The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / City of Fort Lauderdale - Development Services Department, Building Services

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Fort Lauderdale, FL?

Adopted code

City of Fort Lauderdale - Development Services Department, Building Services

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Fort Lauderdale, FL, issued by City of Fort Lauderdale - Development Services Department, Building Services. Fort Lauderdale is in Broward County, part of the Florida Building Code's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ), where Section 1512.3 of the Florida Building Code, Building states: "Permits within the HVHZ shall be required for all work in connection with the application, repair or maintenance of any roofing component or any roofing assembly and/or any of its components except as otherwise permitted in Section 105 of this code." The Broward County amendments to the Florida Building Code, which "apply countywide in both incorporated and unincorporated areas of Broward County", require permits for "The application, construction, or repair of any roof covering, as provided in Chapter 15, for work exceeding fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500.00)" (Section 105.3.1.4.10), and exempt only "maintenance or repair of any roof covering, as provided in Chapter 15, for work not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500.00) as determined by the Building Official" (Section 105.2 H.1). The city lists "Re-Roof – SFR, Duplex, Townhouse" among its "Approved Walk-Thru Permit Record Types" under Structural Permit. The city's Roof Permit Checklist (Rev. 11, February 22, 2024) requires a building permit application, the completed roofing application packet (the Broward County Uniform Building Permit Application and the HVHZ Uniform Permit Application), Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance product approvals, a Notice of Commencement "if job cost is $5,000 or more", and for all re-roofs a Statement of Responsibilities Regarding Asbestos form from the Broward County Natural Resources Division and a Rooftop Equipment Affidavit; single-family re-roofs "with an assessed value of $300,000 or more" also need the property appraiser's valuation and a notarized Hurricane Mitigation Affidavit. The packet includes the Owners Notification for Roofing Considerations, which the roofing contractor explains to the owner. Permit fees under the city's schedule (revised September 17, 2026) are the greater of $131 or 1.75% of construction cost, plus state and Broward County surcharges. Since July 1, 2026, section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes, requires an exemption for work on a single-family dwelling valued under $7,500 (not in a flood hazard area and not electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical or gas work), and the city states "This is not an automatic exemption" and requires its Residential Permit Exemption Request (HB 803) Form and written approval before work starts. Neither the statute nor the city's HB 803 guidance names roofing either way.

Roof code checklist: Fort Lauderdale, FL

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYeslibrary.municode.com2026-09-26
Repair permit thresholdPublishedlibrary.municode.com2026-09-26
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedcodes.iccsafe.org2026-09-26
Deck & sheathingPublishedwater_barrier_affidavit.pdf2026-09-26
Drip edgeYescodes.iccsafe.org2026-09-26
Ice & water shieldNoR905.1.2codes.iccsafe.org2026-09-26
Mid-roof inspectionYesSec. 1512.4.1codes.iccsafe.org2026-09-26
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNocodes.iccsafe.org2026-09-26
Wind design criteriaPublishedcodes.iccsafe.org2026-09-26
Adopted codePublishedlibrary.municode.com2026-09-26
Contractor license / registrationYeslibrary.municode.com2026-09-26
Sales & use taxPublisheddr15dss_26.pdf2026-09-26

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 Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
700 NW 19th Avenue (Greg Brewton Center), Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
Contact
  • url: https://www.fortlauderdale.gov/Business/Building-Permits
  • phone: 954-828-6520
Permit portal
Permit portal
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
  • state_level: Roofing 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"; section 489.113(2) states 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 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". Section 489.103(7) provides an owner-builder exemption for owners building or improving their own one- or two-family residence for their own use and not for sale or lease.
  • county_level: Broward County Code Chapter 9 (Contractors) "shall apply countywide". Sec. 9-4 requires anyone who contracts in a regulated trade, "Except as provided in Sections 489.103, 489.113, and 489.503, Florida Statutes", to hold a certificate of competency from the Broward County Central Examining Board or "a current license or certificate in accordance with Chapter 489, Florida Statutes"; the chapter lists roofing contractor among the general construction trades. Sec. 9-21 states that "applications for building permits will be accepted only from persons holding an appropriate current active state of Florida certificate of competency or a current active certificate of competency issued by the board", with business tax receipts and evidence of workers' compensation coverage.
  • city_level: City Code Sec. 9-27: "applications for building permits will be accepted only from contractors holding a current certificate of competence and license in their respective fields", except for owners acting as their own contractor under Sec. 9-28, which allows an owner to "build or improve a one-family or two-family residence" for the owner's own use, with direct onsite supervision and an owner-builder affidavit signed in person at the Development Services Department. Contractors register with the city through LauderBuild, uploading a "State of Florida License or Broward County Certificate of Competency with State Registration, if required", a certificate of liability insurance and proof of workers' compensation insurance (or a state exemption), each naming the City of Fort Lauderdale as certificate holder; "Contractors with expired credentials will not be issued permits". The city also states that, under House Bill 735, "effective September 1, 2025, non-licensed contractors are now eligible to register and apply for permits for minor construction work", without saying whether roofing is included. The Florida Building Code's HVHZ roofing section (1512.3.1) states that the HVHZ Uniform Roofing Permit Application is to be "completed and executed by a licensed contractor", and the city's Water Barrier/Sheathing Renailing Affidavit is signed by the "QUALIFIER'S SIGNATURE (LICENSED ROOFING CONTRACTOR)". A city local business tax receipt (Sec. 9-73) is a separate, general requirement and is not a contractor credential.
Permit process note
Fort Lauderdale is in Broward County, part of the Florida Building Code's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ), where Section 1512.3 of the Florida Building Code, Building states: "Permits within the HVHZ shall be required for all work in connection with the application, repair or maintenance of any roofing component or any roofing assembly and/or any of its components except as otherwise permitted in Section 105 of this code." The Broward County amendments to the Florida Building Code, which "apply countywide in both incorporated and unincorporated areas of Broward County", require permits for "The application, construction, or repair of any roof covering, as provided in Chapter 15, for work exceeding fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500.00)" (Section 105.3.1.4.10), and exempt only "maintenance or repair of any roof covering, as provided in Chapter 15, for work not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500.00) as determined by the Building Official" (Section 105.2 H.1). The city lists "Re-Roof – SFR, Duplex, Townhouse" among its "Approved Walk-Thru Permit Record Types" under Structural Permit. The city's Roof Permit Checklist (Rev. 11, February 22, 2024) requires a building permit application, the completed roofing application packet (the Broward County Uniform Building Permit Application and the HVHZ Uniform Permit Application), Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance product approvals, a Notice of Commencement "if job cost is $5,000 or more", and for all re-roofs a Statement of Responsibilities Regarding Asbestos form from the Broward County Natural Resources Division and a Rooftop Equipment Affidavit; single-family re-roofs "with an assessed value of $300,000 or more" also need the property appraiser's valuation and a notarized Hurricane Mitigation Affidavit. The packet includes the Owners Notification for Roofing Considerations, which the roofing contractor explains to the owner. Permit fees under the city's schedule (revised September 17, 2026) are the greater of $131 or 1.75% of construction cost, plus state and Broward County surcharges. Since July 1, 2026, section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes, requires an exemption for work on a single-family dwelling valued under $7,500 (not in a flood hazard area and not electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical or gas work), and the city states "This is not an automatic exemption" and requires its Residential Permit Exemption Request (HB 803) Form and written approval before work starts. Neither the statute nor the city's HB 803 guidance names roofing either way.
Inspection requirements
Roofing work is inspected in phases under Florida Building Code, Building, Section 1512.4 (High-Velocity Hurricane Zone): for shingle, tile and other discontinuous roofs, during or after the base sheet, anchor sheet or underlayment; during installation of any cap sheet; during installation of the roof covering; a TAS 106 uplift test for adhesive-set and mortar-set tile before final; and a final inspection. Broward County requires roofing inspections to be performed by inspectors certified by the Board of Rules and Appeals. In Fort Lauderdale the Water Barrier/Sheathing Renailing Affidavit must be on site before the tin-cap inspection, the Notice of Commencement must be "RECORDED AND POSTED ON THE JOB SITE BEFORE THE FIRST INSPECTION", and, where a roof has gas vents, they "shall be inspected for leaks by a certified/licensed plumbing or mechanical contractor prior to the roofing final". Inspections are scheduled on LauderBuild and are generally conducted between 8:00 am and 3:30 pm.
Adopted code
Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), effective December 31, 2023 (Rule 61G20-1.001, F.A.C.), including its High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) provisions, with the Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals' Broward County Amendments to the Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023) (Chapter 1, Administration; adopted December 14, 2023, effective December 31, 2023, with amendments effective through March 30, 2026), which "apply countywide in both incorporated and unincorporated areas of Broward County". City Code Sec. 9-1 states that "The Florida Building Code, 1976 edition, as currently revised, and as it may be subsequently reedited, revised and amended from time to time, is adopted by the city and constitutes the primary building code effective within the city", and the city's permitting page states that Building Services ensures buildings "comply with the Florida Building Code (FBC)". Because Broward County is in the HVHZ, roofing on houses follows Florida Building Code, Building, Sections 1512 through 1525 rather than Chapter 9 of the Residential volume (Residential Section R901.1, Exception, and Section R4402.1). The state's local-amendment registry lists one Fort Lauderdale amendment to the 8th Edition, Ordinance C-23-46, which amends the city's floodplain management chapter (Code Chapter 14). Neither that chapter nor the city's building chapter (Code Chapter 9) nor the Broward County amendments change the HVHZ roofing sections.
Drip edge
Required — In the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, Florida Building Code, Building, Section 1518.7.3.4 requires for asphalt shingle roofs that "All perimeter termination and valleys shall be fabricated from metal", and Section 1518.7.3.3 states that "Shingles shall not extend more than 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) beyond the eave and rake drip." Section 1517.6.2 sets the drip edge profile: "The vertical face shall be a minimum of 1 1/2 inches (38 mm) and shall extend down not less than 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) below the sheathing or other member immediately contiguous thereto. In all cases, the deck flange shall be not less than 2 inches (51 mm) in width." The steep-slope section of the HVHZ Uniform Permit Application in the city's roofing packet asks for the type and size of drip. Neither the Broward County amendments nor the city's building chapter change these sections. About drip edge
Ice & water shield
Not required — Florida's residential code reserves the ice-barrier section ("R905.1.2 Ice barriers. Reserved."), and the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone roofing sections that apply in Broward County (Florida Building Code, Building, Sections 1512 through 1525) contain no ice-barrier requirement. Neither the Broward County amendments (Chapter 1) nor the city's building chapter adds one. A full-deck self-adhering ASTM D1970 underlayment remains one of the permitted underlayment methods for shingle, metal and slate roofs under Section 1518.2.1, and the city's renailing affidavit lists it as one way to meet the secondary water barrier. About ice & water barrier
Mid-roof inspection
Required — Florida Building Code, Building, Section 1512.4.1 (High-Velocity Hurricane Zone): "All roofing work for which a permit is required shall be inspected by the building official. ... Certain roofing inspections shall be performed during specific phases of the applications". For shingle, tile and other discontinuous roofs these include "During or after application of the base sheet, anchor sheet or underlayment of any roofing system" (1512.4.2.1) and "During the installation of any prepared roof covering, such as shingles, tiles, slates, shakes and similar" (1512.4.2.3), and "After all roofing work has been completed, a final inspection shall be performed" (1512.4.3.3). The Broward County amendments list a "Roofing Inspection. To be made in accordance with Chapter 15 of the FBC, and Section 706 of the FBC, Existing Building" (Section 110.3). The city's Water Barrier/Sheathing Renailing Affidavit (Rev. 4, October 24, 2024) states: "IT MUST BE PROVIDED AT THE JOB SITE BEFORE THE TIN-CAP INSPECTION."
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither the Florida Building Code's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone roofing sections that apply in Broward County (Building, Sections 1512 through 1525), nor the Broward County amendments to the Florida Building Code (Chapter 1), nor Fort Lauderdale Code Chapter 9 (Buildings and Construction) or Chapter 14 (Floodplain Management) contains a UL 2218 or Class 4 impact requirement for roof coverings. The HVHZ sections' one roof impact provision, Section 1515.2.4, applies to low-slope roof coverings and refers to ASTM D3746, ASTM D4272, FM 4470 or TAS 114 testing; it is not a UL 2218 or Class 4 rating for shingles or other steep-slope coverings. The "impact-resistant coverings" in the county amendments are opening protection for windows and doors, not roofing. Fire classes (Section 1516, ASTM E108 or UL 790) and wind ratings are separate requirements.
Repair permit threshold
Broward County amendment to the Florida Building Code, Section 105.2 H.1 (applies countywide, including in Fort Lauderdale): "No permit will be required for maintenance or repair of any roof covering, as provided in Chapter 15, for work not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500.00) as determined by the Building Official." Section 105.3.1.4.10 requires a permit for "The application, construction, or repair of any roof covering, as provided in Chapter 15, for work exceeding fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500.00)." State exemption since July 1, 2026, section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes: "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." It 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"; "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 city states that the exemption "is not automatic", that the Building Official "will review the scope of work, property location, and project value before determining whether the project qualifies", and that "Applicants must wait for a written determination from the City before beginning work"; its examples of qualifying work are cosmetic interior items and do not mention roofing. Separately, Florida Building Code, Building, Section 1521.4 (HVHZ): "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", except that where the existing roof was built, repaired or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, "only the repaired, replaced, or recovered portion is required to be constructed in accordance with the Florida Building Code in effect".
Wind design criteria
Fort Lauderdale is in Broward County, which the Florida Building Code places in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ). Florida Building Code, Building, Section 1620.2 sets the wind velocity (3-second gust) used in structural calculations for Broward County at 156 mph for Risk Category I, 170 mph for Risk Category II, 180 mph for Risk Category III and 185 mph for Risk Category IV buildings and structures, and Section 1620.3 states: "All buildings and structures shall be considered to be in Exposure Category C, unless Exposure Category D applies". Roof uplift design pressures are entered on the HVHZ Uniform Permit Application from the Roofing Application Standards (RAS 127 or RAS 128) or from Chapter 16 calculations, and asphalt shingles in the HVHZ are limited to a roof mean height of 33 feet unless the product approval states otherwise (Section 1518.7.2).
Roof layer limit / recover
Fort Lauderdale is in Broward County, part of the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, where reroofing follows Florida Building Code, Building, Section 1521 rather than the Residential code's reroofing section. Section 1521.9: "One additional roofing system may be applied over an original roofing assembly, providing the existing roofing assembly complies with the requirements of Section 1521." Section 1521.17: "Asphalt shingle assemblies may be applied over one existing layer of asphalt shingles having not more than 1/8-inch (3.2 mm) difference in level in the existing shingle material." Section 1521.16: "No recover application shall take place over existing wood shingles, shakes, slate, tile or metal shingles." Section 1521.19: "Roof coverings or roofing components, such as tile, slate or similar, shall not be applied over an existing roofing system." Section 1521.5 also bars a new roof "over an existing roof or over an existing roof deck where the roof sheathing has not been fastened in compliance with this code or where the roof sheathing will not permit effective fastening or where sheathing is water soaked or deteriorated so that effective attachment is not possible." The Broward County amendments (Chapter 1) and the city's building chapter (Code Chapter 9), both read in full, amend nothing in Section 1521.
Deck & sheathing requirements
High-Velocity Hurricane Zone rules (Florida Building Code, Building): "All roofing systems and prepared roof coverings shall be installed over solid decks, unless otherwise specifically allowed in other sections of this code" (1515.2.1). On a reroof, "All areas of deteriorated sheathing shall be removed and replaced" (1521.5), and where an existing sloped roof has spaced sheathing, the existing covering must be removed and "New sheathing shall be applied in compliance with Chapter 16 (High-Velocity Hurricane Zones), or open spacing shall be filled with dimensional lumber to create solid wood sheathing"; "Spaced sheathing is approved for use with wood shakes and wood shingles only" (1521.15). For houses not permitted under the Florida Building Code, Florida Building Code, Existing Building, Section 706.7 applies when a roof covering on a wood deck is removed and replaced: "Roof-decking attachment shall be as required by Section 706.7.1" and "A secondary water barrier shall be provided as required by Section 706.7.2", with the exception that "Structures permitted subject to the Florida Building Code are not required to comply with this section." The city's Water Barrier/Sheathing Renailing Affidavit, signed by the licensed roofing contractor and due on site before the tin-cap inspection, certifies that "THE DECK HAS BEEN RE-NAILED AT 6" ON CENTER FOR PLYWOOD DECKS AND 2 FASTENERS PER BOARD FOR BOARD ON BOARD DECKS WITH 8D RING SHANK NAILS" (minimum 0.113 inch shank, 0.280 inch full round head, 2 1/2 inch length) and that a secondary water barrier was installed under Section 1518.2.1. Under Existing Building Section 706.8, reroofs on wood-deck buildings in the wind-borne debris region valued at $300,000 or more must improve roof-to-wall connections, but "Mandated retrofits of the roof-to-wall connection shall not be required beyond a 15 percent increase in the cost of reroofing"; the city requires a notarized Hurricane Mitigation Affidavit for single-family re-roofs with an assessed value of $300,000 or more and applies Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals Formal Interpretation #28 on how the 15 percent cap is applied. The required Owners Notification for Roofing Considerations warns that "the existing wood roof deck may have to be renailed".
Sales & use tax
7% combined: the 6% Florida state sales and use tax plus Broward County's 1% discretionary sales surtax, which Florida Department of Revenue Form DR-15DSS for Calendar Year 2026 lists as effective January 1, 2019 with an expiration date of December 31, 2048. The Department of Revenue states that 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." For roofing, Rule 12A-1.051, F.A.C., lists "Roofing work" among real property contracts and 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 such contractors "should charge no tax to their customers". The rule's definition of a real property contract covers work to "Erect, construct, alter, repair, or maintain" a building, so repairs and full replacements are treated alike.

Local roofing hub

Roofing in Fort Lauderdale, FloridaCity hub

More roof permit pages in Florida

Fort Myers, FLRoof permit Gainesville, FLRoof permit Hialeah, FLRoof permit Hollywood, FLRoof permit Jacksonville, FLRoof permit Roofing in FloridaState hub

Related guides

Denver-Metro Roofing Permits Filing a Hail Insurance Claim Colorado Hail Season Prep Hiring a Contractor

The Building Services division of the City of Fort Lauderdale's Development Services Department issues building permits, including re-roof permits, and performs building inspections for addresses inside the city limits. Applications are filed online through the city's LauderBuild portal.

Hail reports near Fort Lauderdale, FL

Reports, last 24 months
2
Largest, last 24 months
1.00 in Jul 12, 2025
Most recent
Jul 12, 2025 1.00 in
Reports, last 5 years
9
5 most recent reports, last 5 years
DateHail sizeDistance
Jul 12, 20251.00 in7 mi WNW
Jul 12, 20251.00 in9 mi NW
Mar 3, 20241.50 in7 mi SW
Mar 3, 20241.00 in7 mi SW
Mar 3, 20241.00 in9 mi SW

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 Fort Lauderdale, FL (Census point). Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.

Working an insurance claim in Fort Lauderdale, FL? Everything on this page (drip edge, ice & water shield, inspections, Class 4 rules) formatted as a claim-ready evidence pack: verbatim ordinance quotes, code section cites, verification dates, and official source links, ready to attach to a supplement. See a real sample pack (PDF, 4 pages, free).

Code items like drip edge and ice & water shield are what adjusters ask you to document.

Buy this jurisdiction's pack: $12 Delivered by email within minutes.

Questions about the Fort Lauderdale, FL pack?

Not ready to buy, or need a different jurisdiction? Tell us and we’ll reply directly.

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Sources

Roofing questions: Fort Lauderdale, FL

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Fort Lauderdale, FL?

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Broward County amendment to the Florida Building Code, Section 105.2 H.1 (applies countywide, including in Fort Lauderdale): "No permit will be required for maintenance or repair of any roof covering, as provided in Chapter 15, for work not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500.00) as determined by the Building Official." Section 105.3.1.4.10 requires a permit for "The application, construction, or repair of any roof covering, as provided in Chapter 15, for work exceeding fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500.00)." State exemption since July 1, 2026, section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes: "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." It 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"; "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 city states that the exemption "is not automatic", that the Building Official "will review the scope of work, property location, and project value before determining whether the project qualifies", and that "Applicants must wait for a written determination from the City before beginning work"; its examples of qualifying work are cosmetic interior items and do not mention roofing. Separately, Florida Building Code, Building, Section 1521.4 (HVHZ): "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", except that where the existing roof was built, repaired or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, "only the repaired, replaced, or recovered portion is required to be constructed in accordance with the Florida Building Code in effect".

Is ice & water shield required in Fort Lauderdale, FL?

No. Florida's residential code reserves the ice-barrier section ("R905.1.2 Ice barriers. Reserved."), and the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone roofing sections that apply in Broward County (Florida Building Code, Building, Sections 1512 through 1525) contain no ice-barrier requirement. Neither the Broward County amendments (Chapter 1) nor the city's building chapter adds one. A full-deck self-adhering ASTM D1970 underlayment remains one of the permitted underlayment methods for shingle, metal and slate roofs under Section 1518.2.1, and the city's renailing affidavit lists it as one way to meet the secondary water barrier.

Is drip edge required in Fort Lauderdale, FL?

Yes. In the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, Florida Building Code, Building, Section 1518.7.3.4 requires for asphalt shingle roofs that "All perimeter termination and valleys shall be fabricated from metal", and Section 1518.7.3.3 states that "Shingles shall not extend more than 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) beyond the eave and rake drip." Section 1517.6.2 sets the drip edge profile: "The vertical face shall be a minimum of 1 1/2 inches (38 mm) and shall extend down not less than 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) below the sheathing or other member immediately contiguous thereto. In all cases, the deck flange shall be not less than 2 inches (51 mm) in width." The steep-slope section of the HVHZ Uniform Permit Application in the city's roofing packet asks for the type and size of drip. Neither the Broward County amendments nor the city's building chapter change these sections.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Fort Lauderdale, FL?

Fort Lauderdale is in Broward County, part of the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, where reroofing follows Florida Building Code, Building, Section 1521 rather than the Residential code's reroofing section. Section 1521.9: "One additional roofing system may be applied over an original roofing assembly, providing the existing roofing assembly complies with the requirements of Section 1521." Section 1521.17: "Asphalt shingle assemblies may be applied over one existing layer of asphalt shingles having not more than 1/8-inch (3.2 mm) difference in level in the existing shingle material." Section 1521.16: "No recover application shall take place over existing wood shingles, shakes, slate, tile or metal shingles." Section 1521.19: "Roof coverings or roofing components, such as tile, slate or similar, shall not be applied over an existing roofing system." Section 1521.5 also bars a new roof "over an existing roof or over an existing roof deck where the roof sheathing has not been fastened in compliance with this code or where the roof sheathing will not permit effective fastening or where sheathing is water soaked or deteriorated so that effective attachment is not possible." The Broward County amendments (Chapter 1) and the city's building chapter (Code Chapter 9), both read in full, amend nothing in Section 1521.

Do roofing contractors need a license or registration in Fort Lauderdale, FL?

Yes.

What building code does Fort Lauderdale, FL use?

Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), effective December 31, 2023 (Rule 61G20-1.001, F.A.C.), including its High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) provisions, with the Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals' Broward County Amendments to the Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023) (Chapter 1, Administration; adopted December 14, 2023, effective December 31, 2023, with amendments effective through March 30, 2026), which "apply countywide in both incorporated and unincorporated areas of Broward County". City Code Sec. 9-1 states that "The Florida Building Code, 1976 edition, as currently revised, and as it may be subsequently reedited, revised and amended from time to time, is adopted by the city and constitutes the primary building code effective within the city", and the city's permitting page states that Building Services ensures buildings "comply with the Florida Building Code (FBC)". Because Broward County is in the HVHZ, roofing on houses follows Florida Building Code, Building, Sections 1512 through 1525 rather than Chapter 9 of the Residential volume (Residential Section R901.1, Exception, and Section R4402.1). The state's local-amendment registry lists one Fort Lauderdale amendment to the 8th Edition, Ordinance C-23-46, which amends the city's floodplain management chapter (Code Chapter 14). Neither that chapter nor the city's building chapter (Code Chapter 9) nor the Broward County amendments change the HVHZ roofing sections.