insurer must give 60 days notice, offer a flat-dollar option | “the insurer provides the insured at least 60 days' advance notice of the insurer's offer to revise the deductible in a manner consistent with this section;” | Minn. Stat. §65A.29 subd. 8a(d) Checked 2026-10-09 |
| Storm claim | Hail policies carry their own appraisal clause and a one-year suit limit | “No suit for the recovery of any claim by virtue of this policy may be sustained unless commenced within one year after the loss occurred."” | Minn. Stat. §65A.26 Checked 2026-10-09 |
When hail hits Minnesota
Across 62 Minnesota counties the NOAA file holds 4,210 hail reports (2014 to June 2026). Peak month: Jun. Largest stone reported: 6.0 inches. A percentage deductible matters most in the months with the tallest bars.
| County with the most reports | Reports | Largest stone |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | 239 | 3.0 in |
| Hennepin County | 165 | 3.0 in |
| Otter Tail County | 150 | 3.25 in |
| Crow Wing County | 142 | 4.0 in |
| Itasca County | 134 | 3.0 in |
What a percentage deductible costs on your policy
Some policies set the wind or hail deductible as a percentage of the dwelling coverage. Put in the two numbers from your declarations page. This is plain multiplication; the rule above controls how the percentage may be used, not how much it is.
Depends on your policy. Enter both numbers to see the dollar amount you would pay first.
What changes for a homeowner
- If a letter says your policy will not renew, check the date. The notice must come at least 60 days ahead and must state a specific reason.
- An old roof is not named as a ground in the closed list in Minn. R. 2880.0200. A hazard you refused to fix, after two written requests, is a ground.
- Hail, wind and lightning claims do not count toward the two-or-more-losses ground, though a separate storm-loss ground exists in §65A.29.
- If your insurer offers a percentage deductible for wind or hail, you can keep a flat-dollar deductible by not electing the percentage one.
- A FORTIFIED certificate can earn a required discount, but it applies to the wind part of the premium.
What to ask your insurer
Ask in writing and keep the replies. The box below turns these questions into a letter you can copy.
- Does my renewal notice give a specific reason, and can you point to the item in Minn. R. 2880.0200 it relies on?
- Is the age of my roof used to rate or to decide whether to renew my policy?
- If you say my roof is a hazard, will you send two written requests that name the condition and what to fix?
- Do any storm losses on my record count toward a loss-based non-renewal?
- If you offer a percentage deductible for wind or hail, what is the flat-dollar option and what do I pay if I do not elect?
- Does a FORTIFIED roof certificate change my premium, and for which part of the premium?
What we could not confirm
- Roof payment schedules by age: not found in Minn. Stat. §72A.20, §65A.29, §65A.01, §65A.10 or Minn. R. ch. 2880 (parts 2880.0100 to 2880.0800 opened).
- Cosmetic-damage exclusions for roofs: not found in the statute and rule pages above; the Commerce Department insurance page we opened has no roof section.
- A rule that names roof age in an underwriting refusal: not found in the open texts; §72A.20 subd. 13 speaks of the primary structure and building parts.
Sources, with dates
- Minn. Stat. §72A.20 subd. 13(a)(2) (statute, accessed 2026-10-09)
- Minn. Stat. §65A.29 subd. 7 (statute, accessed 2026-10-09)
- Minn. R. 2880.0200 (rule, accessed 2026-10-09)
- Minn. Stat. §65A.01 subd. 3a(1)(d) (statute, accessed 2026-10-09)
- Minn. Stat. §65A.298 subd. 4(d) (statute, accessed 2026-10-09)
Last verified 2026-10-09. For a complaint or a question about your own policy, contact the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
Questions people ask
Can a Minnesota insurer refuse my home because it is old?
Not solely because of the age of the primary structure. Minn. Stat. §72A.20 subd. 13 calls that an unfair practice, but it allows rating by the age of a part that affects risk, such as plumbing or wiring.
How much notice must I get before non-renewal?
At least 60 days, with a specific reason, under Minn. Stat. §65A.29 subd. 7.
Do hail claims count against me for non-renewal?
Under Minn. R. 2880.0200 item G, losses from hail, wind and lightning do not count toward the two-or-more-losses ground. A separate storm-loss ground exists in §65A.29.
What if I disagree with a non-renewal?
File a written objection with the Commissioner within 30 days of receiving the notice (§65A.29 subd. 9).
Related pages
- Minnesota insurer claim deadlines
- FORTIFIED Roof incentives by state (no Minnesota page yet)
- Roof age and insurance: the general guide
- Actual cash value or replacement cost for a roof
- All states
Other states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington
Minnesota cities we cover
Census data counts when homes were built, not when roofs were last replaced, so home age is only a rough guide to roof age.
| City | Median year homes were built | Homes built before 1980 | Roof age page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | 1951 | 78.3% | How old are the roofs in Duluth |
| Mankato | 1981 | 49.6% | How old are the roofs in Mankato |
| Rochester | 1987 | 42.2% | How old are the roofs in Rochester |
| St. Cloud | 1980 | 49.7% | How old are the roofs in St. Cloud |