The Short Answer
The Michigan Consumer Protection Act (MCL 445.903) makes it unlawful for a business selling to households to use listed unfair or deceptive practices, including saying a repair is needed when it is not, inventing safety dangers, hiding material facts, and pressure-driven sales presentations. A homeowner can sue for actual damages or $250, whichever is greater, plus attorney fees. Complaints can also go to LARA for licensed contractors or to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Team.
Key Points
- MCL 445.903(1)(j) names one of the most common roofing problems directly: representing that a repair is needed when it is not.
- On 31 July 2026 the Michigan Supreme Court overruled Liss v Lewiston-Richards, which had shielded licensed home builders from most claims under the act.
- A consumer can recover actual damages or $250, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney fees (MCL 445.911).
- LARA handles license and workmanship complaints against licensed contractors but has no authority over contract, money or warranty disputes.
- Michigan small claims court hears cases up to $7,000, with no lawyers and no appeal.
What the Consumer Protection Act Covers
The Michigan Consumer Protection Act dates to 1976. Its core is MCL 445.903, which opens by declaring that "unfair, unconscionable, or deceptive methods, acts, or practices in the conduct of trade or commerce are unlawful" and then defines them in a list that runs from (a) to (ll). Some entries are general, such as failing to reveal a material fact. Others are oddly specific, such as rules for prize offers and receipts.
The act reaches "trade or commerce," which MCL 445.902 defines as a business providing goods, property or service primarily for personal, family or household purposes, including advertising, soliciting and selling. A repair to the roof of the home you live in fits that definition. A repair to a warehouse, an office building or a strip mall generally does not, because the service is bought for business purposes; commercial property owners usually rely on their contract and general contract law instead.
The act applies to the seller, licensed or not: a roofer, a handyman, a door-to-door salesperson or an out-of-state storm crew selling to a Michigan household.
Practices in MCL 445.903 That Show Up in Roof Repair
The list is long, and most of it has nothing to do with roofs. The entries below are the ones a homeowner is most likely to run into when buying a repair. The wording in quotation marks is the statute's own; the roofing example after it is ours, to show how the rule maps onto real situations.
A repair that is not needed
445.903(1)(j)
"Representing that a part, replacement, or repair service is needed when it is not." In roofing, that can look like a full replacement sold for a roof that needed a pipe boot, or decking replacement billed on a roof where the decking was sound.
An invented danger
445.903(1)(l)
Misrepresenting that a defect in the home puts the family's health, safety or lives in danger if the product or service is not bought, when the defect does not exist or the service would not remove the danger. A claim that the ceiling will collapse this week, made to close a sale, is the pattern this targets.
Credentials the company does not have
445.903(1)(a) and (c)
Causing confusion about the "source, sponsorship, approval, or certification" of goods or services, or claiming a sponsorship, approval, status or affiliation the business does not have. Claiming a manufacturer certification, an insurer's approval or a government endorsement that does not exist falls here.
Confusion about your rights
445.903(1)(n)
Causing a probability of confusion or misunderstanding about the legal rights, obligations or remedies of a party. Telling a homeowner they cannot cancel a contract they are legally entitled to cancel, or that their insurer is required to pay for something it is not, are examples.
Hidden facts and half-truths
445.903(1)(s), (bb) and (cc)
Failing to reveal a material fact the consumer could not reasonably know, making a material statement that leads a person to believe things are other than they are, and failing to reveal facts that are material in light of what the seller did say. A quote that promises a "lifetime warranty" without saying it covers only the shingles, not the labor, is the kind of omission these sections address.
Oral promises the contract does not match
445.903(1)(y)
"Gross discrepancies between the oral representations of the seller and the written agreement covering the same transaction," or failing to provide the promised benefits. If the salesperson promised new flashing and the contract says "reuse existing," this section is the one that speaks to it.
Grossly excessive price
445.903(1)(z)
Charging a price "grossly in excess of the price at which similar property or services are sold." Note the word grossly: a higher quote than a competitor's is not a violation. This is aimed at prices far outside the market, often after a storm.
Pressure and timing
445.903(1)(aa) and (q)
"Causing coercion and duress as the result of the time and nature of a sales presentation," and promising work by a date the seller knows or has reason to know it will not meet.
Deposits after a cancellation
445.903(1)(u)
Failing to promptly return a deposit or other payment when a transaction is lawfully canceled or terminated. Door-to-door contracts carry their own three-day cancellation rule, and violating that law is itself a violation of this act under subdivision (gg).
Door-to-door sales rulesWhether a particular sales pitch or contract actually violates the act is a question for a court. The examples are illustrations of the categories, not findings about any company.
The Court Decision That Changed the Act for Licensed Contractors
For almost two decades, a homeowner with a complaint against a licensed home builder had a hard time using this act at all. Section 445.904(1)(a) exempts "a transaction or conduct specifically authorized under laws administered by a regulatory board or officer." In Liss v Lewiston-Richards (2007), the Michigan Supreme Court read that broadly: because the Occupational Code licenses residential builders, the general transaction of residential building was "specifically authorized," and claims about it fell outside the act.
On 31 July 2026, in Attorney General v Eli Lilly and Company, the Supreme Court overruled both Liss and the earlier case it built on, Smith v Globe Life Insurance Co. The court held that "the proper inquiry is whether the specific transaction or conduct at issue, rather than the general transaction, is authorized by law." Courts now look first at the specific conduct the consumer says violated the act, and then ask whether a law specifically authorizes that conduct.
What that means for roofing will be settled case by case. On its face, holding a residential builder or maintenance and alteration license no longer works as a blanket shield, because no licensing law specifically authorizes, say, telling a homeowner a repair is needed when it is not. Anyone with a live dispute that started before the decision should ask an attorney how the change applies to their timeline.
What the Act Lets a Homeowner and the State Do
The act gives private consumers their own right to sue, and it gives the Attorney General separate enforcement power. They work differently, and the Attorney General does not act as a lawyer for individual homeowners.
Your own lawsuit
MCL 445.911(2)
A person who suffers a loss from a violation may recover actual damages or $250, whichever is greater, together with reasonable attorney fees. The fee provision matters: it can make a modest claim worth a lawyer's time. The act also allows a declaratory judgment or an injunction, and class actions for actual damages.
The time limit
MCL 445.911(9)
An action may not be brought more than six years after the practice occurred, or more than one year after the last payment in the transaction, whichever period ends at a later date. Contract and warranty claims have their own deadlines, so do not let either clock run while you wait.
Attorney General enforcement
MCL 445.905
The Attorney General can sue in circuit court to stop an unlawful practice, after giving the business notice and a chance to stop. For persistent and knowing violations the court may impose a civil fine of up to $25,000. Individual complaints feed the Attorney General's picture of which businesses are repeat problems.
LARA, the Attorney General, the BBB and Your Building Department
Each route does a different job. In a June 2026 consumer alert, the Attorney General's office said the common complaints it sees about home improvement work include high-pressure sales, confusion over contract terms, poor workmanship, failure to honor warranties, incomplete jobs, overcharging and threats of lien by the contractor. Its advice: if the work required a license, file a written complaint with LARA; if the contractor was not required to be licensed, file with the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Team.
LARA, Bureau of Construction Codes
Licensed contractors
The Enforcement Section investigates complaints against residential builders and maintenance and alteration contractors, such as work without a permit or license, fraud or deceit, and workmanship that does not meet the Michigan Residential Code (MCL 339.2411(2)(m)). Complaints must be in writing and filed within 18 months after completion, occupancy or purchase, whichever is latest. LARA states plainly that it has no legal authority over contractual, monetary or warranty issues. Phone 517-241-9309.
How to look up a licenseAttorney General Consumer Protection Team
Any business, licensed or not
The team mediates informally: it sends your complaint to the business with a request for a response, and recontacts the business if there is no reply within 30 days. It says it cannot act as your private attorney if mediation fails. File online, or call 517-335-7599 or toll-free 877-765-8388.
Your local building department
Code questions
If the issue is whether work meets code, the local building official is often the first stop. LARA says it may refer complaints back to a local enforcing agency, and a building inspection report confirming the problem strengthens a workmanship complaint against a licensee.
Michigan Small Claims Court for a Roof Repair Dispute
Many roof repair disputes are about money in a range small claims court was built for. Under MCL 600.8401, the small claims division of the district court hears cases for the recovery of money up to $7,000, the limit in effect since 1 January 2024. You cannot recover more than that limit in small claims, so a larger claim belongs in the general civil division.
The trade-off is speed and simplicity in exchange for rights. MCL 600.8408 bars attorneys from taking part except on their own behalf, though a business can be represented by an officer or employee who knows the facts. MCL 600.8412 says the parties waive the right to counsel, a jury and any appeal, except an appeal from a magistrate's decision to the small claims division. Before trial, either side can demand a judge or move the case to the regular district court, where lawyers and appeals are allowed.
Small claims is about getting money back. It does not order a contractor to come back and finish the job, and it does not discipline a license. That is why many homeowners use it alongside a LARA complaint, not instead of one.
The Records That Make Any Complaint Work
Every route above runs on documents. LARA's own list of what a complaint should contain is a good checklist even if you never file with LARA.
- Step 1
Keep the Whole Written Agreement
Michigan's licensing law makes it a violation for a licensee to fail to deliver the entire agreement, including any finance charges, for repair work on a home (MCL 339.2411(2)(h)). Keep the contract, the estimate, change orders and any advertisements the company used.
- Step 2
Write Down What Was Said
Oral promises are hard to prove months later. Note the date, who said it and what was promised, and send a short email confirming it. If the written contract differs, raise it in writing before you sign.
- Step 3
Photograph the Roof and the Damage
Take dated photos before, during and after the work, and of any interior damage. LARA asks for clear photos showing the alleged violation and the date they were taken.
- Step 4
Give the Contractor Written Notice and Access
For a workmanship complaint against a licensee, MCL 339.2411(4)(f) expects you to show you gave notice with reasonable dates the home was accessible, and that repairs were not made within 60 days. Send it in a way you can prove, and keep a copy.
- Step 5
Keep Proof of Every Payment
Canceled checks, card statements and receipts. Paying by check or card leaves a record that cash never does, and card payments may carry dispute rights of their own.
What the Act Is Not
The act is not a warranty. A repair that fails after two Michigan winters may be a workmanship or warranty issue under your contract without anyone having said anything deceptive. An honest disagreement about whether a roof needed replacing, between two contractors who both looked at it, is not automatically a violation either. The act targets misrepresentation, concealment and unconscionable conduct, not every outcome a customer is unhappy with.
The best protection is still the boring one: a licensed contractor whose license you checked, a written scope that names what is being fixed and with what materials, a written warranty, and payments tied to work completed. Stellar Roofing Company is a Michigan Licensed Residential Builder, license #262000779, and we put the scope, the price and the warranty in writing before work starts. If a quote you received says a roof needs far more than you expected, a second inspection is a reasonable step before you sign anything.
This page describes the statutes and agency guidance as of October 2026; for a specific dispute, talk to a Michigan attorney.
Liens and payment
How the Construction Lien Act works on a roof job, and which waivers to collect when you pay.
Lien Act explainedWhere a Roofing Complaint Can Go in Michigan
| Route | Covers | What it can do | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| LARA Bureau of Construction Codes | Licensed residential builders and maintenance and alteration contractors | Investigate, hold a compliance conference, refer for license discipline | No authority over contract, money or warranty disputes; 18-month filing window |
| Attorney General Consumer Protection Team | Any business selling to consumers | Mediate by letter; sue to stop unlawful practices and seek civil fines | Does not act as your private attorney |
| Small claims court | Anyone who owes you money | Money judgment up to $7,000 | No lawyers, no jury, no appeal from a judge's decision |
| Your own lawsuit under MCL 445.911 | Household purchases | Actual damages or $250, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney fees | Six years from the practice or one year from last payment, whichever ends later |
| Better Business Bureau | Businesses that respond to it | Record and mediate complaints | Private organization with no legal power |
Sources: MCL 445.905, 445.911, 600.8401, 600.8412 and 339.2411; LARA Enforcement Section and Attorney General complaint pages, October 2026.
Want a Second Opinion on a Repair Quote?
If you were told your roof needs more than you expected, we will inspect it for free, show you photos, and tell you what we would fix and why.
Related Guides
Verifying a Michigan Roofing License
The LARA lookup step by step, and what a license does and does not prove.
Learn MoreMichigan Door-To-Door Roofing Sales Rules
The three-day right to cancel and what a salesperson at your door must give you.
Learn MoreThe Construction Lien Act and Roof Repairs
Sworn statements, waivers and the homeowner payment defense.
Learn MoreHow to Hire a Roofer in Michigan
Licenses, insurance certificates, contracts and the complaint steps in one place.
Learn MoreQuestions We Hear
Can I sue a roofer under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act?
If the roofer used a practice listed in MCL 445.903 on a job for your home and you lost money as a result, the act lets you sue for actual damages or $250, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney fees. Whether specific conduct qualifies is for a court to decide, and the July 2026 Eli Lilly decision changed how the licensing exemption works. A Michigan consumer attorney can tell you whether your facts fit.
What is the small claims limit in Michigan in 2026?
$7,000. MCL 600.8401 set the small claims limit at $7,000 beginning 1 January 2024, and the statute lists no later increase. Claims above that amount go to the general civil division of district court or to circuit court. In small claims you represent yourself, there is no jury, and a judge's decision cannot be appealed.
Will LARA get my money back from a roofer?
Not directly. LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes says it has no legal authority over contractual, monetary or warranty issues. It investigates violations of the licensing law and code, and can pursue discipline against a license, which sometimes prompts a contractor to resolve the problem. To recover money, homeowners use negotiation, small claims, a lawsuit or Attorney General mediation.
Does the Consumer Protection Act apply to a commercial roof?
Generally not. The act defines trade or commerce as providing goods or services primarily for personal, family or household purposes. A repair to an owner-occupied home fits; a repair to an office, warehouse or retail building usually does not. Commercial property owners typically rely on the contract, warranties and general contract law, which is one more reason to have a detailed written scope on commercial jobs.
Is it illegal for a roofer to charge more than other roofers?
Not by itself. MCL 445.903(1)(z) targets a price "grossly in excess" of what similar services sell for, which is a high bar. Quotes for the same roof legitimately differ because of scope, materials, warranty and how the work is done. Compare quotes line by line before deciding a price is unfair, and ask each contractor to explain what is included.
What This Page Cites
- MCL 445.903, Unfair, unconscionable, or deceptive methods, acts, or practices, Michigan Legislature (https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-445-903), accessed October 2026
- MCL 445.902, Definitions (trade or commerce), Michigan Legislature (https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-445-902), accessed October 2026
- MCL 445.904, Exemptions, Michigan Legislature (https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-445-904), accessed October 2026
- MCL 445.905 (Attorney General actions, civil fines) and MCL 445.911 (private actions, damages, limitations), Michigan Legislature (https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-445-911), accessed October 2026
- Attorney General v Eli Lilly and Company, Michigan Supreme Court No. 165961, opinion filed July 31, 2026, via State Bar of Michigan (https://www.michbar.org/Portals/0/opinions/supreme/2026/073126/86268.pdf), accessed October 2026
- MCL 339.2411, Complaints; prohibited conduct by licensees, Michigan Legislature (https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-339-2411), accessed October 2026
- Enforcement Section, LARA Bureau of Construction Codes (https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bcc/sections/enforcement-section), accessed October 2026
- File a Complaint, Michigan Department of Attorney General (https://www.michigan.gov/ag/complaints), accessed October 2026
- AG Nessel Reminds Michiganders to Research Home Improvement Offers (June 10, 2026), Michigan Department of Attorney General (https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2026/06/10/ag-nessel-reminds-michiganders-to-research-home-improvement-offers), accessed October 2026
- MCL 600.8401, 600.8408 and 600.8412, Small claims division, Michigan Legislature (https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-600-8401), accessed October 2026