Wisconsin roofing contract rules
What a Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin customer can cancel a covered door-to-door home sale until midnight of the 3rd business day after the seller gave the required cancellation notice (3 business days, Wis. Stat. 423.202(1)). The federal rule adds 3 business days for sales made at your home (16 CFR 429). In Wisconsin, money an owner pays a contractor for improvements is a trust fund for the contractor's unpaid labor and material bills, and using it for anything else first is theft (Wis. Stat. 779.02(5)). A Wisconsin lien claim must be filed with the circuit court clerk within 6 months after the claimant last furnished labor, services or materials (Wis. Stat. 779.06(1)). 14 rules on this page are quoted from official statutes, agency rules or regulator pages; 8 more are marked not confirmed.
State cancel period
3 business days
Wis. Stat. 423.202(1)
Deposit rule
Rule quoted
Wis. Stat. 779.02(5)
Lien filing deadline
6 months
Wis. Stat. 779.06(1)
Written contract
Rule quoted
Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.05(1)
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.
Wisconsin 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: Wisconsin checklist
Every line below comes from a rule on this page. Tick a line as you check it.
Wisconsin: written contract
| Rule | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A Wisconsin home improvement contract and every change to it must be in writing when you pay anything before the work is finished or when the seller solicited you at your door, by mail or by phone. | Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.05(1) Covers: Home improvement contracts as defined in ATCP 110.01; the second written-contract trigger is a seller-initiated solicitation away from the seller's place of business, by mail or telephone, or by handbill. | |
| A required Wisconsin home improvement contract must be signed by all parties and state the seller's name and address, the work and materials, the total price, and the start and finish dates. | Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.05(2) Covers: Home improvement contracts that must be in writing under ATCP 110.05(1) or that the buyer signs in writing. |
Wisconsin: right to cancel
The federal rule (16 CFR §429.1(a)) gives 3 business days for a sale made at your home. Rules of Wisconsin below are added to it.
| Rule | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A Wisconsin customer can cancel a covered door-to-door home sale until midnight of the 3rd business day after the seller gave the required cancellation notice. The statute says business days without defining them; the calculator counts every weekday and shows the earliest possible date, so confirm the real last day with the seller in writing. |
3 business days counted from the day the notice is given |
Wis. Stat. 423.202(1) Covers: Consumer approval transactions, meaning sales started by a seller's visit, mail or phone solicitation and signed away from the seller's regular place of business; section 423.202(4) lists cases where the right does not apply, such as a written emergency statement from the customer. |
| The Wisconsin cancel right covers sales started by a visit, mailing or phone call to you and signed away from the seller's regular place of business. | Wis. Stat. 423.201(1) Covers: Consumer transactions other than real property sales and auction sales; the cash amount paid must exceed $25 or the sale must involve credit. | |
| After a Wisconsin customer cancels a covered sale, the seller must return all money paid, including a down payment, within 10 days. | 10 days counted from the day the notice is given |
Wis. Stat. 423.204(1) Covers: Consumer approval transactions cancelled under section 423.202. |
| A Wisconsin homeowner who prepaid for home improvement work or materials can cancel and demand the unspent money back if the contractor misses the deadline or gives no notice of a delay. | Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.07(1)-(2) Covers: Home improvement contracts where the buyer paid before the seller provided the materials or services; the buyer must deliver written notice to the seller under ATCP 110.07(3). | |
| A Wisconsin contractor must return the buyer's unspent payments within 15 calendar days after the buyer's written demand is served. | 15 days counted from the day the notice is given |
Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.07(4)(a) Covers: Buyers who demanded return of payments under ATCP 110.07(2)(b). |
Wisconsin: deposits and down payments
| Rule | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| In Wisconsin, money an owner pays a contractor for improvements is a trust fund for the contractor's unpaid labor and material bills, and using it for anything else first is theft. | Wis. Stat. 779.02(5) Covers: Prime contractors and subcontractors who receive owner payments or mortgage proceeds for improvements; amounts in bona fide dispute are excepted. |
Wisconsin: Mechanic's lien
| Rule | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A Wisconsin supplier or subcontractor must serve the owner a written lien notice within 60 days after first furnishing labor or materials, or lose lien rights. | 60 days counted from the date the rule names |
Wis. Stat. 779.02(2)(b) Covers: Lien claimants other than the prime contractor; section 779.02(1) excepts laborers, anyone who contracted directly with the owner, and larger or non-residential projects. |
| A Wisconsin prime contractor who will hire subcontractors or suppliers must put a lien-rights notice in its written contract with the owner and give the owner a copy of the contract. | Wis. Stat. 779.02(2)(a) Covers: Prime contractors under contract with the owner who have hired or will hire subcontractors, suppliers or service providers; with no written contract the notice is served separately within 10 days after the first labor or materials. | |
| A Wisconsin lien claimant must serve the owner a written notice of intent to file a lien at least 30 days before filing the lien claim. | 30 days counted from the date the rule names |
Wis. Stat. 779.06(2) Covers: All construction lien claimants, whether or not they gave the earlier notice under section 779.02. |
| A Wisconsin lien claim must be filed with the circuit court clerk within 6 months after the claimant last furnished labor, services or materials. | 6 months counted from the last day of work or delivery of materials |
Wis. Stat. 779.06(1) Covers: Construction lien claimants under section 779.01. |
| A Wisconsin lien claimant must start a court action within 2 years after filing the lien claim, or the lien no longer exists. | 2 years counted from the date the rule names |
Wis. Stat. 779.06(1) Covers: Construction lien claimants under section 779.01. |
Wisconsin: after a disaster
| Rule | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin bans unreasonably excessive prices on consumer goods and services once the governor certifies by executive order a period of abnormal economic disruption. | Wis. Stat. 100.305(2) Covers: Sellers during an emergency, including a tornado, flood, fire, storm or other destructive act of nature, that the governor certified by executive order; the department may seek a civil forfeiture of up to $10,000. |
What we could not confirm in Wisconsin
- A cap on the deposit a Wisconsin roofer may ask for: not confirmed. Not found in the sections read (Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.01-110.07 and Wis. Stat. 779.02, 779.06); ATCP 110.05(7) caps liquidated damages at 10% of the contract price but sets no deposit limit.
- Rules on a Wisconsin contractor negotiating or adjusting an insurance claim for the owner: not confirmed. No section on contractors acting as public adjusters was read; only chapters 423, 779, 100.305 and ATCP 110 were searched.
- A ban on a Wisconsin roofer waiving or rebating the insurance deductible: not confirmed. Not found in the sections read (Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110 and Wis. Stat. 423, 779, 100.305).
- Rules on assigning insurance benefits to a roofer in Wisconsin: not confirmed. Not found in the sections read (Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110 and Wis. Stat. 423, 779, 100.305).
- A required roofing-contract notice about insurance coverage in Wisconsin: not confirmed. Only ATCP 110.05(4), which covers insurance or protection the seller promises to provide, was read; no rule requiring a notice about the owner's homeowner insurance was found.
- A right to cancel a Wisconsin roofing contract if the insurer denies the claim: not confirmed. Not found in Wis. Stat. 423.201-423.205 or Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.01-110.09.
- Extra registration or licensing for roofers after a disaster in Wisconsin: not confirmed. Not found in the sections read (Wis. Stat. 100.305 and Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110).
- A limit on roofing deposits after a declared emergency in Wisconsin: not confirmed. Not found in the sections read; the price formulas that Wis. Stat. 100.305(3) assigns to the department (ch. ATCP 106) were not read.
Wisconsin contract questions
- How long can I cancel a roofing contract in Wisconsin?
- Wis. Stat. 423.202(1): 3 business days, counted from the day the notice is given. 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). The statute says business days without defining them; the calculator counts every weekday and shows the earliest possible date, so confirm the real last day with the seller in writing.
- What are the deposit rules for a roofing job in Wisconsin?
- Wis. Stat. 779.02(5): In Wisconsin, money an owner pays a contractor for improvements is a trust fund for the contractor's unpaid labor and material bills, and using it for anything else first is theft.
- What is a mechanic's lien on a house in Wisconsin?
- Wis. Stat. 779.06(1): A Wisconsin lien claim must be filed with the circuit court clerk within 6 months after the claimant last furnished labor, services or materials.
Why contracts get signed fast after a Wisconsin hailstorm
NOAA lists 8 Wisconsin cities in our data with 112 city-days of hail at 1 inch or more since 2014; the largest stone was 4.5 inches and the busiest month is Apr.
Wisconsin cities we cover
| City | Cost | Roofers |
|---|---|---|
| Appleton | Roof age | Roofers in Appleton |
| Eau Claire | Roof age | Roofers in Eau Claire |
| Green Bay | Roof age | Roofers in Green Bay |
| Janesville | Roof age | Roofers in Janesville |
| Kenosha | Roof age | Roofers in Kenosha |
| La Crosse | Roof age | Roofers in La Crosse |
| Oshkosh | Roof age | Roofers in Oshkosh |
| Racine | Roof age | Roofers in Racine |
Where each Wisconsin rule comes from
| Rule | Source | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Written contract: no fixed number A Wisconsin home improvement contract and every change to it must be in writing when you pay anything before the work is finished or when the seller solicited you at your door, by mail or by phone. |
Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.05(1) agency rule Quote“The following home improvement contracts and all changes in the terms and conditions thereof, shall be in writing ... Contracts requiring any payment of money or other consideration by the buyer prior to completion of the seller” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-02-10 |
| Written contract: no fixed number A required Wisconsin home improvement contract must be signed by all parties and state the seller's name and address, the work and materials, the total price, and the start and finish dates. |
Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.05(2) agency rule Quote“the written contract shall be signed by all parties and shall clearly, accurately and legibly set forth all material terms and conditions of the contract, including ... The total price or other consideration to be paid by the buyer, including all finance charges ... The dates or time period on or within which the work is to begin and be completed by the seller.” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-02-10 |
| Right to cancel: 3 business days A Wisconsin customer can cancel a covered door-to-door home sale until midnight of the 3rd business day after the seller gave the required cancellation notice. |
Wis. Stat. 423.202(1) statute text Quote“a customer has the right to cancel a consumer approval transaction until midnight of the 3rd business day after the merchant has given the notice to the customer in accordance with s. 423.203” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-05-17 |
| Right to cancel: no fixed number The Wisconsin cancel right covers sales started by a visit, mailing or phone call to you and signed away from the seller's regular place of business. |
Wis. Stat. 423.201(1) statute text Quote“Is initiated by face-to-face solicitation away from a regular place of business of the merchant or by mail or telephone solicitation directed to the particular customer” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2022-01-25 |
| Right to cancel: 10 days After a Wisconsin customer cancels a covered sale, the seller must return all money paid, including a down payment, within 10 days. |
Wis. Stat. 423.204(1) statute text Quote“Within 10 days after a consumer approval transaction has been canceled, the merchant shall cause any money paid by the customer, including a down payment, to be returned to the customer” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-06-04 |
| Right to cancel: no fixed number A Wisconsin homeowner who prepaid for home improvement work or materials can cancel and demand the unspent money back if the contractor misses the deadline or gives no notice of a delay. |
Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.07(1)-(2) agency rule Quote“a buyer pays a seller for any home improvement materials or services before the seller provides those materials or services to the buyer, the buyer may proceed under sub. (2) if any of the following occurs ... The seller fails to provide the materials or services by a deadline specified in the home improvement contract.” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-03-02 |
| Right to cancel: 15 days A Wisconsin contractor must return the buyer's unspent payments within 15 calendar days after the buyer's written demand is served. |
Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 110.07(4)(a) agency rule Quote“the seller shall return those payments to the buyer within 15 calendar days after the buyer’s demand is served on the seller under sub. (3)” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-03-02 |
| Deposits and down payments: no fixed number In Wisconsin, money an owner pays a contractor for improvements is a trust fund for the contractor's unpaid labor and material bills, and using it for anything else first is theft. |
Wis. Stat. 779.02(5) statute text Quote“all moneys paid to any prime contractor or subcontractor by any owner for improvements, constitute a trust fund only in the hands of the prime contractor or subcontractor to the amount of all claims due or to become due” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-12-14 |
| Mechanic's lien: 60 days A Wisconsin supplier or subcontractor must serve the owner a written lien notice within 60 days after first furnishing labor or materials, or lose lien rights. |
Wis. Stat. 779.02(2)(b) statute text Quote“only if within 60 days after performing, furnishing, or procuring the first labor, services, materials, plans, or specifications the person serves a written notice, in 2 signed copies, on the owner or authorized agent” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-12-14 |
| Mechanic's lien: no fixed number A Wisconsin prime contractor who will hire subcontractors or suppliers must put a lien-rights notice in its written contract with the owner and give the owner a copy of the contract. |
Wis. Stat. 779.02(2)(a) statute text Quote“shall include in any written contract with the owner the notice required by this paragraph, and shall provide the owner with a copy of the written contract” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-12-14 |
| Mechanic's lien: 30 days A Wisconsin lien claimant must serve the owner a written notice of intent to file a lien at least 30 days before filing the lien claim. |
Wis. Stat. 779.06(2) statute text Quote“No lien claim may be filed or action brought thereon unless, at least 30 days before timely filing of the lien claim, the lien claimant serves on the owner a written notice of intent to file a lien claim.” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-03-14 |
| Mechanic's lien: 6 months A Wisconsin lien claim must be filed with the circuit court clerk within 6 months after the claimant last furnished labor, services or materials. |
Wis. Stat. 779.06(1) statute text Quote“unless within 6 months from the date the lien claimant performed, furnished, or procured the last labor, services, materials, plans, or specifications, a claim for the lien is filed in the office of the clerk of circuit court” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-03-14 |
| Mechanic's lien: 2 years A Wisconsin lien claimant must start a court action within 2 years after filing the lien claim, or the lien no longer exists. |
Wis. Stat. 779.06(1) statute text Quote“unless within 2 years from the date of filing a claim for lien an action is brought and summons and complaint filed” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2026-03-14 |
| After a disaster: no fixed number Wisconsin bans unreasonably excessive prices on consumer goods and services once the governor certifies by executive order a period of abnormal economic disruption. |
Wis. Stat. 100.305(2) statute text Quote“No seller may sell, or offer to sell, in this state at wholesale or at retail, consumer goods or services at unreasonably excessive prices if the governor, by executive order, has certified that the state or a part of the state is in a period of abnormal economic disruption.” |
2026-10-09 archived copy of official page Archived copy, 2025-11-05 |
Nearby states
Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana or all states.
Related: Wisconsin claim deadlines, Wisconsin roofers, insurer roof-age rules.