Colorado insurance guide · Updated Oct 22, 2026
How long do I have to file a hail claim in Colorado?Usually your policy decides, and it’s often one year.
There’s no single Colorado deadline. Here’s where to find yours, why “two years” is a myth, and what the Colorado Supreme Court said in 2024 about late claims.
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The short answer
Your policy sets the reporting deadline. Many say one year for hail.
Colorado doesn’t have one statewide deadline for reporting hail damage to your insurer. The deadline is in your policy, usually in the “Conditions” or “Duties after loss” section. Many homeowners policies require notice of wind or hail damage within 365 days of the storm. The policy in the Gregory case, for example, said: “With respect to loss caused by the peril of Windstorm or Hail, the notice must be within 365 days after the date of the loss.” Gregory v. Safeco, 2024 CO 13 (Colo. Supreme Court)
What to do: find your policy (your agent or your insurer’s app can send it), search it for “hail,” “notice” or “365,” and write the deadline next to your storm date. If you can’t tell, ask your agent in writing.
Storm this year?
Check before the clock runs.
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Two different clocks
Reporting the damage vs. suing your insurer.
Clock 1: Reporting the loss
Set by your policy. This is when you must tell your insurer about the damage. Often one year for hail and wind. Check your own policy.
Clock 2: Filing a lawsuit
Only matters if there’s a dispute. Colorado law says a homeowners policy can’t require you to sue in less time than the statute of limitations allows (C.R.S. 10-4-110.8(12)). For contract claims that is generally three years (C.R.S. 13-80-101). An attorney can tell you which limit applies to you.
The “two years” myth
Some websites say you have two years to file a roof claim in Colorado. That mixes up the clocks. Don’t plan around it; plan around what your policy says.
What if I’m late?
Late isn’t always the end. But don’t test it.
In Gregory v. Safeco, a homeowner reported May 2017 hail damage about 18 months after the storm, past her policy’s 365-day notice clause. The Colorado Court of Appeals sided with the insurer in 2022. Gregory v. Safeco, 2022 COA 45 (reversed)
The Colorado Supreme Court reversed that decision in March 2024. It held that the “notice-prejudice rule” applies to homeowners property policies like hers. In plain English: if notice was late and the delay was unreasonable, the insurer can deny the claim for lateness only if it proves the delay hurt it (for example, it could no longer tell which storm caused the damage). Gregory v. Safeco, 2024 CO 13 (Colo. Supreme Court)
That helps homeowners, but it isn’t a free pass. A late claim can still be denied, it can turn into a fight about which storm did the damage, and you may need an attorney. Reporting within your policy’s window is the safe path.
Why waiting hurts
- Hail damage often doesn’t leak right away. By the time a stain shows up, the storm may be past your policy’s window.
- A newer storm muddies the picture. If another storm hits before you file, the insurer may question which date caused the damage.
- Evidence fades. Dents in soft metal and fresh hits on shingles are easiest to tie to a date right after the storm.
Step by step
What to do after a hailstorm.
1. Write down the date
Note the date and time, and take photos of hailstones, dented cars or gutters. Match it to NOAA reports on our 2026 storm dates page.
2. Find your deadline
Look up the notice clause in your policy. If you can’t find it, ask your agent in writing.
3. Get an inspection
A free inspection tells you if there’s real damage before you file. See our “Should I file?” checklist.
4. Report it in time
You file the claim with your insurer. Keep the claim number, the adjuster’s name and every letter.
Homey is a roofing contractor. We inspect, document damage and can meet your adjuster on site. We don’t negotiate your claim or give legal advice. For a coverage dispute, talk to a Colorado insurance attorney.
Claim deadline FAQ
Questions about Colorado hail claim deadlines.
Call or text (720) 948-5726, Mon–Sat 9–7.
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How long do I have to report hail damage in Colorado?
It depends on your policy. Many Colorado homeowners policies say hail or wind damage must be reported within 365 days (one year) of the storm, but your policy may say something different. Read the conditions section of your own policy or ask your agent. Report as soon as you know about damage, and don’t wait for a leak.
Is it true I have two years to file a roof claim in Colorado?
Don’t count on it. You may see “two years” online, but the reporting deadline comes from your policy, and many policies use one year for hail and wind. Colorado law also separately limits how short a policy can make the time to sue your insurer (C.R.S. 10-4-110.8). Those are two different clocks. Check your own policy.
What if I missed my policy’s deadline?
Talk to a Colorado insurance attorney before you give up. In 2024 the Colorado Supreme Court held that a homeowners insurer generally can’t deny a claim just for late notice unless the insurer shows the delay hurt it (Gregory v. Safeco, 2024 CO 13). That doesn’t make deadlines optional, and every case is different. Reporting on time is still the safe path.
Does the deadline start on the storm date or when I noticed the damage?
Read your policy’s wording. Many clauses count from the date of the loss, meaning the storm date, not the day you noticed. That’s why a free inspection soon after a storm is worth it.
An adjuster already said my roof was fine. Can I still file for a 2026 storm?
If the earlier inspection was for an older storm, a new storm is a new date of loss, so a 2026 storm is a separate claim. If your 2026 claim was closed with no payment, you can ask your insurer for a re-inspection and send documentation. We document what we find and can meet the adjuster on site. Coverage decisions are your insurer’s.
Can I cancel a roofing contract after I sign it?
Colorado’s roofing contractor law (C.R.S. 6-22-104) lets you cancel a roofing contract that’s being paid from insurance within 72 hours after your insurer sends written notice that it denied all or part of the claim. The same law requires a written contract (C.R.S. 6-22-103). Ask the contractor to show you the cancellation section before you sign.
Sources: Gregory v. Safeco, 2024 CO 13 (Colo. Supreme Court) · Gregory v. Safeco, 2022 COA 45 (reversed) · C.R.S. 10-4-110.8 · C.R.S. 13-80-101 · C.R.S. 6-22-104 · NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports. Written by Jeff Kish, founder of Homey Roofing and Restoration (in roofing since 2009). Reviewed by Allie Whitworth, Homey sales & operations and licensed Colorado REALTOR® with RE/MAX Professionals. Last reviewed Oct 22, 2026. General information, not legal or insurance advice. Your own policy controls: read your declarations page and policy form, and ask your agent or a Colorado attorney about your situation.