How Much Can A Public Adjuster Charge

A 50 State Guide

Below is a guide that is broken down by all 50 states:

The fees that public adjusters can charge vary by state, and there’s no single unified fee schedule across the U.S. The fees can be capped as a percentage of the claim amount or can be a negotiated rate. Furthermore, not all states have a defined cap on public adjuster fees.

Each state a public adjuster is regulated by the state’s department of insurance.

1. Alabama – Public adjusters are not recognized.
   
   
2. Alaska – No set fee cap.
   
   
3. Arizona – No set fee cap.
   
   
4. Arkansas – Public adjusters are not recognized.
   
   
5. California – Fees must be reasonable.
   
   
6. Colorado – No set fee cap, but must be reasonable.
   
   
7. Connecticut – No set fee cap.
   
   
8. Delaware – A licensee shall not charge the client a fee that exceeds 2.5% of the first $25,000 of the total insurance recovery of the client. A licensee may charge the client a fee of up to 12% of the amount of the total insurance recovery of the client that exceeds $25,000.
   
   
9. Florida – Sliding scale: up to 20% of the claim settlement; 10% for events declared a state of emergency for the first year.
   
   
10. Georgia – Fee not to exceed 33.3 percent of the settlement.
    
    
11. Hawaii – 8% set fee cap.
    
    
12. Idaho – No set fee cap.
    
    
13. Illinois – 10% fee cap.
    
    
14. Indiana – No set fee cap.
    
    
15. Iowa – No set fee cap.  10% cap for catastrophic disaster claims.
    
    
16. Kansas – 10% set fee cap on commercial properties.  Public adjusters are not recognized for residential claims.
    
    
17. Kentucky – 10% and 15% thresholds on compensation a public adjuster may receive.   15% for noncatastrophic claims.
    
    
18. Louisiana – No set fee cap.  A public adjuster must charge hourly, not contingency.
    
    
19. Maine – No set fee cap.
    
    
20. Maryland – 5% for health claims, no set cap for others.
    
    
21. Massachusetts – 10% fee cap.
    
    
22. Michigan – 10% fee cap.
    
    
23. Minnesota – No set fee cap.
    
    
24. Mississippi – 10% fee cap.
    
    
25. Missouri – No set fee cap.
    
    
26. Montana – No set fee cap.
    
    
27. Nebraska – No set fee cap.  10% cap for catastrophic disaster claims.
    
    
28. Nevada – No set fee cap.
    
    
29. New Hampshire – No set fee cap.
    
    
30. New Jersey – No set fee cap.
    
    
31. New Mexico – No set fee cap.
    
    
32. New York – 12.5% in the Downstate area and 10% elsewhere.
    
    
33. North Carolina – 10% fee cap.
    
    
34. North Dakota – No set fee cap.
    
    
35. Ohio – No set fee cap.
    
    
36. Oklahoma – No set fee cap.  10% cap for catastrophic disaster claims.
    
    
37. Oregon – No set fee cap.
    
    
38. Pennsylvania – No set fee cap.
    
    
39. Rhode Island – No set fee cap.
    
    
40. South Carolina – No set fee cap.
    
    
41. South Dakota – No set fee cap.
    
    
42. Tennessee – 10% fee cap.
    
    
43. Texas – 10% fee cap.
    
    
44. Utah – No set fee cap.
    
    
45. Vermont – No set fee cap.
    
    
46. Virginia – No set fee cap.  10% cap for catastrophic disaster claims.
    
    
47. Washington – No set fee cap.
    
    
48. West Virginia – No set fee cap.
    
    
49. Wisconsin – No set fee cap.  10% cap for catastrophic disaster claims.
    
    
50. Wyoming – No set fee cap.

Please note that while some states do not have set fee caps, there may still be regulations requiring the fees to be “reasonable” or not “excessive.” It’s essential to do your research and possibly consult with a legal or insurance expert if you’re considering hiring or becoming a public adjuster.  Please also note this data may have changed so please consult with each state’s insurance department or official documentation for current and exact information.