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Permitting Authorities / City of Fort Pierce - Building Department

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

Adopted code

City of Fort Pierce - Building Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Fort Pierce, FL, issued by City of Fort Pierce - Building Department. Re-roofing in Fort Pierce is permit work. The Building Department publishes a "CHECKLIST FOR NEW AND REPLACEMENT ROOF PERMITS" (updated 8/3/26): a permit application with the site address, parcel ID, owner and contractor information, valuation and a "Notarized Contractor/Homeowner builder signature"; "Product approval(s) for roof material and underlayment being used with installation methods/instructions"; manufacturer's specifications; a recorded Notice of Commencement, if applicable, which "must be submitted to the Building Department prior to scheduling the first inspection"; an Owner Builder Affidavit if applying as owner-builder; a Debris Affidavit; and the City's Reroofing Form, which states that "Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance is required for all products." Signed and sealed truss documents are needed only when adding a new roof or changing the roof structure, and Planning Department pre-approval applies in historic districts and PUDs. If the structure is in a special flood hazard area, "the application is subject to substantial damage/improvement review." The City's adopted administrative code (Chapter 1, as amended by Ordinance 24-001) lists no roofing work among the building work exempt from permit in section 105.2, and exempts "Reroofs" only from plans examination. 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). The City's fee schedule (effective July 8, 2025) charges an "After the fact permit (work already started or completed): Double the fee," and the City's Construction Without a Permit page adds a $100 fee if a stop-work order was issued. Applications are filed through the City's online permitting portal.

Roof code checklist: Fort Pierce, FL

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYescityoffortpierce.com2026-10-16
Repair permit thresholdPublishedcityoffortpierce.com2026-10-16
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedR908.3codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-16
Deck & sheathingPublishedcodes.iccsafe.org2026-10-16
Drip edgeYesR905.2.8.5codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-16
Ice & water shieldNoR905.1.2codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-16
Mid-roof inspectionYesSec. 110.3cityoffortpierce.com2026-10-16
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNolibrary.municode.com2026-10-16
Wind design criteriaPublishedlibrary.municode.com2026-10-16
Adopted codePublishedSec. 553.73(6)library.municode.com2026-10-16
Contractor license / registrationYesleg.state.fl.us2026-10-16
Sales & use taxPublisheddr15dss_26.pdf2026-10-16

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 Pierce, Florida
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
300 Orange Avenue, 3rd Floor, Fort Pierce, FL 34950
Contact
  • url: https://www.cityoffortpierce.com/131/Building
  • phone: 772-467-3718
Permit portal
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"; 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"; this record does not decide whether a particular reader falls within it.
  • city_level: City Code Chapter 103, Article III, sets up a Board of Examiners of Contractors that issues local certificates of competency on a passing score of 70 percent or higher on the competency examinations, with annual renewal by September 30. Under section 103-136, a state certified contractor "may contract in any jurisdiction in the state without being required to fulfill the competency requirements of that jurisdiction," but "shall present to the building official at the time of each application for a building permit or related permit evidence of current state certification," a business tax receipt or certificate of use, and an original certificate of insurance; a voluntary competency card keeps those documents on file. The Building Department verifies "that contractors are properly licensed to perform the work they're permitted for." The business tax receipt is a general business tax, not a trade credential.
Permit process note
Re-roofing in Fort Pierce is permit work. The Building Department publishes a "CHECKLIST FOR NEW AND REPLACEMENT ROOF PERMITS" (updated 8/3/26): a permit application with the site address, parcel ID, owner and contractor information, valuation and a "Notarized Contractor/Homeowner builder signature"; "Product approval(s) for roof material and underlayment being used with installation methods/instructions"; manufacturer's specifications; a recorded Notice of Commencement, if applicable, which "must be submitted to the Building Department prior to scheduling the first inspection"; an Owner Builder Affidavit if applying as owner-builder; a Debris Affidavit; and the City's Reroofing Form, which states that "Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance is required for all products." Signed and sealed truss documents are needed only when adding a new roof or changing the roof structure, and Planning Department pre-approval applies in historic districts and PUDs. If the structure is in a special flood hazard area, "the application is subject to substantial damage/improvement review." The City's adopted administrative code (Chapter 1, as amended by Ordinance 24-001) lists no roofing work among the building work exempt from permit in section 105.2, and exempts "Reroofs" only from plans examination. 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). The City's fee schedule (effective July 8, 2025) charges an "After the fact permit (work already started or completed): Double the fee," and the City's Construction Without a Permit page adds a $100 fee if a stop-work order was issued. Applications are filed through the City's online permitting portal.
Inspection requirements
Under the City's adopted administrative code (section 110.3), roofing is inspected in at least two inspections covering dry-in, insulation, roof coverings and flashing, and for a re-roof "An affidavit with a notarized signature of a state or locally licensed roofing contractor for the installation of additional sheathing fasteners as required by the Existing Building Code may be accepted at the discretion of the building official." The City's Roof Deck Nailing Certification "may only be completed by a roofing contractor licensed pursuant to Florida State Statute 489, an engineer licensed pursuant to Florida State Statute 471, or an architect licensed pursuant to Florida State Statute 481," and "may be utilized in lieu of a sheathing inspection performed by the Building Department for existing roofs only"; the Department "reserves the right to conduct all required inspections at any time." A recorded Notice of Commencement must reach the Department before the first inspection is scheduled. The City's fee schedule charges a residential re-inspection fee of $50.00 per permit, per trade, and $200.00 for a second or later re-inspection to correct the same deficiency.
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." City Code section 103-23 adopts "The Florida Building Code (FBC), as described in F.S. ch. 553, and as published by the respective publishers, plus any administrative amendments" as the City's building code. Section 103-24 adopts "The Building Officials Association of Florida's (BOAF) Model Administrative Code (2023) for the 8th Edition of the Florida Building Code (2023)," with local additions and deletions (Ordinance 24-001, April 1, 2024), and a local amendment to Building section 1609.3 setting the City's design wind speed lines; its technical amendments are otherwise "Reserved." The City's other registered technical amendment is to Existing Building section 1101.1 (additions). City Code Chapter 103 (read in full) amends nothing in 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." The requirement is written for shingle roofs. City Code Chapter 103 (read in full) does not amend it, and no registered City 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 City Code Chapter 103 (read in full) nor any registered City amendment adds an ice barrier. A self-adhering ASTM D1970 underlayment remains a permitted underlayment method; it is not prohibited. About ice & water barrier
Mid-roof inspection
Required — The City's adopted administrative code (section 110.3, Ordinance 24-001) provides: "Roofing inspection. Shall at a minimum be made in at least two inspections and include the following building components: Dry-in Insulation Roof coverings (including In Progress as necessary) Insulation on roof deck (according to submitted energy calculation) Flashing." Its sheathing inspection is "To be made either as part of a dry-in inspection or done separately at the request of the contractor after all roof and wall sheathing and fasteners are complete."
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither City Code Chapter 103 (read in full, including its Florida Building Code amendments in section 103-24) nor the City's registered technical amendments (Building 1609.3 and Existing Building 1101.1) 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 Fort Pierce. Florida's shingle classes under section R905.2.6.1 (ASTM D3161, TAS 107, ASTM D7158) are wind ratings, not impact ratings.
Repair permit threshold
The City's adopted Chapter 1 administrative code (Ordinance 24-001, April 1, 2024), section 105.2, "Work exempt from permit," lists no roofing work among its building exemptions. Section 105.2.2 allows "Ordinary minor repairs" to be made "with the approval of the building official without a permit." Since July 1, 2026, section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes, 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," and 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." The City's exemption page states that "The exemption is not automatic; you must submit a request to determine whether your project qualifies," that "ALL WORK IN A FLOOD ZONE REQUIRES A PERMIT — REGARDLESS OF VALUE," and that "All structural work" is not exempt. The City's Building Permit Exemption Application requires the applicant to certify that "The work to be conducted is not structural in nature AND does not include structural components such as doors/windows, roofing, siding, or soffits." Roofing work in Fort Pierce therefore needs a permit regardless of its value. Separately, the Florida Building Code's 25 percent rule applies to roof repairs (see the deck and sheathing field).
Wind design criteria
City Code section 103-24(a)(2) amends Florida Building Code, Building, section 1609.3 Ultimate design wind speed for the City (as amended through Ordinance 25-030, October 20, 2025): "The jurisdiction of the City of Fort Pierce has two Ultimate Design Wind Speeds for Risk Category II buildings and other structures, 150 mph and 160 mph. The centerline of 25th Street is designated to represent the Ultimate Design Wind Speed Line. All land eastward of this line, including the barrier island, shall be in the 160 mph ultimate design wind zone. All land westward of this line shall be in the 150 mph ultimate wind design wind zone." Risk Category I is a single 140 mph, Risk Category III is 160 and 170 mph, and Risk Category IV is 170 and 180 mph, on the same 25th Street line. Fort Pierce 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." A single re-cover over one existing layer is therefore the most the code allows. City Code Chapter 103 (read in full) states no layer limit of its own and does not amend section R908.3, and no registered City 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." 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. In Fort Pierce, the Roof Deck Nailing Certification has the roofing contractor, engineer or architect certify that the roof deck nailing "was done according to the current edition of the Florida Building Code, Existing Building, Section 706.1, 706.7.1 or the product approval submitted (whichever is more stringent)," and the City's Reroofing Form asks whether there is rotten wood on each roof deck. Under Existing Building section 706.8, "Mandated retrofits of the roof-to-wall connection shall not be required beyond a 15 percent increase in the cost of reroofing."
Sales & use tax
7% combined: 6% Florida state sales and use tax plus St. Lucie County's 1% discretionary sales surtax, which the Department of Revenue's Form DR-15DSS for calendar year 2026 lists as two 0.5% levies, one effective July 1, 1996 with an expiration date of December 31, 2036 and one effective January 1, 2019 with an expiration date of December 31, 2028. 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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The City of Fort Pierce Building Department, which reviews permit applications, issues building permits, including new and replacement roof permits, verifies contractor licensing and performs field inspections under the Florida Building Code and the City's local administrative amendments for construction in the City of Fort Pierce.

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Sources

Roofing questions: Fort Pierce, FL

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Fort Pierce, FL. The City's adopted Chapter 1 administrative code (Ordinance 24-001, April 1, 2024), section 105.2, "Work exempt from permit," lists no roofing work among its building exemptions. Section 105.2.2 allows "Ordinary minor repairs" to be made "with the approval of the building official without a permit." Since July 1, 2026, section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes, 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," and 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." The City's exemption page states that "The exemption is not automatic; you must submit a request to determine whether your project qualifies," that "ALL WORK IN A FLOOD ZONE REQUIRES A PERMIT — REGARDLESS OF VALUE," and that "All structural work" is not exempt. The City's Building Permit Exemption Application requires the applicant to certify that "The work to be conducted is not structural in nature AND does not include structural components such as doors/windows, roofing, siding, or soffits." Roofing work in Fort Pierce therefore needs a permit regardless of its value. Separately, the Florida Building Code's 25 percent rule applies to roof repairs (see the deck and sheathing field).

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

No. 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 City Code Chapter 103 (read in full) nor any registered City amendment adds an ice barrier. A self-adhering ASTM D1970 underlayment remains a permitted underlayment method; it is not prohibited.

Is drip edge required in Fort Pierce, FL?

Yes. 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." The requirement is written for shingle roofs. City Code Chapter 103 (read in full) does not amend it, and no registered City amendment reaches Residential Chapter 9.

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

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." A single re-cover over one existing layer is therefore the most the code allows. City Code Chapter 103 (read in full) states no layer limit of its own and does not amend section R908.3, and no registered City amendment reaches Residential Chapter 9.

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

Yes.

What building code does Fort Pierce, FL use?

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." City Code section 103-23 adopts "The Florida Building Code (FBC), as described in F.S. ch. 553, and as published by the respective publishers, plus any administrative amendments" as the City's building code. Section 103-24 adopts "The Building Officials Association of Florida's (BOAF) Model Administrative Code (2023) for the 8th Edition of the Florida Building Code (2023)," with local additions and deletions (Ordinance 24-001, April 1, 2024), and a local amendment to Building section 1609.3 setting the City's design wind speed lines; its technical amendments are otherwise "Reserved." The City's other registered technical amendment is to Existing Building section 1101.1 (additions). City Code Chapter 103 (read in full) amends nothing in Residential Chapter 9 or Building Chapter 15.