Permitting Authorities / Hernando County - Building Division
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Unincorporated Hernando County, FL?
Adopted codeHernando County - Building Division
Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated Hernando County, FL, issued by Hernando County - Building Division. Reroofing has its own application and fee in unincorporated Hernando County. The Residential Roofing Permit application offers "Reroof (Replacement)" and "Reshingle (Recover)" as the work types; its Re-Roofing Information Sheet adds Replacement, Recover and Repair, covers single-family homes, duplexes, townhouses and detached structures, and requires the manufacturer and Florida product approval number for each roof material ("Florida Product Approval required for roofing and cladding: Hernando County Forms MUST be used"). The application is signed before a notary, and an owner-builder must also sign a notarized Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement. The County's building fee schedule (Resolution No. 2026-037, fees effective March 3, 2026) lists "Roofing, Residential" at $190.00, with all permits also subject to DPR, radon, unlicensed contractor surcharge and technology fees. Registered contractors can self-issue residential reroof permits through the Contractor Portal; paper applications are accepted in person or through the drop box in the Building Division lobby. Since March 3, 2026, new applications go through the County's Tyler portal; the legacy portal is for older permits only. Under County Code Section 8-98, plans examination "shall not be required" for a re-roof, and a permit becomes null and void if work does not start within 180 days of issuance or is suspended or abandoned for 180 days. The County's fee schedule sets fines for "Failure to Obtain Required Permit Prior to Commencement of Work" of $500.00 for a first offense, $750.00 for a second and $1,000.00 for a third.
Roof code checklist: Unincorporated Hernando County, FL
| Item | Answer | Code cite | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit to replace a roof | Yes | residential-roofing-permit.pdf | 2026-09-26 | |
| Repair permit threshold | Published | items-not-requiring-a-building-pe... | 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 | library.municode.com | 2026-09-26 |
| Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofing | No | library.municode.com | 2026-09-26 | |
| Wind design criteria | Published | library.municode.com | 2026-09-26 | |
| Adopted code | Published | Sec. 8-97 | library.municode.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
Hernando County, Florida (unincorporated)
Jurisdiction type
county
Address
789 Providence Boulevard, Brooksville, FL 34601
Contact
- url: https://www.hernandocounty.us/building-development/building/
- phone: 352-754-4050
- 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, including "required roof-deck attachments" and "any repair or replacement of wood roof sheathing or fascia as needed during" roof work. 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) 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" when "building or improving ... one-family or two-family residences on such property for the occupancy or use of such owners and not offered for sale or lease." This record does not decide whether a particular reader falls within that exemption.
- county_level: Hernando County's Construction Licensing Code (County Code Chapter 8, Article II, Division 2) states that "Persons not state-certified, who desire to engage in contracting on a county-wide basis, shall be certified or registered" (Section 8-29(1)), and that "Any person or business organization engaged in the business of contracting who performs work for which a building permit is required shall, prior to engaging in the business of contracting or performing such work, register with the board's principal office unless he is county certified" (Section 8-84). A county certificate of competency requires a passing examination score of 75 percent or better and proof of experience (Section 8-77), with proof of public liability, property damage and workers' compensation insurance (Sections 8-79 and 8-83). Under Section 8-29(4), "When a state certified contractor desires to engage in contracting in Hernando County, as a prerequisite therefore, he or she shall be required to exhibit and file with the board's principal office a copy of his/her certificate together with applicable insurance." The County's State Certified Registration Form asks for a copy of the state license, a certificate of liability insurance and workers' compensation naming "Hernando County Building Division" as certificate holder, and a driver's license, emailed to [email protected]. Section 8-29(2)(g) states that no general, building or residential contractor certified after 1973 "shall act as, hold himself out to be, or advertise himself to be a roofing contractor unless he is certified or registered as a roofing contractor." The Residential Roofing Permit application asks for the contractor's license number "(State Certification or Hernando County # Only". Contractor vehicles used for construction business must display a valid Hernando County or State of Florida certification number with the license holder's name and certificate type (Section 8-38(3)). Under Section 8-27(7), an owner-builder "must personally appear and sign the permit application and a disclosure statement." The County's building fee schedule (Resolution No. 2026-037, fees effective March 3, 2026) lists a county certificate of competency at $100.00 for annual issuance and renewal, and an unlicensed contractor citation at $1,000.00 for a first offense.
Permit process note
Reroofing has its own application and fee in unincorporated Hernando County. The Residential Roofing Permit application offers "Reroof (Replacement)" and "Reshingle (Recover)" as the work types; its Re-Roofing Information Sheet adds Replacement, Recover and Repair, covers single-family homes, duplexes, townhouses and detached structures, and requires the manufacturer and Florida product approval number for each roof material ("Florida Product Approval required for roofing and cladding: Hernando County Forms MUST be used"). The application is signed before a notary, and an owner-builder must also sign a notarized Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement. The County's building fee schedule (Resolution No. 2026-037, fees effective March 3, 2026) lists "Roofing, Residential" at $190.00, with all permits also subject to DPR, radon, unlicensed contractor surcharge and technology fees. Registered contractors can self-issue residential reroof permits through the Contractor Portal; paper applications are accepted in person or through the drop box in the Building Division lobby. Since March 3, 2026, new applications go through the County's Tyler portal; the legacy portal is for older permits only. Under County Code Section 8-98, plans examination "shall not be required" for a re-roof, and a permit becomes null and void if work does not start within 180 days of issuance or is suspended or abandoned for 180 days. The County's fee schedule sets fines for "Failure to Obtain Required Permit Prior to Commencement of Work" of $500.00 for a first offense, $750.00 for a second and $1,000.00 for a third.
Inspection requirements
Before a roofing inspection can be scheduled, the permit holder must file the County's Roofing Inspection Affidavit, signed by a licensed contractor, engineer or architect who "did personally examine the roof for compliance with Florida Statute 2023 (553.844) and Florida Building Code 8th Edition 2023 (R903.1 or 1503.1)," and notarized: "This completed and notarized form must be submitted to the Building Division prior to scheduling your inspection. A copy of this form must be on the job site at the time of the inspection for the homeowner’s records. The inspection cannot be completed if not on the job site." Contractors upload it to the permit through the online portal; homeowners can email it to [email protected]. County Code Section 8-35 makes the permit holder responsible for requesting "a final inspection within ten (10) days of the completion of permitted work, and if applicable; a reinspection within seven (7) days of the issuance of a red-tag"; the fee schedule fines "Failure to Obtain Inspections" $500.00 for a first offense. A notice of commencement "MUST BE RECORDED AND POSTED ON THE JOB SITE BEFORE THE FIRST INSPECTION" where required by section 713.13, Florida Statutes, and the permit card must be posted before work starts. Owner-builders may schedule inspections by emailing [email protected] or calling 352-754-4050.
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. Hernando County Code Section 8-97 adopts "that certain statewide unified code known as the Florida Building Code," and provides that upon each new edition, "that most recent edition of the Florida Building shall be incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein." The County's Roofing Inspection Affidavit, required before a roofing inspection is scheduled, certifies compliance with "Florida Statute 2023 (553.844) and Florida Building Code 8th Edition 2023 (R903.1 or 1503.1)." Hernando County's local provisions are Section 8-98, the County's own text of the code's Chapter 1 (scope, permits, fees and inspections), and Section 8-99, a technical amendment to the Residential volume's flood-resistant construction rules (Section R322). County Code Chapter 8 (Buildings and Building Regulations, Articles I through VI), read in full, contains 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). Hernando County's building code chapter (County Code Chapter 8), including its local administrative provisions and its only local technical amendment (flood-resistant construction, Section R322), does 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." Hernando County Code Chapter 8 does 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 two instruments word the roofing inspection differently. The Florida Building Code, Building, 8th Edition (2023), Section 110.3 lists among required inspections: "Roofing inspection. Shall at a minimum include the following building components:" dry-in, insulation, roof coverings and flashing. Hernando County's own text of Section 110.3 (County Code Section 8-98), under which the building official "shall make the following minimum inspections, or any other such inspections as deemed necessary," reads: "Roofing inspection. In-progress inspection of roofing installation may be conducted and include, but not limited to:" dry-in, insulation, roof coverings and flashing; it adds that "The building official shall determine the timing and sequencing of when inspections occur and what elements are inspected at each inspection." This record does not decide which wording the Building Division applies to a given job; plan for a dry-in inspection and confirm the inspection sequence when the permit issues. Before a roofing inspection is scheduled, the County requires a notarized Roofing Inspection Affidavit in which a licensed contractor, engineer or architect states that he or she personally examined the roof for compliance with section 553.844, Florida Statutes, and the 8th Edition code.
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither Hernando County's local text of the code's Chapter 1 (County Code Section 8-98) nor its technical amendment (Section 8-99, flood-resistant construction) amends the Florida Building 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 County code's references to "impact-resistant coverings" concern protection of openings such as shutters and hurricane panels, not roof coverings, and the state code's shingle classifications (ASTM D3161, TAS 107, ASTM D7158) are wind ratings, not hail-impact ratings.
Repair permit threshold
The Hernando County Building Division's list of Items Not Requiring A Building Permit (Residential Only) includes "Roof Repairs (existing roof covering less than 100 square feet)" and "Liquid Roof Coatings," and states: "The work exempted must still be constructed in accordance with the minimum code standards and comply with Hernando County Zoning's requirements (setbacks)." The list "is for informational purposes and does not include all scopes of work that require/does not require a permit." County Code Section 8-98, Section 105.2.2, states: "Ordinary minor repairs or installation of replacement parts may be made with the approval of the building official without a permit," provided they do not include cutting away walls, removing or cutting structural beams or loadbearing supports, or changing egress. 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." Hernando County has published no statement on how it applies that exemption to roof work, and this record does not decide whether a given roof job qualifies. 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 meet the current code.
Wind design criteria
Hernando County Code Section 8-98 (the County's text of the code's Chapter 1, Section 101.5.4, Words defined; codified from Ordinance No. 2020-15, December 15, 2020, and Ordinance No. 2021-14, August 24, 2021) states: "Hernando County Wind Speeds are defined as follows and as displayed by the "Hernando County Wind Speed Maps" attached to, and made part of this chapter: (All values listed are V-ultimate.)" For Risk Category II buildings (Figure 1609A), which include homes: "V-ult. = 140 mph Those areas west of a northwesterly line running between the southwestern corner of S31 T23S R17E to the southwestern corner of S13 T23S R16E continuing to the Gulf of Mexico. V-ult. = 139 mph those areas east of the line described above as the 140-mph line to the eastern end of the county. Interpolation is allowed." Risk Category III and IV (Figure 1609B): "V-ult. = 149 mph throughout the county." Risk Category I (Figure 1609C): "V-ult. = 127 mph throughout the county. Interpolation is not allowed." The same section defines the Wind Borne Debris Region as areas "Within 1 mile of the coastal mean high water line where the ultimate design wind speed is 130 MPH or greater; or ... In areas where the ultimate design wind speed is 140 MPH or greater," and traces a line from the north end of the county at the intersection of Lagrua Road and Retriever Road south to the intersection of County Line Road and U.S. 19. These values were codified before the 8th Edition (2023) Florida Building Code took effect and remain in the County Code as codified through April 28, 2026. Hernando County is not in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone.
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 Hernando County without local adoption; County Code Chapter 8, read in full, does not amend the reroofing section or state a layer count. The County's Residential Roofing Permit application lists "Reshingle (Recover)" as a permit work type.
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 Section R908.7.1.2 sets supplemental fastening for wood structural panel decks. The County's Roofing Inspection Affidavit, filed before inspection, certifies compliance with section 553.844, Florida Statutes (the reroof wind-mitigation statute). Hernando County Code Chapter 8, read in full, sets no deck thickness or sheathing rule of its own for reroofing.
Sales & use tax
6.5% combined in Hernando County (6% Florida state sales and use tax + 0.5% Hernando County discretionary sales surtax). The Florida Department of Revenue's Form DR-15DSS, Discretionary Sales Surtax Information for Calendar Year 2026, lists Hernando's .5% surtax with an effective date of January 1, 2016 and an expiration date of December 31, 2035. 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.
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Related guides
The Building Division of Hernando County, Florida reviews plans, issues building permits, including residential roofing permits, performs inspections and certifies and registers contractors for unincorporated Hernando County. New permit applications are submitted through the County's Tyler online permitting portal, in person, or through the drop box in the Building Division lobby in Brooksville.
Hail reports near the center of Hernando County, FL
- Reports, last 24 months
- 1
- Largest, last 24 months
- 1.00 in Jul 17, 2026
- Most recent
- Jul 17, 2026 1.00 in
- Reports, last 5 years
- 1
| Date | Hail size | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2026 | 1.00 in | 8 mi E |
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 Hernando County, FL. Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.
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Sources
- hernandocounty.us verified 2026-09-26
- hernandocounty.us verified 2026-09-26
- hernandocounty.us verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26
- hernandocounty.us verified 2026-09-26
- codes.iccsafe.org verified 2026-09-26
- media-002-us.cdn.govstack.com verified 2026-09-26
- floridarevenue.com verified 2026-09-26