A coalition of more than 16 public adjusters, insurance attorneys and industry professionals has launched a voluntary national code of conduct aimed at creating more consistent standards for public adjusters across the US.
The Public Adjusting Code of Professional Conduct (PA COPC) is being offered for adoption by state insurance regulators, professional associations and individual practitioners. It covers competence, continuing education, supervision, evidence, conflicts of interest, solicitation, client communication and accountability.
The push comes in a profession regulated largely at state level, where rules for public adjusters can differ. That can become especially important on complex property losses, when a policyholder may bring in a public adjuster alongside a broker, attorneys, forensic accountants and other advisers. A more consistent set of standards around evidence, communication and conflicts could give those parties a clearer reference point when responsibilities overlap.
The initiative is not starting from scratch. The NAIC Public Adjuster Licensing Model Act already covers areas including licensing, continuing education, fees, contracts and standards of conduct, while the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters’ code sets ethical and professional requirements for its members, including rules on solicitation, competence and fee transparency.
The PA COPC is instead intended as a standard that can be adopted across jurisdictions. Existing state rules show how those requirements can differ. Texas generally caps public adjuster commissions at 10% of an insurance settlement and prohibits solicitation during a disaster, while Florida limits public adjuster fees on claims arising from a governor-declared emergency to 10% for one year after the declaration, with a 20% limit thereafter.
The code also arrives after another costly year for catastrophe claims. Global insured catastrophe losses reached $129 billion in 2025, with the US accounting for 78% of the total, adding to the pressure on property insurers and policyholders in catastrophe-exposed markets. US catastrophe losses accounted for most of the 2025 total.
“In recent years, the large number of natural catastrophes in the US has fueled widespread demand for public adjusting services. At the same time, however, these circumstances have attracted some unscrupulous actors to the profession, whose lack of qualifications and integrity are damaging the industry’s reputation,” Skyline Adjusters CEO Jeffrey Major said.
“Once the code is adopted, compliance by public adjusters will be a mark of professional commitment to the highest standards of conduct.”
Unlike state licensing requirements, however, the PA COPC does not automatically carry regulatory force. Its impact will depend on how widely it is adopted and how it fits alongside existing state rules and enforcement.
The coalition is now working to establish a Public Adjuster Code of Conduct Board, which is expected to develop publicly available procedures for alleged violations and their consequences.
