Permitting Authorities / City of Melbourne - Building Section
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Melbourne, FL?
Adopted codeCity of Melbourne - Building Section
Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Melbourne, FL, issued by City of Melbourne - Building Section. Re-roofing is permit work in Melbourne. The Building Section's FAQ answers "What type of work requires a permit?" with "Any new construction, addition or alteration of existing structures, fences, driveways, parking lots, roofing, swimming pools, solar pool heaters, structural changes, signage, commercial awnings, irrigation systems, tree removal, land disturbing activity, plumbing, electrical, gas or HVAC work requires a permit," and lists "re-roofing" among projects people often do not realize need a permit. City Code section 13.45 has the City Council set "roofing" permit fees by resolution, and the Building Permit Fees schedule (effective August 7, 2026) lists "reroof" among single trade permits, priced on the estimated cost of construction ($65.00 for $1,000.00 and less; $65.00 for the first $1,000.00 plus $6.50 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof, up to $50,000.00), plus a 5% technology fee on all Building Division fees. "When work that requires a permit commences prior to issuance of a permit (without authorization)," "All applicable permit fees shall be doubled." Applications are filed online through EnerGov with proof of ownership, a description of the work and its estimated value. The City's EnerGov Document Submittal Guide (January 2021) lists, for roof permits, one PDF each for the underlayment, the roof covering and accessories, and the Building Official's cover letter states that the product approval for each product must be uploaded separately. The City supplies a Notice of Commencement form. The permit applicant must present a current certificate issued by the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board or a current Brevard County competency card (City Code section 13.01). The Building Section states that "It shall be the contractor's responsibility to provide inspector access to all roofs over one story in height." Small jobs on single-family homes may qualify for the state's $7,500 exemption only through the City's written request process; see the repair threshold field.
Roof code checklist: Melbourne, FL
| Item | Answer | Code cite | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit to replace a roof | Yes | 080726-building-permit-fees.pdf | 2026-09-26 | |
| Repair permit threshold | Published | melbourneflorida.org | 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 | melbourneflorida.org | 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. 13.80(a) | library.municode.com | 2026-09-26 |
| Contractor license / registration | Yes | leg.state.fl.us | 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 Melbourne, Florida
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
900 East Strawbridge Avenue, City Hall, Second Floor, Melbourne, FL 32901
Contact
- url: https://www.melbourneflorida.org/Government/Departments/Code-Compliance-Division/Building-Section
- phone: 321-608-7900
- email: [email protected]
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, "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 "acting as their own contractor and providing direct, onsite supervision themselves of all work not performed by licensed contractors" when building or improving one- or two-family residences "for the occupancy or use of such owners and not offered for sale or lease," and a separate clause for owners "repairing or replacing wood shakes or asphalt or fiberglass shingles" on one-, two- or three-family residences after a declared state of emergency, on the conditions that section states. This record does not decide whether a particular reader falls within either clause.
- city_level: Melbourne City Code section 13.01 (Proof of competency): "The permit applicant shall present to the building official a current certificate issued by the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board, or possess a current Brevard County competency card." The Building Section's FAQ asks State Certified Contractors for a "Copy of State Certification and proof of Workers' Compensation Insurance or Affidavit of Exemption," and State Registered Contractors for a "Copy of State Registration, Brevard County Competency Card and proof of Workers' Compensation Insurance or Affidavit of Exemption." Contractor insurance certificate renewals are emailed to the Building Division at [email protected]. Under section 13.02, "All contractors covered by this chapter must secure a business tax receipt from the city if their businesses are located within the city." For owner-builders, the FAQ states a permit may be issued "If applicant is the owner," "If ownership is by an individual," and "If property is not for sale or lease for a period of one year," and the City's Owner/Builder packet requires an "Owner/Builder Affidavit" to be "completed signed and notarized in person by the owner."
Permit process note
Re-roofing is permit work in Melbourne. The Building Section's FAQ answers "What type of work requires a permit?" with "Any new construction, addition or alteration of existing structures, fences, driveways, parking lots, roofing, swimming pools, solar pool heaters, structural changes, signage, commercial awnings, irrigation systems, tree removal, land disturbing activity, plumbing, electrical, gas or HVAC work requires a permit," and lists "re-roofing" among projects people often do not realize need a permit. City Code section 13.45 has the City Council set "roofing" permit fees by resolution, and the Building Permit Fees schedule (effective August 7, 2026) lists "reroof" among single trade permits, priced on the estimated cost of construction ($65.00 for $1,000.00 and less; $65.00 for the first $1,000.00 plus $6.50 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof, up to $50,000.00), plus a 5% technology fee on all Building Division fees. "When work that requires a permit commences prior to issuance of a permit (without authorization)," "All applicable permit fees shall be doubled." Applications are filed online through EnerGov with proof of ownership, a description of the work and its estimated value. The City's EnerGov Document Submittal Guide (January 2021) lists, for roof permits, one PDF each for the underlayment, the roof covering and accessories, and the Building Official's cover letter states that the product approval for each product must be uploaded separately. The City supplies a Notice of Commencement form. The permit applicant must present a current certificate issued by the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board or a current Brevard County competency card (City Code section 13.01). The Building Section states that "It shall be the contractor's responsibility to provide inspector access to all roofs over one story in height." Small jobs on single-family homes may qualify for the state's $7,500 exemption only through the City's written request process; see the repair threshold field.
Inspection requirements
Each permit carries its own list of required inspections, available through the online contractor portal. The Building Section states that inspection of permitted work "shall be performed using scheduled periodic inspections during construction and a final inspection upon completion of the work for which a permit was issued," that work shall not proceed beyond any required inspection point without prior approval, and that a bypassed inspection is recorded as failed with a reinspection fee ($38.00 for the first reinspection and $152.00 for each one after that under the fee schedule effective August 7, 2026). "It shall be the contractor's responsibility to provide inspector access to all roofs over one story in height." Inspections are typically performed between 7:45 a.m. and 4 p.m.; the City generally does not provide inspection times, but inspectors can be reached at 321-608-7900 between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. on the day of the inspection.
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. Melbourne City Code section 13.80(a) provides that "The Florida Building Code and the Florida Residential Building Code, current editions as mandated by the Florida Legislature and published by the Florida Building Commission, shall be known as the City of Melbourne Building Code and are hereby adopted by reference," and section 13.83 adopts the Florida Existing Building Code, current edition, with its Appendices B and C. The Building Section's Codes and Ordinances Enforced page lists the "Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023)", and its notice to contractors states that "The Florida Building Code, Eighth Edition, (2023), including the 2020 National Electrical Code became effective January 1, 2024." The City's only technical amendments to the Residential volume, in section 13.80(e), raise flood elevation requirements (sections R322.2.1 and R322.3.2, base flood elevation plus 1.33 feet); the City's building chapter (City Code Appendix D, Chapter 13, as codified through Ordinance No. 2026-22, adopted May 26, 2026) does not amend the roofing chapter.
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." It "shall be mechanically fastened a maximum of 12 inches (305 mm) on center," tightening to 4 inches on center where the Vasd is 110 mph or greater or the mean roof height exceeds 33 feet. The requirement is written for shingle roofs. Melbourne adopts the Florida Building Code by reference (City Code section 13.80), and its building chapter does 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 Ice barriers: "Reserved." Melbourne adopts the Florida Building Code by reference (City Code section 13.80), and its building chapter's only technical amendments to the Residential volume concern flood elevation (sections R322.2.1 and R322.3.2); it adds no ice-barrier requirement. The reserved section does not bar self-adhering underlayments, which the same chapter still allows elsewhere; for example, "Self-adhering ASTM D1970 underlayment may be installed over a primed drip edge flange." About ice & water barrier
Mid-roof inspection
Required — Florida Building Code, Building, 8th Edition (2023), section 110.3 Required inspections, which Melbourne enforces by reference (City Code section 13.80), lists: "Roofing inspection. Shall at a minimum include the following building components:" dry-in, insulation, roof coverings and flashing. Dry-in is an in-progress stage, inspected before the final inspection. The Building Section states that "Each permit issued includes a list of required inspections based on the approved construction documents," that it "is the responsibility of the permit holder to ensure that all required inspections are scheduled and completed prior to proceeding to the next phase of work," and that "In cases where an inspection has been bypassed, the inspection will be recorded as failed and a reinspection fee will be assessed. The permit holder will be required to either expose the work for inspection or submit a detailed corrective action plan to the inspector for review, a basic engineer letter will not be accepted."
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither the Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), as adopted by reference in Melbourne City Code section 13.80, nor the City's building chapter (City Code Appendix D, Chapter 13, whose only Residential technical amendments concern flood elevation) sets a UL 2218 or Class 4 impact requirement for roof coverings. The City's wind-borne debris designation (section 13.80(d)) concerns protection of glazed openings: under section R301.2.1.2, "Exterior glazed openings in buildings located in windborne debris regions shall be protected from windborne debris." It is not a hail-impact rating for roof coverings.
Repair permit threshold
Section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes (effective July 1, 2026), 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." It does not apply to "Work on a property that is partially or entirely located in a flood hazard area" or to "Any electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, or gas work 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 "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." Melbourne's Building Section page states that the exemption "applies only when ALL of the following conditions are met": the property is a single-family dwelling; "The total value of the work is less than $7,500 (projects may not be divided or phased to evade the permitting threshold)"; the property is not in a designated flood hazard area; "The work does not include electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, or structural work"; and a written request is submitted. The request is filed in EnerGov as an "Exemption Request" with the City's notarized Request of Residential Permit Exemption form, a copy of the signed contract and a $62.50 exemption request fee, and "Applicants should not commence work until the exemption request has been approved in writing by the Building Department." The owner acknowledges that once the exemption is approved "no after-the-fact building permit will be issued for this work, even if subsequently required by an insurance company, lender, prospective purchaser, or other third party." If the request is denied, "the fee already paid will be applied toward a building permit for the exact work listed on this exemption request." The City's page and form do not name roofing either way, and advise: "When in doubt, the safer course is to request a determination from the Building Department before proceeding." Separately, the Florida Building Code, Building (section 105.2.2) allows "Ordinary minor repairs" to be made "with the approval of the building official without a permit," provided they do not cut away walls, remove structural beams or load-bearing supports, or touch piping, wiring or mechanical equipment. The Florida Building Code, Residential (section R908.1.1) provides that "Not more than 25 percent of the total roof area or roof section of any existing building or structure shall be repaired, replaced or recovered in any 12-month period unless the roof covering on the entire existing roof system or roof section is replaced or recovered to conform to the requirements of this code," except that where the existing roof was built, repaired or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, "only the repaired, replaced, or recovered portion is required to be constructed in accordance with the Florida Building Code in effect."
Wind design criteria
Melbourne City Code section 13.80(c), Wind speed zones: "The following wind speed zones are hereby established for the City of Melbourne: (1) 140 mph Vult for Risk Category I buildings. (2) 150 mph Vult for Risk Category II buildings. (3) 160 mph Vult for Risk Category III and IV buildings." Section 13.80(d): "Wind-borne debris region. All of the City of Melbourne is in the wind-borne debris region." (Vult is the ultimate design wind speed.) Melbourne is in Brevard County and outside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, which the Florida Building Code limits to Miami-Dade and Broward 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." Tear-off is also required where blisters are not cut or scraped open and secured, or where the existing covering is to be used for attachment and the securement provisions cannot be met. Melbourne adopts the Florida Building Code by reference (City Code section 13.80); the City's building chapter (City Code Appendix D, Chapter 13), read in full, states no layer limit of its own and does not amend section R908.3.
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." Under section R908.7.1, "8d nails shall be a minimum of 0.113 inch (2.9 mm) in diameter and shall be a minimum of 2 1/4 inch (57 mm) long to qualify for the provisions of this section for existing nails"; plank decking "secured with at least two nails (minimum size 8d) to each roof framing member it crosses shall be deemed to be sufficiently connected," and wood structural panel decks take supplemental ring shank fasteners per Table R908.7.1.2. Under section 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." Melbourne adopts the Florida Building Code by reference (City Code section 13.80), and its building chapter does not amend these sections.
Sales & use tax
7% combined: 6% Florida state sales and use tax plus Brevard County's 1% discretionary sales surtax. The Department of Revenue's Form DR-15DSS for calendar year 2026 lists the Brevard surtax in two 0.5% parts, one effective January 1, 2015 and one effective January 1, 2017, each with an expiration date of December 31, 2026. Per the Department, 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." 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.
Local roofing hub
More roof permit pages in Florida
Miami Gardens, FLRoof permit
Miami, FLRoof permit
Miramar, FLRoof permit
North Port, FLRoof permit
Orlando, FLRoof permit
Roofing in FloridaState hub
Related guides
The building permit office of the City of Melbourne in Brevard County. The Building Section, part of the City's Code Compliance Division at City Hall, takes permit applications through the City's EnerGov online portal, reviews plans and inspects building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing work inside the city limits, including re-roofing.
Hail reports near Melbourne, FL
- Reports, last 24 months
- 3
- Largest, last 24 months
- 1.25 in May 24, 2025
- Most recent
- Mar 15, 2026 1.00 in
- Reports, last 5 years
- 15
| Date | Hail size | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 15, 2026 | 1.00 in | 7 mi SSE |
| May 24, 2025 | 1.25 in | 8 mi S |
| May 24, 2025 | 1.00 in | 8 mi S |
| Jun 19, 2023 | 1.25 in | 8 mi S |
| Jun 19, 2023 | 1.00 in | 9 mi SSW |
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 Melbourne, FL (Census point). Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.
Working an insurance claim in Melbourne, FL? Everything on this page (drip edge, ice & water shield, inspections, Class 4 rules) formatted as a claim-ready evidence pack: verbatim ordinance quotes, code section cites, verification dates, and official source links, ready to attach to a supplement. See a real sample pack (PDF, 4 pages, free).
Code items like drip edge and ice & water shield are what adjusters ask you to document.
Buy this jurisdiction's pack: $12 Delivered by email within minutes.
Questions about the Melbourne, FL pack?
Not ready to buy, or need a different jurisdiction? Tell us and we’ll reply directly.
Sources
- melbourneflorida.org verified 2026-09-26
- melbourneflorida.org verified 2026-09-26
- melbourneflorida.org verified 2026-09-26
- leg.state.fl.us verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26
- melbourneflorida.org verified 2026-09-26
- melbourneflorida.org verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26
- codes.iccsafe.org verified 2026-09-26
- floridarevenue.com verified 2026-09-26