Michigan roofing contract rules
What a Michigan roofing contract must say, how long you can back out, how much a roofer may ask up front, when a lien can follow and what a roofer may do about your insurance claim. Each rule is quoted from the statute or agency rule. Checked 2026-10-09.
Short answer: A Michigan buyer can cancel a home solicitation sale until midnight of the third business day after the day the buyer signs a compliant agreement (3 business days, Michigan Compiled Laws 445.112(1)). The federal rule adds 3 business days for sales made at your home (16 CFR 429). A Michigan licensed residential contractor who uses money received for your job on other projects or obligations can be disciplined (Michigan Compiled Laws 339.2411(2)(b)). A Michigan contractor, subcontractor, laborer or supplier loses the right to a construction lien unless a claim of lien is recorded within 90 days after the last labor or material was furnished (Michigan Compiled Laws 570.1111(1)). 14 rules on this page are quoted from official statutes, agency rules or regulator pages; 9 more are marked not confirmed.
State cancel period
3 business days
Michigan Compiled Laws 445.112(1)
Deposit rule
Rule quoted
Michigan Compiled Laws 339.2411(2)(b)
Lien filing deadline
90 days
Michigan Compiled Laws 570.1111(1)
Written contract
Rule quoted
Michigan Compiled Laws 570.1114
Find your last day to cancel
Only the signing date is needed for the cancel dates. Add the other dates when they happen and the rules that start from them get a calendar day too. Counting starts the day after the date you enter.
Enter the signing date to see your dates.
Days are counted the way each rule defines them: federal “business days” skip Sundays and federal holidays and count Saturdays; where a state rule defines business days as Monday to Friday we skip Saturdays and Sundays; where a rule says business days without defining them, or just says “days”, we count every calendar day and show the earliest possible date. State holidays are not subtracted, so a real deadline can fall a day or two later than shown. If the last day lands on a weekend, do not wait for it. General information from public rules, not legal advice.
Michigan against the other states
Calendar-day equivalents are used for the bars only (business days scaled by 7/5, months by 30, years by 365); the exact unit is in the tables.
Before you sign: Michigan checklist
Every line below comes from a rule on this page. Tick a line as you check it.
Michigan: written contract
| Rule | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A Michigan contractor has no right to a construction lien on a home unless the work was done under a written contract with the owner and any changes were also in writing. This section ties the written contract to lien rights; it does not by itself say that an oral roofing agreement is void. |
Michigan Compiled Laws 570.1114 Covers: Contractors seeking a construction lien on a residential structure. | |
| A Michigan residential construction contract must state that builders and contractors need a license and, if one is required, that the contractor is licensed with the license number. | Michigan Compiled Laws 570.1114(a)-(b) Covers: Written contracts for improvements to a residential structure on which the contractor may claim a construction lien. | |
| A Michigan licensed residential builder or contractor can be penalized for failing to give you the entire agreement of the parties, including any finance or other charge. | Michigan Compiled Laws 339.2411(2)(h) Covers: Licensees and applicants under the residential builders and maintenance and alteration contractors article, for work on a residential structure. |
Michigan: right to cancel
The federal rule (16 CFR §429.1(a)) gives 3 business days for a sale made at your home. Rules of Michigan below are added to it.
| Rule | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A Michigan buyer can cancel a home solicitation sale until midnight of the third business day after the day the buyer signs a compliant agreement. Michigan defines a business day as Monday through Friday, excluding Saturday, Sunday and ten listed holidays (New Year's day, Martin Luther King's birthday, Washington's birthday, Memorial day, Independence day, Labor day, Columbus day, Veterans' day, Thanksgiving day and Christmas day); the calculator counts only weekdays, so a listed holiday in the period can make the real last day later. |
3 business days counted from the day you sign |
Michigan Compiled Laws 445.112(1) Covers: Home solicitation sales of goods or services over $25 where the seller solicits the buyer and the buyer gives the agreement at the buyer's residence. |
| The Michigan cancel right covers sales over $25 where the seller solicits you and you give your agreement or offer at your own residence. | Michigan Compiled Laws 445.111(a) Covers: The definition excludes, among others, sales made after prior negotiations at a fixed business location and sales made at the seller's fixed place of business. | |
| A Michigan buyer loses the cancel right only if the buyer asks for work without delay because of an emergency and gives the seller a separate handwritten, dated and signed statement waiving the right. | Michigan Compiled Laws 445.112(5) Covers: All listed conditions must be met, including a substantial beginning of performance by the seller and a separate dated and signed personal statement in the buyer's handwriting. | |
| After a Michigan home solicitation sale is canceled, the seller must return your payments and any note within 10 days. The notice of cancellation form in section 445.113(2) states a return period of 10 business days instead; the statute text and the form should be read together. |
10 days counted from the day the notice is given |
Michigan Compiled Laws 445.114(1) Covers: Home solicitation sales that the buyer canceled. |
Michigan: deposits and down payments
| Rule | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A Michigan licensed residential contractor who uses money received for your job on other projects or obligations can be disciplined. This section limits how received money may be used; it does not set a maximum deposit. |
Michigan Compiled Laws 339.2411(2)(b) Covers: Licensed residential builders and residential maintenance and alteration contractors. |
Michigan: Mechanic's lien
| Rule | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A Michigan subcontractor or supplier must send a notice of furnishing to the owner's designee and the general contractor within 20 days after first furnishing labor or material. | 20 days counted from the date the rule names |
Michigan Compiled Laws 570.1109(1) Covers: Subcontractors and suppliers, except as sections 108 and 108a provide; a contractor with a direct contract with the owner does not need to give this notice to keep lien rights. |
| A Michigan contractor, subcontractor, laborer or supplier loses the right to a construction lien unless a claim of lien is recorded within 90 days after the last labor or material was furnished. | 90 days counted from the last day of work or delivery of materials |
Michigan Compiled Laws 570.1111(1) Covers: Construction liens under the Construction Lien Act. |
| After recording a claim of lien in Michigan, the lien claimant must serve a copy on the person named in the notice of commencement within 15 days. Under section 570.1109 the designee is the person named in the notice of commencement, and service goes to the owner or lessee if no designee was named. |
15 days counted from the date the rule names |
Michigan Compiled Laws 570.1111(5) Covers: Contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and laborers who record a claim of lien. |
| A Michigan lien claimant must start a foreclosure action within 1 year after the claim of lien was recorded. | 1 year counted from the date the rule names |
Michigan Compiled Laws 570.1117(1) Covers: Construction liens under the Construction Lien Act. |
Michigan: other rules
| Rule | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| An unlicensed Michigan residential builder or maintenance and alteration contractor cannot sue to collect pay or place a lien on your property for work that needed a license. | Michigan Compiled Laws 339.2412(1), (3) Covers: Residential builders and residential maintenance and alteration contractors, including their qualifying officers and members. | |
| Roofing is one of the crafts covered by a Michigan residential maintenance and alteration contractor license. Section 339.2403(f) exempts a project whose aggregate contract price is under $600.00. |
Michigan Compiled Laws 339.2404(3) Covers: Residential maintenance and alteration contractor licenses. |
Michigan roofing license
Michigan's Occupational Code requires a residential builder or maintenance and alteration contractor license, with an exemption for projects under $600. Whether roofing sits inside that scope was not separately confirmed. Source, checked 2026-10-07.
What we could not confirm in Michigan
- A cap on the deposit a Michigan roofer may ask for: not confirmed. Not found in the sections read (MCL 445.111-445.114, 339.2402-339.2404, 339.2411-339.2412, 570.1109-570.1119); the home solicitation act only bars third-party pickup of payment during the cancel period.
- A rule on whether a Michigan roofer may negotiate your insurance claim: not confirmed. Not found in the sections read (MCL 339.2402-339.2412 and the Insurance Code sections 500.1201, 500.1204a and 500.1244 on producer licensing); no provision addressing roofers and claims was located.
- A ban on a Michigan roofer waiving or rebating the insurance deductible: not confirmed. Not found in the sections read (MCL 339.2402-339.2412, 445.111-445.114, 500.1201, 500.1204a, 500.1244).
- Rules on assigning insurance benefits to a roofer in Michigan: not confirmed. Not found in the sections read (MCL 339.2402-339.2412, 445.111-445.114, 500.1201, 500.1204a, 500.1244).
- A required roofing-contract notice about insurance coverage in Michigan: not confirmed. Not found in the sections read (MCL 570.1114 requires only a license statement; 445.113 covers the cancellation notice).
- A Michigan right to cancel a roofing contract if the insurer denies the claim: not confirmed. Not found in the sections read (MCL 445.111-445.114 and 570.1114).
- A price-gouging ban after a declared emergency in Michigan: not confirmed. Not found: no price-gouging section was read; MCL 445.111-445.114, 339.2402-339.2412 and 570.1109-570.1119 do not address it.
- Extra registration or licensing for roofers after a disaster in Michigan: not confirmed. Not found in the sections read (MCL 339.2402-339.2412).
- A limit on roofing deposits after a declared emergency in Michigan: not confirmed. Not found in the sections read (MCL 445.111-445.114 and 339.2411).
Michigan contract questions
- How long can I cancel a roofing contract in Michigan?
- Michigan Compiled Laws 445.112(1): 3 business days, counted from the day you sign. The federal rule gives 3 business days for sales made at your home. The median across the 25 of 27 states with a confirmed number is about 4 calendar days (business days scaled by 7/5). Michigan defines a business day as Monday through Friday, excluding Saturday, Sunday and ten listed holidays (New Year's day, Martin Luther King's birthday, Washington's birthday, Memorial day, Independence day, Labor day, Columbus day, Veterans' day, Thanksgiving day and Christmas day); the calculator counts only weekdays, so a listed holiday in the period can make the real last day later.
- What are the deposit rules for a roofing job in Michigan?
- Michigan Compiled Laws 339.2411(2)(b): A Michigan licensed residential contractor who uses money received for your job on other projects or obligations can be disciplined. This section limits how received money may be used; it does not set a maximum deposit.
- What is a mechanic's lien on a house in Michigan?
- Michigan Compiled Laws 570.1111(1): A Michigan contractor, subcontractor, laborer or supplier loses the right to a construction lien unless a claim of lien is recorded within 90 days after the last labor or material was furnished.
Why contracts get signed fast after a Michigan hailstorm
NOAA lists 8 Michigan cities in our data with 78 city-days of hail at 1 inch or more since 2014; the largest stone was 2.75 inches and the busiest month is Jul.
Michigan cities we cover
| City | Cost | Roofers |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | Roof age | Roofers in Ann Arbor |
| Battle Creek | Roof age | Roofers in Battle Creek |
| Flint | Roof age | Roofers in Flint |
| Grand Rapids | Roof age | Roofers in Grand Rapids |
| Kalamazoo | Roof age | Roofers in Kalamazoo |
| Lansing | Roof age | Roofers in Lansing |
| Muskegon | Roof age | Roofers in Muskegon |
| Saginaw | Roof age | Roofers in Saginaw |
Where each Michigan rule comes from
| Rule | Source | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Written contract: no fixed number A Michigan contractor has no right to a construction lien on a home unless the work was done under a written contract with the owner and any changes were also in writing. |
Michigan Compiled Laws 570.1114 statute text Quote“A contractor does not have a right to a construction lien on the interest of an owner or lessee in a residential structure unless the contractor has provided an improvement to the residential structure under a written contract between the owner or lessee and the contractor and any amendments or additions to the contract are also in writing.” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-12-23 |
| Written contract: no fixed number A Michigan residential construction contract must state that builders and contractors need a license and, if one is required, that the contractor is licensed with the license number. |
Michigan Compiled Laws 570.1114(a)-(b) statute text Quote“The contract required under this section shall contain a statement, in type no smaller than that of the body of the contract, stating all of the following: (a) That a residential builder or a residential maintenance and alteration contractor is required to be licensed under article 24 of the occupational code ... (b) If the contractor is required to be licensed to provide the contracted improvement, that the contractor is licensed and the contractor's license number.” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-12-23 |
| Written contract: no fixed number A Michigan licensed residential builder or contractor can be penalized for failing to give you the entire agreement of the parties, including any finance or other charge. |
Michigan Compiled Laws 339.2411(2)(h) statute text Quote“A licensee or applicant who commits 1 or more of the following is subject to the penalties set forth in article 6: ... (h) Failure to deliver to the purchaser the entire agreement of the parties including any finance or other charge arising out of or incidental to the agreement if the agreement involves repair, alteration, or addition to, subtraction from, improvement of” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-12-22 |
| Right to cancel: 3 business days A Michigan buyer can cancel a home solicitation sale until midnight of the third business day after the day the buyer signs a compliant agreement. |
Michigan Compiled Laws 445.112(1) statute text Quote“a buyer has the right to cancel a home solicitation sale until midnight of the third business day after the day on which the buyer signs an agreement or offer to purchase that complies with this act” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-09-26 |
| Right to cancel: no fixed number The Michigan cancel right covers sales over $25 where the seller solicits you and you give your agreement or offer at your own residence. |
Michigan Compiled Laws 445.111(a) statute text Quote“means a sale of goods or services of more than $25.00 in which the seller or a person acting for the seller engages in a personal, telephonic, or written solicitation of the sale, the solicitation is received by the buyer at a residence of the buyer, and the buyer's agreement or offer to purchase is there given to the seller or a person acting for the seller” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-01-19 |
| Right to cancel: no fixed number A Michigan buyer loses the cancel right only if the buyer asks for work without delay because of an emergency and gives the seller a separate handwritten, dated and signed statement waiving the right. |
Michigan Compiled Laws 445.112(5) statute text Quote“A buyer may not cancel a home solicitation sale if the buyer requests the seller to provide goods or services without delay because of an emergency, and all of the following conditions are met” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-09-26 |
| Right to cancel: 10 days After a Michigan home solicitation sale is canceled, the seller must return your payments and any note within 10 days. |
Michigan Compiled Laws 445.114(1) statute text Quote“within 10 days after a home solicitation sale has been canceled or an offer to purchase revoked the seller shall tender to the buyer any payments made by the buyer and any note or other evidence of indebtedness” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-05-16 |
| Deposits and down payments: no fixed number A Michigan licensed residential contractor who uses money received for your job on other projects or obligations can be disciplined. |
Michigan Compiled Laws 339.2411(2)(b) statute text Quote“A licensee or applicant who commits 1 or more of the following is subject to the penalties set forth in article 6: ... (b) Diversion of funds or property received for prosecution or completion of a specific construction project or operation, or for a specified purpose in the prosecution or completion of a construction project or operation, and the funds or property application or use for any other construction project or operation, obligation, or purposes.” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-12-22 |
| Mechanic's lien: 20 days A Michigan subcontractor or supplier must send a notice of furnishing to the owner's designee and the general contractor within 20 days after first furnishing labor or material. |
Michigan Compiled Laws 570.1109(1) statute text Quote“a subcontractor or supplier that contracts to provide an improvement to real property shall provide a notice of furnishing to the designee and the general contractor, if any, as named in the notice of commencement at the address shown in the notice of commencement, either personally or by certified mail, within 20 days after furnishing the first labor or material” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-05-16 |
| Mechanic's lien: 90 days A Michigan contractor, subcontractor, laborer or supplier loses the right to a construction lien unless a claim of lien is recorded within 90 days after the last labor or material was furnished. |
Michigan Compiled Laws 570.1111(1) statute text Quote“the right of a contractor, subcontractor, laborer, or supplier to a construction lien created by this act shall cease to exist unless, within 90 days after the lien claimant's last furnishing of labor or material for the improvement, pursuant to the lien claimant's contract, a claim of lien is recorded in the office of the register of deeds for each county where the real property to which the improvement was made is located” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-05-17 |
| Mechanic's lien: 15 days After recording a claim of lien in Michigan, the lien claimant must serve a copy on the person named in the notice of commencement within 15 days. |
Michigan Compiled Laws 570.1111(5) statute text Quote“within 15 days after the date of the recording, shall serve on the designee personally or by certified mail, return receipt requested, at the address shown on the notice of commencement, a copy of the claim of lien and a copy of any proof of service recorded in connection with the claim” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-05-17 |
| Mechanic's lien: 1 year A Michigan lien claimant must start a foreclosure action within 1 year after the claim of lien was recorded. |
Michigan Compiled Laws 570.1117(1) statute text Quote“Proceedings for the enforcement of a construction lien and the foreclosure of any interests subject to the construction lien shall not be brought later than 1 year after the date the claim of lien was recorded.” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-05-16 |
| Other rules: no fixed number An unlicensed Michigan residential builder or maintenance and alteration contractor cannot sue to collect pay or place a lien on your property for work that needed a license. |
Michigan Compiled Laws 339.2412(1), (3) statute text Quote“shall not bring or maintain an action in a court of this state for the collection of compensation for the performance of an act or contract for which a license is required by this article without alleging and proving that the person was licensed under this article during the performance of the act or contract. ... shall not impose or take any legal or other action to impose a lien on real property unless that person was licensed under this article during the performance of the act or contract.” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-09-15 |
| Other rules: no fixed number Roofing is one of the crafts covered by a Michigan residential maintenance and alteration contractor license. |
Michigan Compiled Laws 339.2404(3) statute text Quote“A license includes the following crafts and trades: carpentry; concrete; swimming pool installation; waterproofing a basement; excavation; insulation work; masonry work; roofing; siding and gutters” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-09-13 |
Nearby states
Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Virginia or all states.
Related: Michigan claim deadlines, Michigan roofers, insurer roof-age rules.