Permitting Authorities / City of Jacksonville - Building Inspection Division
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Jacksonville, FL?
Adopted codeCity of Jacksonville - Building Inspection Division
Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Jacksonville, FL, issued by City of Jacksonville - Building Inspection Division. Roofing is its own permit type in Jacksonville: the Building Inspection Division's FAQ lists "Alterations – re-roofs, garage conversions, exterior stucco, etc." among the work for which "A building permit is required," and the City's fee schedule (Ordinance Code Section 320.409) carries a separate Roofing permit fee "for each 1,000 square feet or fractional part thereof," with a line for "Roofing repairs less than 500 square feet." Online submission through JaxEPICS "is now required for all permit types." Under Ordinance Code Section 320.408(f)(3), "Roofing repairs or reroofing not exceeding five squares or $2,500 in total cost" on a single-family residence "may be performed without plan review or inspection"; after the permit is paid for and a Notice of Commencement submitted (when required), "the permit will Auto Expire," and the Division "shall retain the right and option to perform such random inspections as may be deemed necessary." Since July 1, 2026, section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes, has also required every local government that issues building permits to exempt a single-family owner or the owner's contractor from the permit requirement for "any work valued at less than $7,500," except "Work on a property that is partially or entirely located in a flood hazard area" and "Any electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, or gas work," and only on "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"; this record does not decide whether a given roof job qualifies. The Division states that "Starting work without first applying for a permit is unlawful and punishable by a fine of $250," and Section 320.408(c) doubles the permit fee where permitted work is commenced before the permit is obtained. A recorded Notice of Commencement is required "When improvements exceed $5,000" and must be provided to the Division before the first inspection is requested. The Division states that its authority "is limited to the City of Jacksonville"; Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and the Town of Baldwin, also in Duval County, have their own building code enforcement.
Roof code checklist: Jacksonville, FL
| Item | Answer | Code cite | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit to replace a roof | Yes | jacksonville.gov | 2026-09-26 | |
| Repair permit threshold | Published | library.municode.com | 2026-09-26 | |
| Layer limit / roof-over | Published | R908.3 | codes.iccsafe.org | 2026-09-26 |
| Deck & sheathing | Published | codes.iccsafe.org | 2026-09-26 | |
| Drip edge | Yes | R905.2.8.5 | codes.iccsafe.org | 2026-09-26 |
| Ice & water shield | No | R905.1.2 | codes.iccsafe.org | 2026-09-26 |
| Mid-roof inspection | Yes | Sec. 110.3 | jacksonville.gov | 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. 321.101 | jacksonville.gov | 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
City of Jacksonville, Florida
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
214 North Hogan Street, 2nd Floor (Ed Ball Building), Jacksonville, FL 32202
Contact
- url: https://www.jacksonville.gov/departments/public-works/building-inspection-division
- phone: 904-255-8500
- 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 489.113(2), Florida Statutes, 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." The Division's residential permits page states: "Roofing contractors are required to be certified or registered by the state." 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," including 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: Jacksonville's Construction Trades Regulations (Ordinance Code Chapter 342) apply countywide: in Section 342.101(b) the City Council acts "as the governing body for Duval County, Florida," and the chapter "shall be effective within the boundaries of Duval County, Florida, except where in conflict with an ordinance of a municipality within Duval County." Section 342.110(j)(2) states: "It is unlawful for a person to engage in the business of a roofing contractor who does not hold a valid roofing contractor certificate of competency issued by the Board or by the State." The Board is the Construction Trades Qualifying Board, which issues local roofing contractor certificates of competency; Section 342.110(j)(3)(iii) states that roofing contractors registered with the State after August 4, 1987 "are not eligible for a certificate of competency issued by the Board without examination."
- city_level: Section 320.402(b)(1) of the Ordinance Code accepts roofing permit applications only from a roofing contractor holding a current certificate issued under Chapter 489, Florida Statutes (or registered under it before August 4, 1987), and adds that "in order for a roofing contractor, who is registered pursuant to F.S. Ch. 489, to obtain a permit after August 4, 1987, he shall be required to obtain the same types and amounts of insurance coverage as are required for a certified roofing contractor under the Florida Statutes and shall submit satisfactory proof of such insurance at the time the permit is requested." To pull permits, a contractor also registers a JaxEPICS contractor profile; the Division's Contractor Registration Form (revised 3/24/2026) requires "A copy of a valid certificate issued by the Florida Department of Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing Board," picture identification, and proof of workers' compensation coverage or exemption, emailed to [email protected]. A homeowner permitting for their own primary residence must appear in person, sign an Owner's Affidavit, and provide proof of homestead exemption for improvements to existing structures; the Division states that licensed contractors hired by the owner for "other subcontracted work requiring a permit (roofing), must also obtain their own permits." The Division notes that an "Occupational License" (local business tax receipt) "is not a regulatory license or a Certificate of Competency."
Permit process note
Roofing is its own permit type in Jacksonville: the Building Inspection Division's FAQ lists "Alterations – re-roofs, garage conversions, exterior stucco, etc." among the work for which "A building permit is required," and the City's fee schedule (Ordinance Code Section 320.409) carries a separate Roofing permit fee "for each 1,000 square feet or fractional part thereof," with a line for "Roofing repairs less than 500 square feet." Online submission through JaxEPICS "is now required for all permit types." Under Ordinance Code Section 320.408(f)(3), "Roofing repairs or reroofing not exceeding five squares or $2,500 in total cost" on a single-family residence "may be performed without plan review or inspection"; after the permit is paid for and a Notice of Commencement submitted (when required), "the permit will Auto Expire," and the Division "shall retain the right and option to perform such random inspections as may be deemed necessary." Since July 1, 2026, section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes, has also required every local government that issues building permits to exempt a single-family owner or the owner's contractor from the permit requirement for "any work valued at less than $7,500," except "Work on a property that is partially or entirely located in a flood hazard area" and "Any electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, or gas work," and only on "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"; this record does not decide whether a given roof job qualifies. The Division states that "Starting work without first applying for a permit is unlawful and punishable by a fine of $250," and Section 320.408(c) doubles the permit fee where permitted work is commenced before the permit is obtained. A recorded Notice of Commencement is required "When improvements exceed $5,000" and must be provided to the Division before the first inspection is requested. The Division states that its authority "is limited to the City of Jacksonville"; Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and the Town of Baldwin, also in Duval County, have their own building code enforcement.
Inspection requirements
The Building Inspection Division lists two roof inspection types, "(39) ROOFING IN PROGRESS/DRY-IN" and "(9) FINAL," and states: "It is the permit holder's responsibility to request all required inspections. It is unlawful to not request a required inspection or to cover up a failed inspection." Inspections are requested through JaxEPICS or by phone at 904-255-8500 option 4 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Before any inspection, "the permit and the filed Notice of Commencement (NOC) must be posted on the job site," and a failed inspection carries a $45 reinspection fee. The Division's FAQ states: "Generally, our inspectors have the ability to access a single-story roof. The contractor is responsible to provide access to any location requiring inspection." Under Ordinance Code Section 320.402(b)(3), active permits that go over 180 days without an approved inspection are suspended.
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. The Building Inspection Division states: "The current code in effect is the Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023)," and "Documents for permits submitted on or after January 1, 2024 will need to reference and comply with the Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023)." Ordinance Code Chapter 320 (the Jacksonville Building Code Administrative Section) is "supplementary to Chapter 1 of the Florida Building Code," and Section 321.101 adopts Florida Building Code, Residential Appendices A, B, C, E, F and O. The Florida Building Commission's registry of local technical amendments to the 2023 code lists no Jacksonville amendment to the roofing chapters (Residential Chapter 9, Building Chapter 15); its Building entries for "County of Duval/Jacksonville" are Sections 1210.4 and 1210.5, effective April 10, 2024. Ordinance Code Chapters 320 and 321, read in full, contain no provision on roof coverings, underlayment, drip edge, re-covering or layer limits; Section 320.103 sets the City's wind-speed demarcation line, and Section 321.109 carries the City's local flood-elevation amendments to Residential Sections R322.2.1 and R322.3.2.
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" (closer spacing applies at higher design wind speeds or roof heights). The state code applies in Jacksonville without local adoption; the Florida Building Commission's registry lists no Jacksonville amendment to Residential Chapter 9, and the City's building ordinances (Ordinance Code Chapters 320 and 321, read in full) do not 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." The Florida Building Commission's registry lists no Jacksonville amendment to Residential Chapter 9, and the City's building ordinances (Ordinance Code Chapters 320 and 321, read in full) do not address ice barriers. A self-adhered underlayment may still be used as one of the state code's underlayment options. About ice & water barrier
Mid-roof inspection
Required — The Building Inspection Division's published list of inspection types includes, under the ROOF category, "(39) ROOFING IN PROGRESS/DRY-IN" and "(9) FINAL," and states that "Required inspections will be determined at the time the permit application is reviewed." The Florida Building Code, Building, 8th Edition (2023), Section 110.3 (which also administers the Residential volume) lists a "Roofing inspection" that "Shall at a minimum include the following building components": dry-in, insulation, roof coverings and flashing. Exception: under Ordinance Code Section 320.408(f)(3), "Roofing repairs or reroofing not exceeding five squares or $2,500 in total cost" on a single-family residence may be performed without plan review or inspection, subject to random inspection.
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither the City's building ordinances (Ordinance Code Chapters 320 and 321, read in full) nor the City's local amendments registered with the Florida Building Commission amend 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 City's building ordinances. The state code's shingle classifications (ASTM D3161, TAS 107, ASTM D7158) are wind ratings, not hail-impact ratings.
Repair permit threshold
City of Jacksonville Ordinance Code Section 320.408(f)(3): "Roofing repairs or reroofing not exceeding five squares or $2,500 in total cost" on a single-family residence "may be performed without plan review or inspection by the Building Inspection Division. After the permit is paid for and Notice of Commencement submitted (when required), the permit will Auto Expire." That work still takes a paid permit; the fee schedule prices "Roofing repairs less than 500 square feet" separately. Section 320.401 adds: "Ordinary minor repairs may be made with the approval of the Building Official without a permit, provide that such repairs shall not violate any of the provisions of the Florida Building Code." 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." To qualify, "the owner or the owner's contractor must submit 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." 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 code in effect.
Wind design criteria
City of Jacksonville Ordinance Code Section 320.103 (Wind zones), which the Building Inspection Division's guidelines page links as "Wind Zone Verification," sets a demarcation line that runs "up the center of the St. Johns River to the intersection of the St. Johns River and Interstate 95 on the Fuller Warren Bridge, then proceed north along Interstate 95 to the northern Duval County line." It states: "For Risk Category II structures as set forth in the Florida Building Code, the wind speed west of the demarcation line shall be 125 miles per hour and east of the demarcation line 130 miles per hour." Risk Category I: 115 mph west, 120 mph east. Risk Category III and IV: 135 mph west, 140 mph east. "An applicant for a building permit may choose to interpolate from the actual wind speed maps instead of using those parameters noted above. In such instance a location map with the wind speed interpolation calculations shall be provided by a licensed engineer or architect." (Section 320.103 as last amended by Ordinance 2012-214-E.) Jacksonville is outside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, which the Florida Building Code defines as Broward and Miami-Dade counties, so the statewide Florida Building Code roofing provisions and Florida product approval apply rather than the HVHZ provisions.
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 Jacksonville without local adoption; the Florida Building Commission's registry lists no Jacksonville amendment to Residential Chapter 9, and the City's building ordinances (Ordinance Code Chapters 320 and 321, read in full) do not address reroofing or layer counts.
Deck & sheathing requirements
On a reroof of an older home, the Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), Section R908.7 (Wind mitigation) applies "When a roof covering on an existing structure with a sawn lumber, wood plank or wood structural panel roof deck is removed and replaced": "(a) Roof-decking attachment shall be as required by Section R908.7.1. (b) A secondary water barrier shall be provided as required by Section R908.7.2. Exception: Structures permitted subject to the Florida Building Code are not required to comply with this section." Section R908.7.1.1 deems sawn lumber or plank decking "secured with at least two nails (minimum size 8d) to each roof framing member it crosses" to be "sufficiently connected," and Table R908.7.1.2 sets supplemental ring-shank fastener spacing for wood structural panel decks. Section R908.7.2 states: "When a roof covering is removed and replaced, a secondary water barrier shall be installed in accordance with Section R905.1.1 or Section 1518.2 of the Florida Building Code, Building." Locally, Ordinance Code Section 342.110(j)(1) allows a roofing contractor "to replace or repair deteriorated wood at the facia, eaves, and rakes of the roof, including roof sheathing, provided the wood repair or replacement is part of a roof repair contract and is nonstructural and the appropriate permit has been issued for such work. For the purposes of this Section, rafters, joist, beams, and trusses are considered to be structural."
Sales & use tax
7.5% combined in Duval County (6% Florida state sales and use tax + 1.5% Duval County discretionary sales surtax). The Florida Department of Revenue's Form DR-15DSS, Discretionary Sales Surtax Information for Calendar Year 2026, lists Duval's 1.5% as three 0.5% surtaxes: one effective January 1, 1989 with no expiration date, one effective January 1, 2001 with an expiration date of December 31, 2030, and one effective January 1, 2021 with 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 Inspection Division of the City of Jacksonville's Public Works Department enforces the Florida Building Code and the City's building ordinances and issues building permits, including separate roofing permits, through the JaxEPICS online permitting system. Jacksonville is a consolidated city-county government with Duval County; the Division's own homeowner permitting page states that its authority "is limited to the City of Jacksonville" and that the City of Jacksonville Beach, City of Atlantic Beach, City of Neptune Beach and Town of Baldwin, also in Duval County, "have their own building and zoning codes regulation and enforcement."
Hail reports near Jacksonville, FL
- Reports, last 24 months
- 0
- Largest, last 24 months
- None
- Most recent
- None in 24 months
- Reports, last 5 years
- 6
| Date | Hail size | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 2023 | 1.00 in | 10 mi SSW |
| Apr 27, 2023 | 1.00 in | 10 mi SSE |
| Apr 26, 2023 | 1.25 in | 10 mi WSW |
| Aug 23, 2022 | 0.75 in | 10 mi SSW |
| May 21, 2022 | 0.75 in | 3 mi N |
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 Jacksonville, FL (Census point). Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.
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Sources
- jacksonville.gov verified 2026-09-26
- jacksonville.gov verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26
- jacksonville.gov verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26
- jacksonville.gov verified 2026-09-26
- codes.iccsafe.org verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26
- floridarevenue.com verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26