At a glance
- Who
- Florida homeowners who sign a contract for goods or services away from the seller's business location
- What
- Under sections 501.025 and 501.031, the buyer may cancel until midnight of the third business day after signing.
- When
- Within three business days, counted as business days and not calendar days
- Where
- Florida Statutes chapter 501, part of the state's consumer law
- Why
- If the rule applies, you get your cash down payment back
The short answer
Florida's home solicitation sales law lets a buyer cancel until midnight of the third business day after signing. The text of section 501.025 says so, and section 501.031 counts business days, not calendar days. Read them at the Florida Legislature website.
The rule is not for every contract. A sale you asked for is excluded, and that is the part most people miss. This page is plain-language help, not legal advice.
When the rule applies
Section 501.021(1) defines a home solicitation sale as a sale of consumer goods or services at a place other than the seller's fixed location business establishment. A contract signed at your kitchen table can fit that definition.
The same subsection excludes a sale that results from a request for specific goods or services by the buyer. So if you contacted a contractor and asked for a particular job, the law may treat the sale as outside the rule. Where the line sits in a real case is not always clear, and we did not find a buyer-initiated emergency repair exception either way. If you are unsure, ask a Florida attorney.
Do not assume you have a cancellation right on any contract. Read your contract and ask the contractor what its cancellation terms are before you sign.
Want to review a contract first?
Leave your name and number. We call back by the next business day to set up a free in-home visit and a written estimate you can read before you decide.
Prefer to talk now? Call or text (941) 284-2218.
How the three days work
- Business days. The deadline is before midnight of the third business day after you sign. Section 501.031 counts business days, so weekends do not count as days.
- No special form. Under 501.025, a notice needs no particular form, and a mailed notice is effective when postmarked.
- Put it in writing. Section 501.031 refers to written notice. Send it so you can prove the date, and keep a copy.
- Your deposit. The seller may not keep all or part of a cash down payment if the buyer cancels.
Both 501.025 and 501.031 state the third-business-day deadline. We could not confirm how they relate in every case, so use the earlier date to be safe.
Roof contracts after a declared emergency are different
Section 489.147(6)(a) gives a residential owner the right to cancel a roof repair or replacement contract without penalty within 10 days, if it was signed within 180 days of events behind a declared state of emergency and the property is in the affected area. A contractor who signs a roof contract during a declared emergency must include a bold, 14-point cancellation notice. Our guide on hiring a contractor after a hurricane goes deeper.
Before you sign anything
- Read the whole contract and ask what the cancellation terms are.
- Check the license. See how to check a contractor license.
- Compare at least two written estimates. See how to compare remodeling estimates.
- Do not sign under pressure. A fair contractor will give you time.
- Look for the lien warning in the contract. See Florida construction lien law.
Three scenarios
These are readings of the statute for illustration, not legal advice.
- A door-to-door salesperson shows up unasked and you sign at your table. That looks like a home solicitation sale, so the third business day rule is likely to apply.
- You call a contractor, ask for a specific job and sign at your home. The statute excludes a sale resulting from a request for specific goods or services by the buyer, so the rule may not apply. Read the contract's own cancellation terms.
- You sign a roof contract after a declared emergency. Section 489.147(6) can give you ten days, which is longer.
Keep your records
Keep the signed contract, any deposit receipt, the date you signed and any texts or emails. If you cancel, keep the notice, the proof of sending and any reply. Count business days on a calendar and note the date and time you sent your notice. If a dispute starts, those records are what an attorney or the state consumer office will ask for.
If you want to cancel
Write a short note stating the contract you are canceling and the date you signed. Send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail or email with a read receipt, and keep a copy. If it is past the third business day, check your contract for cancellation terms and call the contractor. If the contractor refuses to return a down payment you are owed, a Florida attorney or the state's consumer protection office can help.
How Hildebrand handles contracts
Hildebrand Construction & Remodeling quotes every job after an on-site visit, with a free in-home consultation and a written estimate, no trip fee. We are a Florida licensed general contractor (CBC1257253). The price does not change without your written approval. Our guarantee covers workmanship in writing, and manufacturer warranties pass through.
Ask us to walk you through the contract and its terms before you sign. See our process.
Questions homeowners ask
Do I have three days to cancel any contract in Florida?
No. The rule is for home solicitation sales, which means sales away from the seller's fixed business location. A sale that results from your own request for specific goods or services is excluded.
Are weekends counted in the three days?
Section 501.031 counts business days, not calendar days.
How do I cancel?
Give written notice. Under 501.025, no particular form is required, and a mailed notice is effective on postmarking.
Do I get my down payment back?
Under 501.031, the seller may not keep all or part of a cash down payment if the buyer cancels under the law.
Is there a longer cancellation period for roof contracts?
Yes, in one case. Section 489.147(6)(a) gives 10 days for a roof contract signed within 180 days of a declared emergency, for a property in the affected area.
See our estimate before you decide
Book a free in-home consultation and written estimate with a Florida licensed general contractor serving Manatee, Sarasota and south Hillsborough counties.