The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / Martin County - Building Department

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Unincorporated Martin County, FL?

Adopted code

Martin County - Building Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated Martin County, FL, issued by Martin County - Building Department. Martin County's Building Department lists "Reroofing" among the "Examples of projects that DO require a permit," and its post-storm guide lists "Roof replacements or substantial roof repairs" among repairs that require a permit, while "Temporary tarping of roofs" does not. Permits are applied for online through the county's Accela Citizen Access (ACA) portal or at the permit counter, 900 SE Ruhnke Street, Stuart. The county's Roofing Checklist (Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023), revised 5-26) asks for the Building Permit Application, the Martin County Re-roof Certification Form (roof type, pitch, height, deck work, existing and proposed covering), the Re-roof Windstorm Loss Certification (re-nailing and secondary water barrier method), product approvals and a Roofing Material List; the Re-roof Windstorm Loss Mitigation Compliance Affidavit applies where the structure is valued over $300,000 and was built before March 1, 2002. The county's Verification of Roofing Contractor form states: "WORK CANNOT BEGIN UNTIL THIS VERIFICATION FORM IS COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED TO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. A PENALTY FEE WILL BE ASSESSED IF WORK IS STARTED PRIOR TO OBTAINING THIS PERMIT." A qualifying owner/builder must "appear in person at the Building Department (located at 900 SE Ruhnke Street, Stuart) to sign the Building Permit Application and the Owner/Builder Disclosure." On the state's under-$7,500 permit exemption (House Bill 803, effective July 1, 2026), the Building Department lists "Structural (e.g. roofing, load bearing walls, elevated decks, window and doors, storage sheds)" among projects that "still require permits, even if they cost well under $7,500." The fee schedule effective July 1, 2026 charges by construction cost; under $25,000 it is a $75 building fee, a $25 plan review fee and $75 for each inspection.

Roof code checklist: Unincorporated Martin County, FL

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYesmartin.fl.us2026-09-26
Repair permit thresholdPublishedmartin.fl.us2026-09-26
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedR908.3codes.iccsafe.org2026-09-26
Deck & sheathingPublishedmartin.fl.us2026-09-26
Drip edgeYesR905.2.8.5codes.iccsafe.org2026-09-26
Ice & water shieldNoR905.1.2codes.iccsafe.org2026-09-26
Mid-roof inspectionYesSec. 110.3codes.iccsafe.org2026-09-26
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNolibrary.municode.com2026-09-26
Wind design criteriaPublishedmartin.fl.us2026-09-26
Adopted codePublishedlibrary.municode.com2026-09-26
Contractor license / registrationYesleg.state.fl.us2026-09-26
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
Martin County, Florida (unincorporated)
Jurisdiction type
county
Address
900 SE Ruhnke Street, Stuart, FL 34994
Contact
  • url: https://www.martin.fl.us/departments/about/about-building-department
  • phone: 772-288-5916
  • email: [email protected]
Permit portal
Permit portal
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
  • state_level: Florida licenses roofing as its own contractor trade. Section 489.105(3)(e), Florida Statutes, defines a "Roofing contractor" as one whose services are unlimited in the roofing trade, with a scope that includes "required roof-deck attachments; any repair or replacement of wood roof sheathing or fascia as needed during roof repair or replacement." Section 489.113(2): "A person must be certified or registered in order to engage in the business of contracting in this state." A state certification is valid 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."
  • county_level: Martin County Code Chapter 43 establishes the Construction Industry Licensing Board of Martin County. Sec. 43.44.A: "Any person desiring to engage in contracting in Martin County, including the incorporated municipalities of Martin County, shall first obtain a contractor's license," adding that "In the case of a conflict with a municipal ordinance, the municipal ordinance shall control to the extent of such conflict." Under Sec. 43.43.A, county licenses are issued to applicants "who are registered with but not certified by the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board," and Sec. 43.44.C requires public liability insurance, and workers' compensation insurance if applicable, before a license issues. The county's Verification of Roofing Contractor form, filed with each roof permit, asks for the "MARTIN COUNTY OR STATE OF FLORIDA CONTRACTOR'S LICENSE NUMBER." Contractor licensing questions go to the county's Contractors' Licensing Division, 772-288-5482.
  • owner_builder: Section 489.103(7)(a), Florida Statutes, exempts "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 for their own use and not for sale or lease. Martin County's Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement states: "I understand that state law requires construction to be done by a licensed contractor and have applied for an owner-builder permit under an exemption from the law," and that "A Trust, LLC or Corporation DOES NOT meet the requirement for owner-builder status." The statement must be signed in person before Building Department staff with photo identification.
Permit process note
Martin County's Building Department lists "Reroofing" among the "Examples of projects that DO require a permit," and its post-storm guide lists "Roof replacements or substantial roof repairs" among repairs that require a permit, while "Temporary tarping of roofs" does not. Permits are applied for online through the county's Accela Citizen Access (ACA) portal or at the permit counter, 900 SE Ruhnke Street, Stuart. The county's Roofing Checklist (Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023), revised 5-26) asks for the Building Permit Application, the Martin County Re-roof Certification Form (roof type, pitch, height, deck work, existing and proposed covering), the Re-roof Windstorm Loss Certification (re-nailing and secondary water barrier method), product approvals and a Roofing Material List; the Re-roof Windstorm Loss Mitigation Compliance Affidavit applies where the structure is valued over $300,000 and was built before March 1, 2002. The county's Verification of Roofing Contractor form states: "WORK CANNOT BEGIN UNTIL THIS VERIFICATION FORM IS COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED TO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. A PENALTY FEE WILL BE ASSESSED IF WORK IS STARTED PRIOR TO OBTAINING THIS PERMIT." A qualifying owner/builder must "appear in person at the Building Department (located at 900 SE Ruhnke Street, Stuart) to sign the Building Permit Application and the Owner/Builder Disclosure." On the state's under-$7,500 permit exemption (House Bill 803, effective July 1, 2026), the Building Department lists "Structural (e.g. roofing, load bearing walls, elevated decks, window and doors, storage sheds)" among projects that "still require permits, even if they cost well under $7,500." The fee schedule effective July 1, 2026 charges by construction cost; under $25,000 it is a $75 building fee, a $25 plan review fee and $75 for each inspection.
Adopted code
Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), including the Residential volume (2021 IRC base), effective December 31, 2023 under Rule 61G20-1.001, F.A.C.; the Florida Building Code applies statewide without local adoption. Martin County Code Sec. 21.1 (Ord. No. 742, 2007) states that the Florida Building Code, "as it may be amended from time to time, is hereby acknowledged as the applicable building code throughout Martin County's jurisdiction," with the county's own administrative provisions in Chapter 21. The county's permit application binds the applicant to "the Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023) and Martin County Amendments," and its Roofing Checklist is headed "Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023)." The county's codified local technical amendments (Chapter 21, Article 3, Secs. 21.22 to 21.24, Ord. No. 969 of 2015 and Ord. No. 1160 of 2021) modify coastal high-hazard foundations (Residential R322.3.3), flood-resistant construction (Building Section 1612) and the definition of substantial improvement; none of them amends the roofing chapters (Residential Chapter 9, Building Chapter 15) or the reroofing provisions.
Drip edge
Required — Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), Section R905.2.8.5: "Provide drip edge at eaves and gables of shingle roofs." The section applies to shingle roofs; it also sets a 3-inch minimum overlap, requires the drip edge to be installed over the underlayment, and tightens mechanical fastening from 12 inches to 4 inches on center where the allowable-stress design wind speed is 110 mph or greater or the mean roof height exceeds 33 feet. Martin County's building regulations (Code Chapter 21, including its local technical amendments in Secs. 21.22 to 21.24) do not amend Section R905.2.8.5. About drip edge
Ice & water shield
Not required — Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), Section R905.1.2 reads in full: "Ice barriers. Reserved." Martin County's building regulations (Code Chapter 21) add no ice barrier requirement. A self-adhered underlayment is still an accepted choice: the county's Reroof Windstorm Loss Mitigation Certification lists, as the first of three secondary water barrier methods, "a self-adhering polymer modified Bitumen underlayment complying with ASTM D1970 applied over the entire roof deck." About ice & water barrier
Mid-roof inspection
Required — Florida Building Code, Building, 8th Edition (2023), Section 110.3 (Required inspections), which governs administration of the Residential volume: "Roofing inspection. Shall at a minimum include the following building components: Dry-in, Insulation, Roof coverings, Flashing." The dry-in inspection takes place with the roof in progress. Martin County's Chapter 21 administrative provisions do not amend this list. On reroofs, the county also accepts a notarized Re-Roof Nailing Affidavit in which a licensed roofing, general, building or residential contractor, engineer or architect attests that they "did personally inspect the roof deck nailing work" and that it complies with Florida Building Code, Existing Building, Section 706.7.1. Inspections are scheduled through the county's Accela Citizen Access portal.
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither Martin County's building regulations (Code Chapter 21, including its local technical amendments to the Florida Building Code in Secs. 21.22 to 21.24) nor the roofing chapter of the Florida Building Code, Residential contains a UL 2218 or Class 4 impact-rating requirement for roof coverings. The ratings the county's Re-roof Certification asks for on asphalt shingles, "ASTM D 3161 – CLASS F," "ASTM D 7158 – CLASS H" or "TAS107," are wind-resistance classifications, not hail-impact ratings; the county's "Impact Protection" items on its design forms concern shutters and impact-resistant glass for openings.
Repair permit threshold
Martin County names reroofing as permit work; the county's Chapter 21 building regulations add no roofing exemption of their own. The Building Department's permit guide repeats the Florida Building Code's minor-repair relief: "Ordinary minor repairs may be made with the approval of the building official without a permit, provided the repairs do not include: the cutting away of any wall, partition or portion thereof, the removal or cutting of any structural beam or load-bearing support," among other limits, and refers readers to Section 105.2 of the Florida Building Code or to the department at 772-288-5916 for specific cases. Its post-storm guide states that "Temporary tarping of roofs" needs no permit, while "Roof replacements or substantial roof repairs" do. State law: since July 1, 2026, section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes, requires a local government to exempt a single-family owner or the owner's contractor from a permit for "any work valued at less than $7,500 on the owner's property," but not for "Work on a property that is partially or entirely located in a flood hazard area as defined by the Florida Building Code" or "Any electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, or gas work performed on property containing a single-family dwelling," and only on "a written request for exemption to the local enforcement agency with a copy of the contract or other documentation." The Building Department's page on the new rules lists "Structural (e.g. roofing, load bearing walls, elevated decks, window and doors, storage sheds)" among projects that "still require permits, even if they cost well under $7,500." Where an exemption is sought, the county's Permit Exemption Request Application requires a copy of the signed contract or quote and a $100.00 fee ($75.00 Permit Exemption Waiver Fee + $25.00 Plan Review Fee), and the county states that "Work performed under an approved permit exemption will not be inspected by Building Department staff." Separately, Florida Building Code, Residential Section R908.1.1 provides: "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." Its exception applies where the existing roof was built, repaired or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or a later edition: then only the repaired, replaced or recovered portion must meet the code in effect. Starting work before the permit is issued draws a penalty fee under the county's Verification of Roofing Contractor form.
Wind design criteria
Martin County publishes design wind speed by parcel rather than as a single county figure: its Building Department's Find Wind Speed page states, "To find out the wind speed for property, please use the Property Information Lookup." The county's Form 100 (Design Certification for Wind Load) requires the designer to state the ultimate design wind speed from Florida Building Code Figures 1609.3(1) to 1609.3(3) under the 8th Edition (2023) and Chapter 6 of ASCE 7-22, together with the risk category and exposure. Martin County Code Sec. 21.3 defines the ultimate design wind speed by risk category from wind speed figures "as established by the Florida Building Code." On reroofs, the county's Re-roof Certification requires asphalt shingles to be classified "to resist the basic wind speed" under ASTM D 3161 Class F, ASTM D 7158 Class H or TAS 107, and records roof pitch and whether the roof is one story or "2 - STORY'S OR OVER 15' MEAN ROOF HEIGHT."
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." Its exceptions include complete and separate roofing systems, such as standing-seam metal systems that carry roof loads directly to the structure. Martin County's building regulations (Code Chapter 21, read in full, including its local technical amendments in Secs. 21.22 to 21.24) do not amend Section R908.3. The county's Re-roof Certification asks whether the existing covering is to be removed and states no layer limit of its own.
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," roof-decking attachment "shall be as required by Section R908.7.1" and "A secondary water barrier shall be provided as required by Section R908.7.2," with the exception: "Structures permitted subject to the Florida Building Code are not required to comply with this 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; R908.7.1.2 sets supplemental ring-shank fastener spacing for wood structural panels by existing fastener and design wind speed. R908.7.2: "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," with exceptions for slopes under 2:12 with a continuous roof system and for tile systems installed to the code. Martin County's Reroof Windstorm Loss Mitigation Certification, filed with every reroof application, states that its requirements "apply to all structures built prior to implementation of the 8th ed (2023) Florida Building Code" and that "All re-roofs regardless of value shall comply with the following: Re-nailing: All sheathing and decking shall be re-nailed per 706.7.1," counting existing "8d clipped head, round head or ring shank" fasteners "spaced 6 in. or less o.c." and requiring additional fasteners to be "8d roof sheathing ring shank nails ASTM F1667 classification RSRS-01, spaced at 6 in. o.c. along framing." The county's Re-roof Certification states that a sheath-over (plywood over existing spaced sheathing) "requires a Florida registered engineer’s written specification and plans," that a re-sheath "requires use of minimum plywood as per Florida Building Code 2023," and that spaces between existing boards "may be filled in with boards of the same size and thickness." Where concrete or clay tile replaces another covering, "the existing trusses shall be inspected by a Florida registered architect or engineer." Martin County's building regulations (Code Chapter 21) do not amend these reroofing provisions.
Sales & use tax
6.5% combined (6% Florida state sales and use tax + 0.5% Martin County discretionary sales surtax). The Florida Department of Revenue's Discretionary Sales Surtax Information for Calendar Year 2026 (form DR-15DSS) lists Martin at a .5% total surtax rate, effective January 1, 2025, with an expiration date of December 31, 2034, and states for 2026: "Current .5% school capital outlay surtax expired 12/31/2025" and "Current .5% local government infrastructure surtax remains in effect and expires 12/31/2034." The Department states that discretionary sales 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." Rule 12A-1.051, F.A.C., lists "Roofing work" among real property contracts and provides: "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." Repair and full replacement are treated the same way: the rate above is the roofer's cost on materials, not a tax charged to the homeowner.

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The permitting authority for unincorporated Martin County, Florida. The Building Department in Stuart handles permitting, plan review, inspections, contractor licensing and code enforcement, and takes residential reroof permit applications through the county's Accela Citizen Access online permit system.

Hail reports near the center of Martin County, FL

Reports, last 24 months
1
Largest, last 24 months
2.00 in May 23, 2025
Most recent
May 23, 2025 2.00 in
Reports, last 5 years
3
3 most recent reports, last 5 years
DateHail sizeDistance
May 23, 20252.00 in5 mi SW
May 19, 20241.00 in9 mi ENE
Apr 16, 20231.00 in9 mi NNE

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 Martin County, FL. Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.

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Sources

Roofing questions: Unincorporated Martin County, FL

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Unincorporated Martin County, FL?

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated Martin County, FL. Martin County names reroofing as permit work; the county's Chapter 21 building regulations add no roofing exemption of their own. The Building Department's permit guide repeats the Florida Building Code's minor-repair relief: "Ordinary minor repairs may be made with the approval of the building official without a permit, provided the repairs do not include: the cutting away of any wall, partition or portion thereof, the removal or cutting of any structural beam or load-bearing support," among other limits, and refers readers to Section 105.2 of the Florida Building Code or to the department at 772-288-5916 for specific cases. Its post-storm guide states that "Temporary tarping of roofs" needs no permit, while "Roof replacements or substantial roof repairs" do. State law: since July 1, 2026, section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes, requires a local government to exempt a single-family owner or the owner's contractor from a permit for "any work valued at less than $7,500 on the owner's property," but not for "Work on a property that is partially or entirely located in a flood hazard area as defined by the Florida Building Code" or "Any electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, or gas work performed on property containing a single-family dwelling," and only on "a written request for exemption to the local enforcement agency with a copy of the contract or other documentation." The Building Department's page on the new rules lists "Structural (e.g. roofing, load bearing walls, elevated decks, window and doors, storage sheds)" among projects that "still require permits, even if they cost well under $7,500." Where an exemption is sought, the county's Permit Exemption Request Application requires a copy of the signed contract or quote and a $100.00 fee ($75.00 Permit Exemption Waiver Fee + $25.00 Plan Review Fee), and the county states that "Work performed under an approved permit exemption will not be inspected by Building Department staff." Separately, Florida Building Code, Residential Section R908.1.1 provides: "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." Its exception applies where the existing roof was built, repaired or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or a later edition: then only the repaired, replaced or recovered portion must meet the code in effect. Starting work before the permit is issued draws a penalty fee under the county's Verification of Roofing Contractor form.

Is ice & water shield required in Unincorporated Martin County, FL?

No. Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), Section R905.1.2 reads in full: "Ice barriers. Reserved." Martin County's building regulations (Code Chapter 21) add no ice barrier requirement. A self-adhered underlayment is still an accepted choice: the county's Reroof Windstorm Loss Mitigation Certification lists, as the first of three secondary water barrier methods, "a self-adhering polymer modified Bitumen underlayment complying with ASTM D1970 applied over the entire roof deck."

Is drip edge required in Unincorporated Martin County, FL?

Yes. Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), Section R905.2.8.5: "Provide drip edge at eaves and gables of shingle roofs." The section applies to shingle roofs; it also sets a 3-inch minimum overlap, requires the drip edge to be installed over the underlayment, and tightens mechanical fastening from 12 inches to 4 inches on center where the allowable-stress design wind speed is 110 mph or greater or the mean roof height exceeds 33 feet. Martin County's building regulations (Code Chapter 21, including its local technical amendments in Secs. 21.22 to 21.24) do not amend Section R905.2.8.5.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Unincorporated Martin County, 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." Its exceptions include complete and separate roofing systems, such as standing-seam metal systems that carry roof loads directly to the structure. Martin County's building regulations (Code Chapter 21, read in full, including its local technical amendments in Secs. 21.22 to 21.24) do not amend Section R908.3. The county's Re-roof Certification asks whether the existing covering is to be removed and states no layer limit of its own.

Do roofing contractors need a license or registration in Unincorporated Martin County, FL?

Yes.

What building code does Unincorporated Martin County, FL use?

Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), including the Residential volume (2021 IRC base), effective December 31, 2023 under Rule 61G20-1.001, F.A.C.; the Florida Building Code applies statewide without local adoption. Martin County Code Sec. 21.1 (Ord. No. 742, 2007) states that the Florida Building Code, "as it may be amended from time to time, is hereby acknowledged as the applicable building code throughout Martin County's jurisdiction," with the county's own administrative provisions in Chapter 21. The county's permit application binds the applicant to "the Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023) and Martin County Amendments," and its Roofing Checklist is headed "Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023)." The county's codified local technical amendments (Chapter 21, Article 3, Secs. 21.22 to 21.24, Ord. No. 969 of 2015 and Ord. No. 1160 of 2021) modify coastal high-hazard foundations (Residential R322.3.3), flood-resistant construction (Building Section 1612) and the definition of substantial improvement; none of them amends the roofing chapters (Residential Chapter 9, Building Chapter 15) or the reroofing provisions.