Permitting Authorities / City of Clearwater - Planning & Development Department
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Clearwater, FL?
Adopted codeCity of Clearwater - Planning & Development Department
Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Clearwater, FL, issued by City of Clearwater - Planning & Development Department. Re-roofing in Clearwater is permit work. The City's Get A Building Permit page lists "Installation or replacement of any roofing component" and "Repair of wall, floor or roof sheathing" among the "Work That Requires a Permit," and states that "all licensed contractors must submit online for all window, roof, door, mechanical (air conditioning), plumbing and water heater permits" through the City's online permitting system. The only roof work the page exempts is "repairing a very small and minor roof leak, less than $500." The City's Building Permit Application (rev. December 2025) has a "ROOFING" box under nature of work, and exterior roofing products are listed with their Florida Product Approval or NOA numbers on the City's Product Approval Specification Sheet. State law makes it "unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or governmental entity to construct, erect, alter, modify, repair, or demolish any building within this state without first obtaining a permit" (section 553.79(1)(a), Florida Statutes). City Code section 47.083 allows a temporary permit "for projects which do not require plan review such as roof work," with ten calendar days to pay and receive the regular permit, failing which a "triple or ten times fee" applies. Under the City's fee schedule, work begun without a permit is charged a "Triple permit fee" on a first occurrence and "10 times permit fee" on a second or later occurrence by the same contractor. The permit page also states that a permit "open for six months without a passed inspection" will expire, and that a recorded Notice of Commencement is needed before issuance where the "project value exceeds $5,000." The City's $7,500 exemption request form under House Bill 803 does not list roofing among the types of work it accepts (see the repair threshold field).
Roof code checklist: Clearwater, FL
| Item | Answer | Code cite | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit to replace a roof | Yes | myclearwater.com | 2026-09-26 | |
| Repair permit threshold | Published | myclearwater.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. 47.111 | library.municode.com | 2026-09-26 |
| Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofing | No | library.municode.com | 2026-09-26 | |
| Wind design criteria | Published | building_1609.3.pdf | 2026-09-26 | |
| Adopted code | Published | Sec. 553.73(6) | myclearwater.com | 2026-09-26 |
| Contractor license / registration | Yes | leg.state.fl.us | 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
City of Clearwater, Florida
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
100 S. Myrtle Ave., Municipal Services Building, 2nd Floor, Clearwater, FL 33756
Contact
- url: https://www.myclearwater.com/Business-Development/Permitting/02-Get-A-Building-Permit-Apply-Online
- phone: 727-562-4567
- email: [email protected]
Permit portal
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
- state_level: Roofing contractor is a separately licensed trade in Florida. Section 489.105(3)(e), Florida Statutes, defines a "Roofing contractor" as "a contractor whose services are unlimited in the roofing trade," with a scope that includes "required roof-deck attachments; any repair or replacement of wood roof sheathing or fascia as needed during roof repair or replacement." Section 489.113(2) provides that a person "must be certified or registered in order to engage in the business of contracting in this state." A state-certified contractor may work statewide; 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) contains 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 one- and two-family residences for the owner's own occupancy or use and not offered for sale or lease; this record does not decide whether a particular reader falls within it.
- county_level: Contractor licensing in Clearwater also involves the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board (PCCLB). The PCCLB's notice to state-certified contractors (updated June 24, 2024) states that under 2024 legislation state-certified contractors no longer register with the PCCLB, but "may be required to register or have your state license verified with each local building department in Pinellas County in order to pull a building permit or schedule inspections," with proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance (or exemption) naming each department as Certificate Holder. The PCCLB states that it continues to oversee contractors certified under the "Old Special Act", specifically "all construction contractors whose local licenses begin C- (and J- for journeymen)," and that it "will continue to sanction state-certified contractors for violations."
- city_level: The City's Contractor Registration Form for license holders (updated May 2026) requires a "State of Florida License (DBPR) (current) OR Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board (PCCLB) card (current)," a completed Contractor Affidavit naming the people authorized to sign for permits under the license, and a certificate of insurance "showing active General Liability and Workers compensation and/or exemption" with the City of Clearwater, Planning and Development Department, as certificate holder. The City's Get A Building Permit page repeats that state-certified contractors send their current certificates of insurance "listing the city of Clearwater as the certificate holder," adds United States Longshore & Harbor insurance for work on or over water, and states that "You must be a licensed contractor or design professional to apply for building permits online." The City's fee schedule requires, before roofing or other trade work starts under a combination permit, a filed form showing the subcontractor's name and certification number, and failure to file it "shall be cause for the refusal of inspection services." The registration form also notes that a Business Tax Receipt is required if the business is located within the City; that is a business tax, not a trade credential. For owners, the City's permit page states that "Florida Statute Chapter 489 requires licensed contractors to obtain permits and do the permit work, with very few exceptions for single-family and duplex owner-occupied structures," and the City's Owner/Builder Affidavit requires the owner to acknowledge being "obligated to actually, physically, build or improve the single-family dwelling which I have permitted."
Permit process note
Re-roofing in Clearwater is permit work. The City's Get A Building Permit page lists "Installation or replacement of any roofing component" and "Repair of wall, floor or roof sheathing" among the "Work That Requires a Permit," and states that "all licensed contractors must submit online for all window, roof, door, mechanical (air conditioning), plumbing and water heater permits" through the City's online permitting system. The only roof work the page exempts is "repairing a very small and minor roof leak, less than $500." The City's Building Permit Application (rev. December 2025) has a "ROOFING" box under nature of work, and exterior roofing products are listed with their Florida Product Approval or NOA numbers on the City's Product Approval Specification Sheet. State law makes it "unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or governmental entity to construct, erect, alter, modify, repair, or demolish any building within this state without first obtaining a permit" (section 553.79(1)(a), Florida Statutes). City Code section 47.083 allows a temporary permit "for projects which do not require plan review such as roof work," with ten calendar days to pay and receive the regular permit, failing which a "triple or ten times fee" applies. Under the City's fee schedule, work begun without a permit is charged a "Triple permit fee" on a first occurrence and "10 times permit fee" on a second or later occurrence by the same contractor. The permit page also states that a permit "open for six months without a passed inspection" will expire, and that a recorded Notice of Commencement is needed before issuance where the "project value exceeds $5,000." The City's $7,500 exemption request form under House Bill 803 does not list roofing among the types of work it accepts (see the repair threshold field).
Inspection requirements
Inspections are scheduled through the City's online permitting system or by phone at 727-287-3054 "by 12 a.m. (midnight) for next-day inspections," using the permit number and a three-digit inspection code; roof codes are 917 "Roof in Progress" and 901 "Roof Final." The approved plans, the issued permit and inspection sign-off sheet and a copy of the recorded Notice of Commencement must be visible at the job site. The City's Roofing Inspection Affidavit (revised April 23, 2025) lets a general, building, residential or roofing contractor, or an inspector certified under Chapter 468, Florida Statutes, certify the roof deck nailing and secondary water barrier inspection, with "PHOTOGRAPHS of each plane of the roof (sheathing and dry in / base sheet) with the permit # or address clearly marked with SPRAY PAINT on the deck," notarized. The City's fee schedule charges a reinspection fee for work not ready for inspection of $32 on the first occurrence and $80 on a second or later occurrence.
Adopted code
Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), Residential volume (2021 International Residential Code base), effective December 31, 2023, adopted statewide by the Florida Building Commission under Rule 61G20-1.001, Florida Administrative Code; section 553.73(6), Florida Statutes, provides that the code and each update "is deemed adopted for use statewide without adoptions by local government." The City's Codes Enforced Related to Construction Permits page lists the "8th Edition Florida Building Code" (Residential, Existing Building, Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy Conservation, Fuel/Gas and Accessibility volumes) together with "Section 3109 Pinellas Gulf Beaches Coastal Construction Code." The City's codified adoption section, Community Development Code section 47.051 (last amended by Ord. No. 9349-20, January 16, 2020), still lists the Florida Building Code volumes as the 6th Edition. The City's own amendments in section 47.054 are an administrative amendment to Building section 107.3.5 (flood plan review items) and technical amendments to the Building and Existing Building definition of Substantial Improvement, Building section 1612.4 and Residential sections R322.2.1, R322.3.2 and R322.3.3, all flood provisions; none touches the roofing chapters. The Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board's list of local technical amendments to the 8th Edition (Building 1609.3, 2701.1 and 3109.1; Residential M1411.3, P2903.1 and P2903.2.1; Plumbing 610.2) contains none to Residential Chapter 9 or Building Chapter 15.
Drip edge
Required — Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), section R905.2.8.5 Drip edge: "Provide drip edge at eaves and gables of shingle roofs. Overlap to be a minimum of 3 inches (76 mm). Eave drip edges shall extend 1/2 inch (13 mm) below sheathing and extend back on the roof a minimum of 2 inches (51 mm). Drip edge shall be installed over the underlayment." It "shall be mechanically fastened a maximum of 12 inches (305 mm) on center," with closer spacing where the Vasd is 110 mph or greater. The requirement is written for shingle roofs. The City's building code chapter (Community Development Code Chapter 47, read in full) does not amend it, and no registered City or PCCLB amendment reaches Residential Chapter 9. About drip edge
Ice & water shield
Not required — Not required. The Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023) reads "R905.1.2 Ice barriers. Reserved." and, for asphalt shingles, "R905.2.7 Ice barrier. Reserved." Neither the City's building code chapter (Community Development Code Chapter 47, read in full) nor any registered City or PCCLB amendment adds an ice barrier. A self-adhering ASTM D1970 underlayment remains one of the permitted underlayment methods under section R905.1.1.1; it is not prohibited. About ice & water barrier
Mid-roof inspection
Required — Community Development Code section 47.111, Required inspections, lists the City's minimum roof inspections: "(a) Deck. To be made after the deck is clean, tightly fitted, sound and free of debris. (b) Dry-in inspection. During the course of applying roofing paper. (c) Roof covering inspection. During the course of installing roof covering material. (d) Tile inspection. During the course of installing roof tiles, if applied. (e) Final. After all work is completed on roof." The City's inspection call-in codes list "Roof in Progress" (917) and "Roof Final" (901). The Florida Building Code, Building, section 110.3 (which Residential section R101.2.1 applies to the Residential code) also lists a "Roofing inspection" that "Shall at a minimum include the following building components," listed as dry-in, insulation, roof coverings and flashing.
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither the City's building code chapter (Community Development Code Chapter 47, read in full, including its Florida Building Code amendments in section 47.054) nor the PCCLB's registered technical amendments to the 2023 Florida Building Code (Building 1609.3, 2701.1 and 3109.1; Residential M1411.3, P2903.1 and P2903.2.1; Plumbing 610.2) amends the roofing chapters; no UL 2218 or Class 4 impact requirement appears in the Florida Building Code, Residential Chapter 9, Building Chapter 15 or Existing Building Chapter 7 as they apply in Clearwater. Florida's shingle classes under section R905.2.6.1 (ASTM D3161, TAS 107, ASTM D7158) are wind ratings, not impact ratings, and the City's "Non-Impact Shutters" and window impact-protection items concern openings, not roof coverings.
Repair permit threshold
The City's Get A Building Permit page states: "You will not need a permit for painting, erecting wallpaper, installing tile/carpeting, replacing kitchen/ bathroom cabinets or fixtures or repairing a very small and minor roof leak, less than $500. If you are unsure if you need a permit, contact us at (727) 562-4567." The City's enacted fee schedule (Community Development Code Appendix A, section V(1)(a)) provides that "Permits are generally not required for carpeting, painting, wallpapering, paneling over existing walls, and tile, nor where the valuation of labor, materials, and all other items does not exceed $500.00 and the work or operation is of casual, minor, inconsequential nature, and does not violate any city codes or ordinances." Any roof work beyond that, and any "Installation or replacement of any roofing component," is listed by the City as permit work. Section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes (effective July 1, 2026), reads: "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," does not apply to "Work on a property that is partially or entirely located in a flood hazard area" or to "Any electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, or gas work," requires "a written request for exemption to the local enforcement agency with a copy of the contract," and provides that "A construction project may not be divided into more than one project for the purpose of evading the requirements of this paragraph." The City's Exempt Building Permit Request form states that a project "may qualify for a permit exemption under HB 803 if it is a single-family dwelling, nonstructural project with a total job value under $7,500, involving one or more of the following types of work," and lists Stucco, Fence, Drywall, Driveway, Patio, Turf, Non-Impact Shutters and Temporary Storm Protection; roofing is not on the list. The Florida Building Code's own relief, Building section 105.2.2, allows "Ordinary minor repairs" without a permit only "with the approval of the building official." Separately, the Florida Building Code's 25 percent rule applies to roof repairs (see the deck and sheathing field).
Wind design criteria
The Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board's local technical amendment to the Florida Building Code, Building, 8th Edition (2023), section 1609.3 Ultimate design wind speed, states: "The exact location of wind speeds are approved and adopted as follows: All incorporated and unincorporated Pinellas County, Risk Category I – 135 MPH with interpolation permitted as allowed in the Code and ASCE 7-16; Risk Category II – 145 MPH with interpolation permitted as allowed in the Code and ASCE 7-16; Risk Category III – 155 MPH with interpolation permitted as allowed in the Code and ASCE 7-16; Risk Category IV – 157 MPH with interpolation permitted as allowed in the Code and ASCE 7-16". Clearwater is an incorporated city in Pinellas County. City Code section 47.081 requires Group R3 work that "affects the structural components of a building" to be designed for Chapter 16, Structural Loads, by an architect or engineer, or shown compliant by alternatives approved by the PCCLB, except for "Construction less than $10,000.00 and not affecting the structural components of the building." Clearwater is not in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, which the Florida Building Code defines as Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
Roof layer limit / recover
Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), section R908.3 Recovering versus replacement: "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 to be used for attachment and the securement provisions cannot be met. A single re-cover over one existing layer is therefore the most the code allows. The City's building code chapter (Community Development Code Chapter 47, read in full) states no layer limit of its own and does not amend section R908.3, and no registered City or PCCLB amendment reaches Residential Chapter 9.
Deck & sheathing requirements
Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), section R908.7 Wind mitigation: "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." Under section R908.7.1.1, plank decking "secured with at least two nails (minimum size 8d) to each roof framing member it crosses shall be deemed to be sufficiently connected." Section R908.1.1 (the 25 percent rule): "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 must meet the code in effect. In Clearwater, the City's Roofing Inspection Affidavit covers the inspection of "the roof deck nailing and secondary water barrier," certified as done according to the "Hurricane Mitigation Retrofit Manual," and the City's Inspection Affidavit for Roof to Wall Connections (revised May 2026, for a "Structure valued over $300,000") records whether the existing roof to wall connections are adequate under Florida Building Code, Existing Building section 706.8, or whether "Mitigation measures will exceed 15% of the cost of the re-roof." The City lists "Repair of wall, floor or roof sheathing" as work that requires a permit. City Code section 47.054 does not amend these sections.
Sales & use tax
7% combined: 6% Florida state sales and use tax plus Pinellas County's 1% discretionary sales surtax, which the Department of Revenue's Form DR-15DSS for calendar year 2026 lists as effective February 1, 1990, with an expiration date of December 31, 2029. Per the Department, the surtax "applies to the first $5,000 of the sales amount on the sale, use, lease, rental, or license to use any item of tangible personal property." Under Rule 12A-1.051, Florida Administrative Code, "Roofing work" is a real property contract, and "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"; such contractors "should charge no tax to their customers, regardless of whether they itemize charges for materials and labor in their proposals or invoices." The rate is the roofer's cost on materials, repair and replacement alike, not a tax charged to the homeowner.
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Related guides
The permitting authority for the City of Clearwater. The City's Planning & Development Department issues residential and commercial building permits, including roofing permits, through the City's online permitting system and at the Municipal Services Building, and the City's building official performs plan review and inspections under the Florida Building Code.
No NOAA hail reports within 10 miles of Clearwater, FL in the last 5 years (data through Sep 30, 2026).
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 Clearwater, FL (Census point). Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.
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Sources
- myclearwater.com verified 2026-09-26
- leg.state.fl.us verified 2026-09-26
- myclearwater.com verified 2026-09-26
- myclearwater.com verified 2026-09-26
- myclearwater.com verified 2026-09-26
- codes.iccsafe.org verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26
- floridarevenue.com verified 2026-09-26
- pcclb.com verified 2026-09-26