What is code upgrade coverage?

Building codes change over time. When a roof is replaced, current code may require things the original roof never had — extra ice-and-water shield, a drip edge, specific fastener patterns, or upgraded decking.

Code upgrade coverage (sometimes called ordinance or law coverage) pays for that required work. It’s a separate line in many policies, and carriers often leave it off the first scope because the adjuster didn’t flag the code requirement.

If the homeowner’s policy includes it, code-required items are some of the cleanest supplements you’ll file — the work is mandatory, so it’s hard for a carrier to deny once you show the code reference.