Can contractors raise their prices after a hurricane or other disaster?

Not without limit. After a declared emergency, Florida makes it unlawful to sell an essential commodity at an unconscionable price, North Carolina prohibits a price that is unreasonably excessive under the circumstances, and Texas lists an exorbitant or excessive price for building materials among deceptive acts. Florida and North Carolina also weigh added costs. The texts are quoted below.

Source: Florida Statutes 501.160, Rental or sale of essential commodities during a declared state of emergency, Online Sunshine, read 22 October 2026.
Source: North Carolina General Statutes 75-38, Prohibit excessive pricing during states of disaster, read 22 October 2026.
Source: Texas Business and Commerce Code chapter 17, Deceptive Trade Practices, sections 17.46 and 17.4625, read 22 October 2026.

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By InstaBids editorial team with AI research agents. Sources read: 22 October 2026 Updated 2026-10-22

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Key facts

Fla. Stat. 501.160(2): “(2) Upon a declaration of a state of emergency by the Governor, it is unlawful and a violation of s. 501.204 for a person or her or his agent or employee to rent or sell or offer to rent or sell at an unconscionable price within the area for which the state of emergency is declared:”
Source: Florida Statutes 501.160, Rental or sale of essential commodities during a declared state of emergency, Online Sunshine, read 22 October 2026.
N.C. Gen. Stat. 75-38(a): “(a) Upon a triggering event, it is prohibited and shall be a violation of G.S. 75-1.1 for any person to sell or rent or offer to sell or rent any goods or services which are consumed or used as a direct result of an emergency or which are consumed or used to preserve, protect, or sustain life, health, safety, or economic well-being of persons or their property with the knowledge and intent to charge a price that is unreasonably excessive under the circumstances. This prohibition shall apply to all parties in the chain of distribution, including, but not limited to, a manufacturer, supplier, wholesaler, distributor, or retail seller of goods or services. This prohibition shall apply in the area where the state of disaster or emergency has been declared or the abnormal market disruption has been found.”
Source: North Carolina General Statutes 75-38, Prohibit excessive pricing during states of disaster, read 22 October 2026.
Tex. Bus. & Com. Code 17.46(b)(27)(A): "(A) selling or leasing fuel, food, medicine, lodging, building materials, construction tools, or another necessity at an exorbitant or excessive price; or"
Source: Texas Business and Commerce Code chapter 17, Deceptive Trade Practices, sections 17.46 and 17.4625, read 22 October 2026.
N.C. Gen. Stat. 75-38(a)(1): "(1) The price charged by the seller is attributable to additional costs imposed by the seller's supplier or other costs of providing the good or service during the triggering event."
Source: North Carolina General Statutes 75-38, Prohibit excessive pricing during states of disaster, read 22 October 2026.

What do Florida and North Carolina say about emergency price increases?

The Florida and North Carolina provisions are quoted below in their own words.

Fla. Stat. 501.160(2), read 22 October 2026: “(2) Upon a declaration of a state of emergency by the Governor, it is unlawful and a violation of s. 501.204 for a person or her or his agent or employee to rent or sell or offer to rent or sell at an unconscionable price within the area for which the state of emergency is declared:” "(a) Any essential commodity including, but not limited to, supplies, services, provisions, or equipment that is necessary for consumption or use as a direct result of the emergency."

Source: Florida Statutes 501.160, Rental or sale of essential commodities during a declared state of emergency, Online Sunshine, read 22 October 2026.

Subsection (1)(a) defines the word commodity. After the defined word, its text reads: "means any goods, services, materials, merchandise, supplies, equipment, resources, or other article of commerce, and includes, without limitation, food, water, ice, chemicals, petroleum products, and lumber necessary for consumption or use as a direct result of the emergency."

Source: Florida Statutes 501.160, Rental or sale of essential commodities during a declared state of emergency, Online Sunshine, read 22 October 2026.

N.C. Gen. Stat. 75-38, read 22 October 2026, opens subsection (a): “(a) Upon a triggering event, it is prohibited and shall be a violation of G.S. 75-1.1 for any person to sell or rent or offer to sell or rent any goods or services which are consumed or used as a direct result of an emergency or which are consumed or used to preserve, protect, or sustain life, health, safety, or economic well-being of persons or their property with the knowledge and intent to charge a price that is unreasonably excessive under the circumstances. This prohibition shall apply to all parties in the chain of distribution, including, but not limited to, a manufacturer, supplier, wholesaler, distributor, or retail seller of goods or services. This prohibition shall apply in the area where the state of disaster or emergency has been declared or the abnormal market disruption has been found.”

Source: North Carolina General Statutes 75-38, Prohibit excessive pricing during states of disaster, read 22 October 2026.

In our reading, a repair crew's work can fall under the word services in the Florida passages and in the North Carolina subsection; neither text names contractors or any trade.

Possibly, under these two states' tests. Florida's test for an unconscionable price and North Carolina's list of what is considered both refer to additional costs and to market trends; their words are quoted below.

Fla. Stat. 501.160(1)(b), read 22 October 2026: "(b) It is prima facie evidence that a price is unconscionable if:" "1. The amount charged represents a gross disparity between the price of the commodity or rental or lease of any dwelling unit or self-storage facility that is the subject of the offer or transaction and the average price at which that commodity or dwelling unit or self-storage facility was rented, leased, sold, or offered for rent or sale in the usual course of business during the 30 days immediately prior to a declaration of a state of emergency, unless the increase in the amount charged is attributable to additional costs incurred in connection with the rental or sale of the commodity or rental or lease of any dwelling unit or self-storage facility, or regional, national, or international market trends; or" "2. The amount charged grossly exceeds the average price at which the same or similar commodity was readily obtainable in the trade area during the 30 days immediately prior to a declaration of a state of emergency, unless the increase in the amount charged is attributable to additional costs incurred in connection with the rental or sale of the commodity or rental or lease of any dwelling unit or self-storage facility, or regional, national, or international market trends."

Source: Florida Statutes 501.160, Rental or sale of essential commodities during a declared state of emergency, Online Sunshine, read 22 October 2026.

N.C. Gen. Stat. 75-38(a), read 22 October 2026, ends with this list: "In determining whether a price is unreasonably excessive, it shall be considered whether:" "(1) The price charged by the seller is attributable to additional costs imposed by the seller's supplier or other costs of providing the good or service during the triggering event." “(2) The price charged by the seller exceeds the seller's average price in the preceding 60 days before the triggering event. If the seller did not sell or rent or offer to sell or rent the goods or service in question prior to the time of the triggering event, the price at which the goods or service was generally available in the trade area shall be used as a factor in determining if the seller is charging an unreasonably excessive price.” "(3) The price charged by the seller is attributable to fluctuations in applicable commodity markets; fluctuations in applicable regional, national, or international market trends; or to reasonable expenses and charges for attendant business risk incurred in procuring or selling the goods or services."

Source: North Carolina General Statutes 75-38, Prohibit excessive pricing during states of disaster, read 22 October 2026.

In our reading, both laws compare a price with what was charged before the emergency, so an earlier written quote for the same work is a useful thing to keep.

Does Texas law cover building materials after a disaster?

Yes, by name. Tex. Bus. & Com. Code 17.46(b)(27) names building materials and construction tools in its item on taking advantage of a declared disaster; the item is quoted below.

Source: Texas Business and Commerce Code chapter 17, Deceptive Trade Practices, sections 17.46 and 17.4625, read 22 October 2026.

Tex. Bus. & Com. Code 17.46(b), its list of false, misleading, or deceptive acts or practices, read 22 October 2026, item (27): "(27) subject to Section 17.4625, taking advantage of a disaster declared by the governor under Chapter 418, Government Code, or by the president of the United States by:" "(A) selling or leasing fuel, food, medicine, lodging, building materials, construction tools, or another necessity at an exorbitant or excessive price; or" "(B) demanding an exorbitant or excessive price in connection with the sale or lease of fuel, food, medicine, lodging, building materials, construction tools, or another necessity;"

Source: Texas Business and Commerce Code chapter 17, Deceptive Trade Practices, sections 17.46 and 17.4625, read 22 October 2026.

In our reading, the Texas item quoted above names goods such as building materials and construction tools and another necessity; it does not use the word services.

How long do these disaster price rules last?

It depends on the state and on the declaration. Florida's prohibition, North Carolina's triggering event and Texas's designated disaster period each have their own length, quoted below in each law's words.

Fla. Stat. 501.160(2), read 22 October 2026: "This prohibition is effective not to exceed 60 days under the initial declared state of emergency as defined in s. 252.36(2) and may be extended by an executive order issued by the Governor specifically referencing this section."

Source: Florida Statutes 501.160, Rental or sale of essential commodities during a declared state of emergency, Online Sunshine, read 22 October 2026.

N.C. Gen. Stat. 75-38(c), read 22 October 2026: "(c) For the purposes of this section, the end of a triggering event is the earlier of 45 days after the triggering event occurs or the expiration or termination of the triggering event unless the prohibition is specifically extended by the Governor."

Source: North Carolina General Statutes 75-38, Prohibit excessive pricing during states of disaster, read 22 October 2026.

Tex. Bus. & Com. Code 17.4625(a) defines the designated disaster period as the period: "(1) beginning on the earliest of:" "(A) the date the disaster occurs; or" "(B) the date of:" "(i) the proclamation or executive order of the governor declaring the disaster; or" "(ii) the declaration of the disaster by the president of the United States, if any part of this state is named in the federally declared disaster area; and" "(2) ending on the 30th day after the date the disaster declaration expires or is terminated." Subsection (b) adds: "(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, Section 17.46(b)(27) applies only to an act described by that subdivision that occurs during a designated disaster period in this state."

Source: Texas Business and Commerce Code chapter 17, Deceptive Trade Practices, sections 17.46 and 17.4625, read 22 October 2026.

Who enforces these laws when a price looks out of line?

Under the texts quoted here, state officials do. Florida names the office of the state attorney and the Department of Legal Affairs and says the section creates no private cause of action; Texas makes the listed acts subject to action by the consumer protection division.

Source: Florida Statutes 501.160, Rental or sale of essential commodities during a declared state of emergency, Online Sunshine, read 22 October 2026.
Source: Texas Business and Commerce Code chapter 17, Deceptive Trade Practices, sections 17.46 and 17.4625, read 22 October 2026.

Fla. Stat. 501.160, read 22 October 2026: "(6) Section 501.211 notwithstanding, nothing in this section creates a private cause of action in favor of any person damaged by a violation of this section." "(7) Any violation of this section may be enforced by the office of the state attorney or the Department of Legal Affairs."

Source: Florida Statutes 501.160, Rental or sale of essential commodities during a declared state of emergency, Online Sunshine, read 22 October 2026.

Tex. Bus. & Com. Code 17.46, read 22 October 2026: "(a) False, misleading, or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce are hereby declared unlawful and are subject to action by the consumer protection division under Sections 17.47, 17.58, 17.60, and 17.61 of this code."

Source: Texas Business and Commerce Code chapter 17, Deceptive Trade Practices, sections 17.46 and 17.4625, read 22 October 2026.

N.C. Gen. Stat. 75-38, read 22 October 2026, also says: "(b) In the event the Attorney General investigates a complaint for a violation of this section and determines that the seller has not violated the provisions of this section and if the seller so requests, the Attorney General shall promptly issue a signed statement indicating that the Attorney General has not found a violation of this section."

Source: North Carolina General Statutes 75-38, Prohibit excessive pricing during states of disaster, read 22 October 2026.

In our reading, the laws quoted here differ in their tests and time limits, and other states have their own rules, which this page does not quote.

What should you do if a repair price jumps after a storm?

Get every price in writing, keep anything that shows what the work cost before the storm, and take a price that looks out of line to your state's consumer protection office. This is practical reasoning, not legal advice and not a finding from any agency.

Ask for a written estimate before work starts, with materials, labour and any rental equipment on separate lines.
If the price is higher than a quote you had before the storm, ask the contractor what changed, and ask to see the supplier invoice or cost line behind it.
Keep any quote, ad, invoice or screenshot dated before the emergency, so you have an earlier price for the same work.
Get more than one written bid on the same scope, so you can see whether one price stands far apart from the others.
Pay in stages tied to finished work rather than all at the start.
If a price still looks out of line, file a complaint with your state attorney general's consumer protection office, and attach the written price and the dates.

Who sees your contact details when you post on InstaBids?

Contact details stay hidden until the homeowner picks a contractor and they confirm the connection.

Source: InstaBids process and privacy, live-page excerpts, read 22 October 2026.

Post your job on InstaBids, and contractors can bid in writing on one written scope.

Homeowners anywhere in the US can post a job; once you send it, InstaBids finds contractors to bid on it.

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Can contractors raise their prices after a hurricane or other disaster?

Key facts

What do Florida and North Carolina say about emergency price increases?

Does Texas law cover building materials after a disaster?

How long do these disaster price rules last?

Who enforces these laws when a price looks out of line?

What should you do if a repair price jumps after a storm?

Who sees your contact details when you post on InstaBids?

Sources for the facts on this page