Insurer Used an Aerial or Drone Photo of Your Roof

The short answer

Many insurers now check roofs using photos taken from planes, drones, or satellites, often without anyone visiting your home. These photos can be old, blurry, or misread. You can ask for a copy of the image and the date it was taken, then answer with current dated photos and a written inspection. A growing number of states limit how insurers can use these images.

Is this you?

Your letter mentions “aerial imagery,” “overhead images,” or a drone or satellite photo.
Nobody from the insurance company came to look at your roof.
The photo may show a problem you already fixed, or a roof you already replaced.
The letter mentions staining, streaking, debris, or a patched area.

How insurers use aerial images

Insurers buy images from companies that photograph large areas from the air. Software and staff then look for signs of trouble, such as stains, missing shingles, patches, tarps, debris, or trees hanging over the roof. Insurers use these images when they write a new policy, at renewal, and sometimes when they handle a claim.

The problem is that a photo from above can mislead. It may be months or years old. Shadows can look like damage. United Policyholders, a consumer group, has noted cases where features like skylights or solar panels were misread as roof damage.

What state regulators have said

Insurance departments in many states have issued guidance on aerial images. The details differ, but the themes are similar: cosmetic issues alone are not enough, unclear images should be checked in person, and homeowners should get a chance to respond.

State	Guidance	Key points
Connecticut	Notice, March 2024	Discoloration or streaking alone is not enough. Unless images clearly show material damage, insurers should do a physical inspection or accept a report from a licensed roofer or contractor.
Pennsylvania	Notice 2024-06, May 2024	Images of cosmetic issues should not be the only evidence. A physical inspection is “prudent” when damage is unclear. Notices must give specific reasons.
Massachusetts	Bulletin 2025-02, April 2025	Cosmetic issues should not be the only basis. Unclear images call for more review, such as a physical inspection. Insurers should review disputes on time.
North Carolina	Bulletin 25-B-09, August 2025	Use recent, accurate images. Owners should get copies of the images and a chance to dispute them.
Vermont	Bulletin 241, August 2026	Images older than 24 months are generally not appropriate for major decisions. Insurers must give copies if asked and let owners correct information.

A bulletin explains what a regulator expects. It is not always the same as a law, but citing it in your response can help.

States with laws on aerial images

Louisiana. Since 2024 (La. R.S. 22:1339), an insurer may not rely only on aerial images to cancel or non-renew a homeowners policy unless the images were taken within 24 months.
Indiana. A 2026 law (HB 1260) says that when a non-renewal is based only on aerial images, the notice must explain how to review the images, which must be from the past 24 months. You get at least 60 days to fix the problems and a way to appeal. Bill summaries say these rules apply to policies issued or renewed starting January 1, 2027.
Georgia. The Georgia Insurance Fairness Act (HB 1344), signed in May 2026, requires insurers that use aerial or satellite images to cancel or non-renew to give the homeowner copies of recent, date-stamped images and at least 60 days to address the issues.
California (proposed). A 2026 bill, AB 1559, would bar using images older than 180 days to cancel or non-renew and would let homeowners ask for in-person verification. It was not law when we checked.

If your state is not listed, ask your state department of insurance whether it has issued guidance. See our guide to “age or condition” letters for how age rules work in states like Florida and California.

How to get the photo and its date

Ask in writing. Email your insurer or agent: “Please send a copy of each aerial image used in this decision, the date each image was taken, and the specific condition you found.”
Ask whether anyone inspected in person. If not, ask whether the insurer will do a physical inspection or accept a report from your roofer.
Ask what would change the decision. A repair, a certification, or proof of a newer roof.
Keep a record. Note the date of every call and the name of the person you spoke with.

How to dispute it

Compare the photo date with your records. If you replaced or repaired the roof after that date, send the invoice, permit, and photos of the finished work.
Get current, dated photos. A roofer or inspector can take them, often with a drone. Ask for photos of the exact spots the insurer flagged.
Get a written inspection. It should describe each flagged item and estimate remaining roof life. A roof certification is one form many insurers accept.
Repair what is real. If the photo shows true damage, fix it and send before and after photos with receipts.
Send one package before your deadline and ask for a written decision. See how to appeal a roof non-renewal.
Complain if you are ignored. Your state department of insurance takes complaints. Mention any bulletin or law above that applies.
Shop at the same time. Do not wait. See getting new insurance with an older roof.

Good to know

Please do not climb on your roof to take photos. Ground photos with a phone zoom, or drone photos from a roofer or inspector, work well. Make sure each photo shows the date.

Want current photos of your roof?

A local roofer can photograph and check the spots your insurer flagged and tell you whether a repair, a certification, or a replacement makes sense. Free, with no obligation.

Talk to someone about my roof

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Common questions

Can my insurer photograph my roof without asking me?

In most places, insurers are not required to ask first. They usually buy images that cover whole neighborhoods. California lawmakers proposed requiring advance notice in 2026, but that bill was not law when we checked.

How old can the photo be?

It depends on your state. Louisiana and Indiana use a 24-month limit in the situations their laws cover, and Vermont says images older than 24 months are generally not appropriate. Elsewhere, ask for the date and point out if the image is outdated.

What if my insurer will not send the photo?

Ask again in writing and mention your state’s guidance if there is one. North Carolina, Vermont, and Georgia expect or require insurers to share images. If you still get nothing, contact your state department of insurance.

I replaced my roof. Why does the photo still show the old one?

The insurer may be using an image taken before the work. Send the invoice, permit, and new photos, and ask them to update their records in writing.

Where to go next

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