Permitting Authorities / Clay County - Building Division
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Unincorporated Clay County, FL?
Adopted codeClay County - Building Division
Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated Clay County, FL, issued by Clay County - Building Division. Roofing is permit work in unincorporated Clay County. Clay County Code Section 6-36 makes it "unlawful to construct, alter, repair, remove, place or demolish" a building or structure "without first filing an application with, and obtaining a permit from the building department," exempting only buildings used exclusively for agriculture on agriculturally zoned land where the cost does not exceed $1,000. The County's FY 2026/27 Schedule of Fees & Services (version 08/25/26), linked from the Building Division's fee page, lists a "Roofing per 100 square feet" building permit fee of $10.00, a $100.00 "Minimum Fee for Any Building Permit," and a $100.00 submittal fee per single-family residential submittal that is applied toward the total permit fee; a 25% discount applies when a private provider plan reviewer or inspector is used and the County is notified before permit issuance. Since July 1, 2026, the Building Division's page on the state's $7,500 single-family permit exemption lists "Roofing" among the structural work for which "A permit is still required," work that "does not qualify for the exemption, regardless of project cost." Applications are filed through the County's Citizens Access Portal (Tyler EnerGov). The Division's FAQ states that a recorded Notice of Commencement is needed "on any building permit with a job value over $5,000" (its electronic submittal guide lists a recorded Notice of Commencement "if $2500 or more"), and the Division states that "Florida Statute 713.13 requires a certified copy of the Notice of Commencement (NOC) to be provided to the Building Department before the first inspection can be scheduled"; it does not accept uncertified notices or notices missing the permit number. An owner-builder must apply in person. Starting work without a permit: Code Section 6-42(b) provides that "the permit's fee shall be doubled," and the FY 2026/27 fee schedule lists a "Penalty Fee: Work performed without permit(s)" of "Four times cost of permit(s).".
Roof code checklist: Unincorporated Clay County, FL
| Item | Answer | Code cite | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit to replace a roof | Yes | claycountygov.com | 2026-09-26 | |
| Repair permit threshold | Published | claycountygov.com | 2026-09-26 | |
| Layer limit / roof-over | Published | R908.3 | codes.iccsafe.org | 2026-09-26 |
| Deck & sheathing | Published | codes.iccsafe.org | 2026-09-26 | |
| Drip edge | Yes | R905.2.8.5 | codes.iccsafe.org | 2026-09-26 |
| Ice & water shield | No | R905.1.2 | codes.iccsafe.org | 2026-09-26 |
| Mid-roof inspection | Yes | Sec. 110.3 | codes.iccsafe.org | 2026-09-26 |
| Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofing | No | library.municode.com | 2026-09-26 | |
| Wind design criteria | Published | claycountygov.com | 2026-09-26 | |
| Adopted code | Published | Sec. 553.73(5) | claycountygov.com | 2026-09-26 |
| Contractor license / registration | Yes | library.municode.com | 2026-09-26 | |
| Sales & use tax | Published | dr15dss_26.pdf | 2026-09-26 |
Each row comes from the sourced record on this page; full wording is in the table below. "Not published" means no official source for that item was found when the record was last verified.
Jurisdiction
Clay County, Florida (unincorporated)
Jurisdiction type
county
Address
435 Walburg Street, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Contact
- url: https://www.claycountygov.com/government/building
- phone: 904-284-6307
- email: [email protected]
Permit portal
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
- state_level: Florida licenses roofing as its own trade. Section 489.105(3)(e), Florida Statutes, defines a "Roofing contractor" as a contractor whose services are unlimited in the roofing trade, and includes in that scope "required roof-deck attachments" and "any repair or replacement of wood roof sheathing or fascia as needed during roof repair or replacement." Section 489.113(2) states: "A person must be certified or registered in order to engage in the business of contracting in this state." A state-certified roofing contractor may work anywhere in Florida; under section 489.117(1)(b), "Registration allows the registrant to engage in contracting only in the counties, municipalities, or development districts where he or she has complied with all local licensing requirements, if any, and only for the type of work covered by the registration." Section 489.103(7)(a) provides an owner-builder exemption for "Owners of property when acting as their own contractor and providing direct, onsite supervision themselves of all work not performed by licensed contractors," including "When building or improving farm outbuildings or one-family or two-family residences on such property for the occupancy or use of such owners and not offered for sale or lease," and "When repairing or replacing wood shakes or asphalt or fiberglass shingles on one-family, two-family, or three-family residences for the occupancy or use of such owner or tenant of the owner and not offered for sale within 1 year after completion of the work and when the property has been damaged by natural causes from an event recognized as an emergency situation designated by executive order issued by the Governor declaring the existence of a state of emergency" (section 489.103(7)(a)2.). This record does not decide whether a particular reader falls within that exemption.
- county_level: Clay County Code Chapter 7 applies in all unincorporated areas of the County and states that the crafts and trades it identifies "shall be performed or practiced by those craftsmen holding valid certificates of competency." Section 7-131 states: "All persons desiring to engage in business as a roof contractor for the construction of roofs or similar functions under the terms of the Florida Building Codes shall, before engaging in such business, obtain a roofing contractor's certificate issued as provided herein," and Section 7-132 states that "An applicant for a roofing contractor's certificate shall be required to take an examination." Under Section 7-4, a permit application "will be accepted only from a contractor or master craftsman holding an active certificate required by law and ordinance," signed by the qualifying agent, and Section 7-56 requires state-certified contractors to "supply the building department with a copy of liability insurance not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00)." The Building Division's Contractor Licensing page states that "Contractors must submit the required licensing documents, insurance information, and registration forms before permits can be issued." State-certified contractors register by filing a copy of the state certification, a workers' compensation certificate (or exemption) and a certificate of liability insurance each naming Clay County as certificate holder, a Notice to Qualifying Agent and a Qualifying Agent Statement; "There is no charge to register as a state-certified contractor." State-registered county contractors must also have passed a trade exam "with a score of 75 percent or higher" and a Business and Law exam with the same score, or present a reciprocity letter from a county that reciprocates with Clay County, and pay the County's licence and registration fees. Code Section 7-10 authorizes code enforcement officers to cite unlicensed contracting, with civil penalties of $125.00 for a first violation rising to $500.00 for a fourth and subsequent violation within twelve months. Code Section 7-3(a)(3) carries the owner-builder exemption and its disclosure statement, which must be signed before the permit issues; the Building Division's owner-builder guide states "You must appear in person to apply" and that the owner agrees "You will not rent or sell the property for one (1) year after the work is completed."
Permit process note
Roofing is permit work in unincorporated Clay County. Clay County Code Section 6-36 makes it "unlawful to construct, alter, repair, remove, place or demolish" a building or structure "without first filing an application with, and obtaining a permit from the building department," exempting only buildings used exclusively for agriculture on agriculturally zoned land where the cost does not exceed $1,000. The County's FY 2026/27 Schedule of Fees & Services (version 08/25/26), linked from the Building Division's fee page, lists a "Roofing per 100 square feet" building permit fee of $10.00, a $100.00 "Minimum Fee for Any Building Permit," and a $100.00 submittal fee per single-family residential submittal that is applied toward the total permit fee; a 25% discount applies when a private provider plan reviewer or inspector is used and the County is notified before permit issuance. Since July 1, 2026, the Building Division's page on the state's $7,500 single-family permit exemption lists "Roofing" among the structural work for which "A permit is still required," work that "does not qualify for the exemption, regardless of project cost." Applications are filed through the County's Citizens Access Portal (Tyler EnerGov). The Division's FAQ states that a recorded Notice of Commencement is needed "on any building permit with a job value over $5,000" (its electronic submittal guide lists a recorded Notice of Commencement "if $2500 or more"), and the Division states that "Florida Statute 713.13 requires a certified copy of the Notice of Commencement (NOC) to be provided to the Building Department before the first inspection can be scheduled"; it does not accept uncertified notices or notices missing the permit number. An owner-builder must apply in person. Starting work without a permit: Code Section 6-42(b) provides that "the permit's fee shall be doubled," and the FY 2026/27 fee schedule lists a "Penalty Fee: Work performed without permit(s)" of "Four times cost of permit(s)."
Inspection requirements
Inspections are scheduled through the County's Citizens Access Portal. On the day of an inspection, the Building Division asks callers to phone 904-269-6307 "between 7:45 and 8:30 a.m." to learn the inspection time and be connected with the inspector. Where a recorded Notice of Commencement is required, a certified copy carrying the permit number must be provided before the first inspection can be scheduled. The County's FY 2026/27 fee schedule lists a $50.00 reinspection fee, and a reinspection fee "after 2nd Inspection (F.S. 553.80(2)(c))" of "Four times cost of the Reinspection Fee." Asked whether someone must be present, the Division's FAQ answers that if the inspector can access the work outside the building (with any animals restrained), no one needs to be there.
Adopted code
Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), Residential (2021 IRC base), effective December 31, 2023, adopted statewide by Rule 61G20-1.001, F.A.C., and applied in every Florida jurisdiction without local adoption. Asked "What codes are Clay County enforcing?", the Clay County Building Division's FAQ answers: "The 8th Edition of the Florida Building Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code." Asked "Does Clay County have any local amendments to the state codes?", the same FAQ answers "No." The County Code nonetheless carries, in Chapter 6, Article VII (Ordinance No. 2014-4, February 11, 2014), three local amendments adopted under section 553.73(5), Florida Statutes, all on flood provisions: Building Section 107.6.1 (permits issued on the basis of an affidavit do not extend to the flood load and flood resistance requirements), Building Section 117 (variances in flood hazard areas follow the County's floodplain regulations), and Residential Section R322.2.1 (lowest floors in flood hazard areas elevated to the base flood elevation plus 1 foot or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher). None amends the roofing chapters (Residential Chapter 9, Building Chapter 15). Code Section 6-40 (last amended by Ordinance No. 2022-1) still names older model codes, including the Standard Building Code, in its list of documents permitted work must comply with; the Building Division's current statement names the 8th Edition Florida Building Code. Clay County Code Chapter 6 (Buildings and Building Regulations) and Chapter 7 (Building Contractors, Craftsmen, Etc.), read in full, contain no provision on roof coverings, underlayment, drip edge, ice barriers, re-covering or layer limits.
Drip edge
Required — Required on shingle roofs. The Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), Section R905.2.8.5 states: "Provide drip edge at eaves and gables of shingle roofs," with drip edge "installed over the underlayment" and "mechanically fastened a maximum of 12 inches (305 mm) on center" (4 inches on center where the allowable stress design wind speed, Vasd, is 110 mph or greater or the mean roof height exceeds 33 feet). Clay County's local amendments to the Florida Building Code and the rest of Code Chapter 6, read in full, do not amend or address drip edge. About drip edge
Ice & water shield
Not required — Not required anywhere in Florida. The Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), reads "R905.1.2 Ice barriers. Reserved." Clay County's local amendments to the Florida Building Code and the rest of Code Chapter 6, read in full, do not address ice barriers. A self-adhered underlayment may still be used as one of the state code's underlayment options. About ice & water barrier
Mid-roof inspection
Required — The Florida Building Code, Building, 8th Edition (2023), Section 110.3, which sets required inspections for Florida Building Code permits, lists a "Roofing inspection" that "Shall at a minimum include the following building components": dry-in, insulation, roof coverings and flashing, ahead of the final inspection; the dry-in inspection takes place while the roof is in progress. Clay County Code Section 6-56 provides that the building official "shall inspect at various intervals required installations and all construction or work for which a permit is required, and a final inspection shall be made on all construction or work upon completion." Where a recorded Notice of Commencement is required, the Building Division will not schedule the first inspection until a certified copy is on file.
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Clay County's local amendments to the Florida Building Code (Code Chapter 6, Article VII) address only flood provisions, and the rest of Code Chapter 6 does not amend the state code's roof-covering provisions; no UL 2218 or Class 4 impact requirement appears in the Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023) Chapter 9 or in the County's building ordinances. The state code's shingle classifications (ASTM D3161, TAS 107, ASTM D7158) are wind ratings, not hail-impact ratings.
Repair permit threshold
No local small-repair threshold. Clay County Code Chapter 6, read in full, contains no roof-repair exemption: Section 6-36 requires a permit to "construct, alter, repair, remove, place or demolish" a building or structure, and its only exemption is for buildings used exclusively for agricultural purposes on agriculturally zoned land where the cost "does not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00)." State law: since July 1, 2026, section 553.79(1)(g)1., Florida Statutes, states that "A local government that issues building permits shall exempt an owner of a single-family dwelling or the owner's contractor from the requirement to obtain a building permit to perform any work valued at less than $7,500 on the owner's property." The exemption "does not apply to any of the following: a. Work on a property that is partially or entirely located in a flood hazard area as defined by the Florida Building Code. b. Any electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, or gas work performed on property containing a single-family dwelling. A construction project may not be divided into more than one project for the purpose of evading the requirements of this paragraph," and it requires "a written request for exemption to the local enforcement agency with a copy of the contract or other documentation demonstrating the nature and the value of the work to be performed." The Clay County Building Division's page on that exemption lists "Structural work, including" "Roofing" among work that "does not qualify for the exemption, regardless of project cost," and states that the owner or contractor "must contact the Clay County Building Division at [email protected] before starting the project"; this record does not decide whether a given roof job qualifies. The Florida Building Code, Building, 8th Edition (2023), Section 105.2.2 states that "Ordinary minor repairs may be made with the approval of the building official without a permit," leaving that decision to the building official. Separately, the Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), Section R908.1.1 states: "Not more than 25 percent of the total roof area or roof section of any existing building or structure shall be repaired, replaced or recovered in any 12-month period unless the roof covering on the entire existing roof system or roof section is replaced or recovered to conform to the requirements of this code," with an exception for roofs built, repaired or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, where "only the repaired, replaced, or recovered portion is required to be constructed in accordance with the Florida Building Code in effect, as applicable."
Wind design criteria
The Clay County Building Division's Wind Zones page states the design wind speeds used for structural design and permitting in Clay County by Florida Building Code risk category: Risk Category I, 120 mph; Risk Category II ("Buildings and other structures except those listed in Risk Categories I, III, and IV"), 130 mph; Risk Category III, 140 mph; Risk Category IV, 140 mph, with the note that "Wind speed is 150 mph east of State Road 21 for Risk Category IV structures." Separately, Clay County Code Section 6-6 (Ordinance No. 2001-65, amended by Ordinance No. 2007-67) still establishes wind speed lines "With respect to Figure 1609 referred to in Section 1609.3 of the Florida Building Code": a 110 mph line along the centerline of State Road 15 (U.S. Highway 17) and a 100 mph line along the County's entire westerly boundary. That section dates from 2001 and was last amended in 2007; the Building Division's Wind Zones page is its current published statement of design wind speeds.
Roof layer limit / recover
Maximum two layers. The Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), Section R908.3 (Recovering versus replacement) states: "New roof coverings shall not be installed without first removing all existing layers of roof coverings where any of the following conditions occur: 1. Where the existing roof or roof covering is water soaked or has deteriorated to the point that the existing roof or roof covering is not adequate as a base for additional roofing. 2. Where the existing roof covering is wood shingle or shake, slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile. 3. Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering." Tear-off is also required where blisters are not cut open and secured, or where the existing covering is used for attachment and the securement provisions of Section R905 cannot be met. The state code applies in Clay County without local adoption; the County's local amendments to the Florida Building Code (Code Chapter 6, Article VII) and the rest of Code Chapter 6, read in full, do not amend the reroofing section or state a layer count.
Deck & sheathing requirements
On a reroof of an older home, the Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), Section R908.7 (Wind mitigation) states: "When a roof covering on an existing structure with a sawn lumber, wood plank or wood structural panel roof deck is removed and replaced, the following procedures shall be permitted to be performed by the roofing contractor: (a) Roof-decking attachment shall be as required by Section R908.7.1. (b) A secondary water barrier shall be provided as required by Section R908.7.2. Exception: Structures permitted subject to the Florida Building Code are not required to comply with this section." Section R908.7.1.1 deems sawn lumber or plank decking "secured with at least two nails (minimum size 8d) to each roof framing member it crosses" to be "sufficiently connected," and Table R908.7.1.2 sets supplemental ring-shank fastener spacing for wood structural panel decks. Section R908.7.2 states: "When a roof covering is removed and replaced, a secondary water barrier shall be installed in accordance with Section R905.1.1 or Section 1518.2 of the Florida Building Code, Building." Clay County Code Chapter 6, read in full, sets no deck thickness or sheathing rule of its own.
Sales & use tax
7.5% combined in Clay County (6% Florida state sales and use tax + 1.5% Clay County discretionary sales surtax). The Florida Department of Revenue's Form DR-15DSS, Discretionary Sales Surtax Information for Calendar Year 2026, lists Clay's total surtax as 1.5%, made up of a 1% surtax effective February 1, 1990 with an expiration date of December 31, 2039 and a 0.5% surtax effective January 1, 2021 with an expiration date of December 31, 2050. On a residential reroof or roof repair, Florida treats the roofer as the consumer of materials: Rule 12A-1.051(4), F.A.C., states that "Contractors are the ultimate consumers of materials and supplies they use to perform real property contracts and must pay tax on their costs of those materials and supplies, unless the contractor has entered a retail sale plus installation contract," and that they "should charge no tax to their customers, regardless of whether they itemize charges for materials and labor in their proposals or invoices." The rule lists "(cc) Roofing work" among real property contracts, and repair and replacement are treated the same way.
More roof permit pages in Florida
Unincorporated Collier County, FLRoof permit
Unincorporated Hernando County, FLRoof permit
Unincorporated Highlands County, FLRoof permit
Unincorporated Hillsborough County, FLRoof permit
Unincorporated Indian River County, FLRoof permit
Roofing in FloridaState hub
Related guides
The Building Division of Clay County, Florida reviews plans, issues building permits, including roofing permits, performs inspections and licenses and registers contractors for unincorporated Clay County. Permit applications are submitted online through the County's Citizens Access Portal, and the Division works from the Development Services Building in Green Cove Springs.
Hail reports near the center of Clay County, FL
- Reports, last 24 months
- 0
- Largest, last 24 months
- None
- Most recent
- None in 24 months
- Reports, last 5 years
- 2
| Date | Hail size | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 2023 | 2.00 in | 7 mi WSW |
| Apr 26, 2023 | 1.00 in | 4 mi NW |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database and daily storm reports (reports since the start of the current year are preliminary), within 10 miles of the center of Clay County, FL. Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.
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Sources
- claycountygov.com verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26
- claycountygov.com verified 2026-09-26
- claycountygov.com verified 2026-09-26
- claycountygov.com verified 2026-09-26
- codes.iccsafe.org verified 2026-09-26
- codes.iccsafe.org verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26
- floridarevenue.com verified 2026-09-26
- claycountygov.com verified 2026-09-26