Public adjuster: what one does, what they charge, and how they differ from the insurer's adjuster
A public adjuster is a licensed adjuster who works for the policyholder, not the insurance company: they prepare and file the claim and negotiate the settlement, for a fee figured as a share of the payment. States regulate them. Florida, for example, caps the fee at 20% of claim payments, 10% for claims from a declared state of emergency in the year after the declaration (Fla. Stat. 626.854(11)).
Anthony Hicks30+ years in construction. Updated November 5, 2026.
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What a public adjuster does
A public adjuster works for the policyholder on an insurance claim. Florida’s law defines one as anyone who, for pay, prepares, completes or files a claim for an insured, or helps them negotiate its settlement, whatever they call themselves (Fla. Stat. 626.854(1)). In practice that means inspecting the damage, writing the estimate, documenting it with photos and measurements, and negotiating with the insurer’s adjuster.
Three kinds of adjusters
| Adjuster | Works for | Paid by |
|---|---|---|
| Staff adjuster | The insurance company | The insurer, as an employee |
| Independent adjuster | An adjusting firm the insurer hires | The insurer, through the firm |
| Public adjuster | The policyholder | The policyholder, from the claim payment |
The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that public adjusters may have separate or additional licensing requirements. The guide to becoming an insurance adjuster covers the licenses.
What they charge
A public adjuster’s fee is a percentage of what the insurer pays, set in their contract. Florida caps it (Fla. Stat. 626.854(11)):
| Claim | Most a public adjuster can charge |
|---|---|
| From an event under a governor’s declared state of emergency, in the year after the declaration | 10% of the claim payments |
| Other claims | 20% of the claim payments |
| Reopened or supplemental claims | 20% of the new payment, and nothing on what was paid before |
Fees are figured without attorney fees and costs. Other states set their own limits.
What contractors can and can’t do
In Florida, a licensed contractor can’t advertise, solicit, handle or perform public adjuster services without a public adjuster license. A contractor can suggest the owner contact their insurer about whether a repair is covered, and can discuss or explain its bid with the owner or the insurer for the usual fees in its contract (Fla. Stat. 626.854(16)). Check your own state’s rules before working a claim.
Common questions
Is a public adjuster worth it?
It depends on the claim. A public adjuster’s fee comes out of the payment, so it pays off when their work raises the settlement by more than the fee.
Who pays a public adjuster?
The policyholder, from the claim payment, at the percentage in their contract.
Can a contractor act as a public adjuster?
Not without a public adjuster license in states like Florida (Fla. Stat. 626.854(16)). A contractor can still explain its own bid for the repair.
What tools do public adjusters use?
The same as any adjuster: measurements of the rooms and roof, photos, and an estimate written line by line. BluMatrix measures the rooms with the phone, writes the estimate at current prices for the ZIP code, and sends it as a PDF or as an ESX file that opens in Xactimate.