Permitting Authorities / Nassau County - Building Department
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Unincorporated Nassau County, FL?
Adopted codeNassau County - Building Department
Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated Nassau County, FL, issued by Nassau County - Building Department. Re-roofing is permit work in unincorporated Nassau County. The Building Department publishes a dedicated Re-Roofing Permit Application, and the County's permit fee schedule (Exhibit "B", effective 11/1/09) lists "Roofing Permits (New or Re-roof)" at the building permit fee schedule, with "No separate permit required when in compliance with F.S. 489.113 (3)(b)"; building permit fees start at $50.00 for work valued $1.00 to $10,000. Since July 1, 2026, the Building Department's Bulletin 02-2026 (June 12, 2026) on the state's $7,500 single-family permit exemption states that the exemption does not apply to "Structural work, including:" "Roofing." The re-roofing application asks for the class of roof ("Tear off existing and replace" or "Roof over Existing Roof"), roof type, fastening, slope, ventilation, flashing, eave drip, valley treatment, total roofing square footage and estimated cost, and states: "If the estimated cost of this job is greater than $5,000 and not related to a Building Permit, a certified copy of the recorded Notice of Commencement must be submitted prior to scheduling your first inspection." The roofing contractor's notarized Roofing Contractor Inspection Affidavit (sheathing evaluation and fastening, underlayment, drip edge, valley and flashing details, and the roof covering's product approval number), with photos of deck nailing, valley material, underlayment, drip edge and the front of the house, must be completed and submitted before the final inspection. Applications are emailed to [email protected] as separate PDF attachments; inspections are requested through Munis Self Service or by phone "PRIOR TO 4 PM THE DAY BEFORE." Work begun without a permit: the fee schedule states "the permit fee shall be four times the normal permit fee," and contractors performing emergency repairs "shall apply for the proper permits the next business day; else, the work shall be considered work begun without a permit.".
Roof code checklist: Unincorporated Nassau County, FL
| Item | Answer | Code cite | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit to replace a roof | Yes | nassaucountyfl.com | 2026-09-26 | |
| Repair permit threshold | Published | nassaucountyfl.com | 2026-09-26 | |
| Layer limit / roof-over | Published | R908.3 | codes.iccsafe.org | 2026-09-26 |
| Deck & sheathing | Published | nassaucountyfl.com | 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. 7-6 | nassaucountyfl.com | 2026-09-26 |
| Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofing | No | library.municode.com | 2026-09-26 | |
| Wind design criteria | Published | R301.2.1 | nassaucountyfl.com | 2026-09-26 |
| Adopted code | Published | Sec. 7-6 | 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
Nassau County, Florida (unincorporated)
Jurisdiction type
county
Address
96161 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097
Contact
- url: https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/136/Building-Department
- phone: 904-530-6250
- 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," and 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)(a) exempts owners "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 farm outbuildings or one-family or two-family residences on such property for the occupancy or use of such owners and not offered for sale or lease," and "When repairing or replacing wood shakes or asphalt or fiberglass shingles on one-family, two-family, or three-family residences for the occupancy or use of such owner or tenant of the owner and not offered for sale within 1 year after completion of the work and when the property has been damaged by natural causes from an event recognized as an emergency situation designated by executive order issued by the Governor declaring the existence of a state of emergency." This record does not decide whether a particular reader falls within that exemption.
- county_level: Nassau County Code Chapter 7, Article VIII (Regulation of Contractors) defines "Nassau County" as "the unincorporated areas of Nassau County outside of the corporate limits of all cities and towns therein" (Section 7-113). Section 7-112 states that contractor classifications "require an appropriate certificate of competency to be issued by the building official," obtained by application and "a passing grade of seventy-five (75) percent on an examination," or by reciprocity. Section 7-111 requires "A good and sufficient bond in the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), payable to Nassau County, Florida," workers' compensation insurance, and contractors liability insurance of not less than $50,000 for one person, $100,000 for one accident and $25,000 property damage. The Building Department's July 2025 notice states: "AS OF JULY 1, 2025, NASSAU COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO ISSUE THE FOLLOWING "REGISTERED" CONTRACTOR LICENSES VIA A CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY," and lists "Roofing contractor" among them. State-certified contractors register with the County by filing their state license, proof of an active corporation, a liability insurance certificate and a workers' compensation certificate (or exemption) each naming the Nassau County Building Department as certificate holder, and a completed information sheet. The County's Re-Roofing Permit Application marks asphalt/fiberglass shingle, tile, wood shake, asphalt roll and metal roofs "Owner or Licensed Roofing Contractor" and built-up, modified bitumen, coating-only and EPDM/Hypalon/PVC roofs "Licensed Roofing Contractor required." The Building Department states that when owner-builders apply under section 489.103(7)(a) and (c), "THE OWNER MUST PERSONALLY APPEAR AND SIGN THE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION IN OUR OFFICE."
Permit process note
Re-roofing is permit work in unincorporated Nassau County. The Building Department publishes a dedicated Re-Roofing Permit Application, and the County's permit fee schedule (Exhibit "B", effective 11/1/09) lists "Roofing Permits (New or Re-roof)" at the building permit fee schedule, with "No separate permit required when in compliance with F.S. 489.113 (3)(b)"; building permit fees start at $50.00 for work valued $1.00 to $10,000. Since July 1, 2026, the Building Department's Bulletin 02-2026 (June 12, 2026) on the state's $7,500 single-family permit exemption states that the exemption does not apply to "Structural work, including:" "Roofing." The re-roofing application asks for the class of roof ("Tear off existing and replace" or "Roof over Existing Roof"), roof type, fastening, slope, ventilation, flashing, eave drip, valley treatment, total roofing square footage and estimated cost, and states: "If the estimated cost of this job is greater than $5,000 and not related to a Building Permit, a certified copy of the recorded Notice of Commencement must be submitted prior to scheduling your first inspection." The roofing contractor's notarized Roofing Contractor Inspection Affidavit (sheathing evaluation and fastening, underlayment, drip edge, valley and flashing details, and the roof covering's product approval number), with photos of deck nailing, valley material, underlayment, drip edge and the front of the house, must be completed and submitted before the final inspection. Applications are emailed to [email protected] as separate PDF attachments; inspections are requested through Munis Self Service or by phone "PRIOR TO 4 PM THE DAY BEFORE." Work begun without a permit: the fee schedule states "the permit fee shall be four times the normal permit fee," and contractors performing emergency repairs "shall apply for the proper permits the next business day; else, the work shall be considered work begun without a permit."
Inspection requirements
Inspections are requested by the permit holder, online through Munis Self Service or by phone to 904-530-6250; the Building Department states that inspections requested for the following workday must be scheduled "PRIOR TO 4 PM THE DAY BEFORE," and that "ALL RE-INSPECTION FEES MUST BE PAID BEFORE SCHEDULING AN INSPECTION." Each request must supply the permit number, the type of inspection, the requester's name and a telephone number. A re-roof permit carries the in-progress dry-in/re-roof inspection (151) and the roof sheathing inspection (153), and a final inspection (999), which "is a required inspection on all permits issued." The Roofing Contractor Inspection Affidavit "must be kept with the permit documents for the Building Inspector to review at every INSPECTION," and it and its photos must be submitted before the final inspection. Where a recorded Notice of Commencement is required, a certified copy must be submitted before the first inspection is scheduled. The fee schedule lists re-inspection fees of $25.00 for the first failed inspection, $50.00 for the second and $200.00 for subsequent failed inspections.
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. Nassau County Code Section 7-6 states that the Board of County Commissioners "hereby adopts the 8th Edition (2023) Florida Building Code, in its entirety, with the following amendments to Chapter 1, Scope and Administration," and sets out the County's own Chapter 1 (last amended by Ordinance No. 2025-023, June 9, 2025). Section 7-8 ("Florida Building Code, Residential amendments") amends only flood provisions: lowest-floor elevation (Sections R322.2.1 and R322.3.2) and design flood elevation (Section 1612.3.1). The Building Department's "Current Codes In Effect January 1st, 2024" sheet lists the Florida Building Code (Building, Residential, Existing Building and the other volumes) 8th Edition (2023), and the County's Re-Roofing Permit Application is headed "8TH EDITION (2023) OF THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE IS IN EFFECT." Nassau County Code Chapter 7, read in full, contains no amendment to the roofing chapters (Residential Chapter 9, Building Chapter 15).
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). Nassau County Code Chapter 7, read in full, does not amend or address drip edge. The County's Re-Roofing Permit Application asks for the eaves drip material, its re-roof dry-in inspection is made with the "eave drip" installed "with nailing patterns visible as per code," and the Roofing Contractor Inspection Affidavit requires the drip edge material, size, gauge, fastener type and spacing, and a photo of the 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." Nassau County Code Chapter 7, read in full, 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 — Nassau County's own Chapter 1 of the Florida Building Code (County Code Section 7-6, Section 110.3) states: "Roofing inspection. Shall at a minimum be made in at least two inspections and include the following building components," listing dry-in, "Roof coverings (including In Progress as necessary)," insulation on the roof deck and flashing. The Building Department's Inspection Types list describes inspection 151, "DRY IN/RE-ROOF," made on re-roofing after "the old water barrier removed, new secondary water barrier and underlayment if applicable installed, eave drip, valley flashing installed with nailing patterns visible as per code," and inspection 153, "SHEATHING - ROOF," made on a re-roof "after the old water barrier is removed and the decking or sheathing is re-nailed." The list states of each that it "is needed for re-roof permit[s] as an in-progress inspection." A final inspection "is a required inspection on all permits issued." Section 110.3 also states that for the re-roof sheathing inspection an affidavit with a notarized signature of a state or locally licensed roofing contractor "may be accepted at the discretion of the building official."
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Nassau County's amendments to the Florida Building Code (County Code Section 7-6, administration, and Section 7-8, flood provisions) do not amend the state code's roof-covering provisions, and no UL 2218 or Class 4 impact requirement appears in the Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023) Chapter 9 or in Nassau County Code Chapter 7. The County's references to "impact-resistant coverings" are opening protection for windows and doors, not roof-covering hail ratings, and the state code's shingle classifications (ASTM D3161, TAS 107, ASTM D7158) are wind ratings.
Repair permit threshold
No local roof-repair threshold. Nassau County Code Section 7-6, Section 105.1, requires a permit to "construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure," and the County's list of work exempt from permit (Section 105.2, as amended by Ordinance No. 2025-023 and restated in the Building Department's Bulletin 01-2025, "Work Not Requiring a Permit") names no roofing work; its only roof-related item is "Installation or repair of rain gutters or down spouts." Section 105.2.2 states: "Ordinary minor repairs may be made with the approval of the building official without a permit," leaving that decision to the building official. 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." The Building Department's Bulletin 02-2026 lists "Roofing" under "Structural work" to which the exemption does not apply, and states that property owners and contractors "must obtain approval from the Building Official by submitting a permit exemption request form before proceeding with exempt work"; 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 be constructed in accordance with the Florida Building Code in effect, as applicable."
Wind design criteria
The Nassau County Building Department's Wind Zone Maps page links its own county map, "NASSAU Figure 1609.3(1) Ultimate Design Wind Speeds Risk Category II Buildings" (credited in part to the "County Building Official, 03/22/2023"). On that map the 120 mph ultimate design wind speed contour runs north to south through the western part of the county and then south-west to its south-western tip, and the 130 mph contour lies just east of the Atlantic shoreline; most of the county, including the coast, lies between the two contours. The map notes state: "Values are ultimate design 3-second gust wind speeds in miles per hour (m/s) at 33 ft (10 m) above ground for Exposure C category" and "Linear interpolation between contours is permitted," and that location-specific wind speeds may be determined using the ASCE Wind Design Geodatabase. It restates the wind-borne debris region as areas "Within 1 mile (1.61 km) of the mean high-water line where an Exposure D condition exists upwind at the waterline and the ultimate design wind speed, Vult, is 130 mph (58 m/s) or greater" or where Vult "is 140 mph (63.6 m/s) or greater." The page directs residential designers to Florida Building Code, Residential, Section R301.2.1, and commercial designers to Florida Building Code Section 1609, and names the Building Department (904-530-6250) as the contact for wind zone information.
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 or scraped 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 Nassau County without local adoption; the County's amendments to the Florida Building Code (County Code Sections 7-6 and 7-8) and the rest of County Code Chapter 7, read in full, do not amend the reroofing section or state a layer count. The County's Re-Roofing Permit Application offers "Tear off existing and replace" or "Roof over Existing Roof" as the class of roof.
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 states that sawn lumber or wood 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 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." In Nassau County the re-roof sheathing inspection (inspection 153) is made "after the old water barrier is removed and the decking or sheathing is re-nailed, for spacing, size and number of fasteners as per code," and the Roofing Contractor Inspection Affidavit asks whether the sheathing was evaluated for insufficient connections or deterioration, how much was replaced and with what material, the fastener type and field and perimeter spacing, and whether fastener embedment was verified, with a photo of the deck nailing. Nassau County Code Chapter 7, read in full, sets no deck thickness or sheathing rule of its own.
Sales & use tax
7% combined in Nassau County (6% Florida state sales and use tax + 1% Nassau County discretionary sales surtax). The Florida Department of Revenue's Form DR-15DSS, Discretionary Sales Surtax Information for Calendar Year 2026, lists Nassau's surtax as 1%, effective March 1, 1996, with no expiration date ("None"). 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.
More roof permit pages in Florida
Unincorporated Okaloosa County, FLRoof permit
Unincorporated Orange County, FLRoof permit
Unincorporated Osceola County, FLRoof permit
Unincorporated Palm Beach County, FLRoof permit
Unincorporated Pasco County, FLRoof permit
Roofing in FloridaState hub
Related guides
The Building Department of Nassau County, Florida processes and issues building permits, including re-roofing permits, performs plan review and inspections, and licenses contractors for the unincorporated areas of Nassau County. It works from 96161 Nassau Place in Yulee. Work inside the corporate limits of the cities and towns in Nassau County is outside this record.
Hail reports near the center of Nassau County, FL
- Reports, last 24 months
- 0
- Largest, last 24 months
- None
- Most recent
- None in 24 months
- Reports, last 5 years
- 2
| Date | Hail size | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 4, 2024 | 1.25 in | 7 mi SSW |
| Apr 26, 2023 | 1.00 in | 9 mi SW |
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 Nassau County, FL. Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.
Working an insurance claim in Unincorporated Nassau County, 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 Unincorporated Nassau County, FL pack?
Not ready to buy, or need a different jurisdiction? Tell us and we’ll reply directly.
Sources
- nassaucountyfl.com verified 2026-09-26
- nassaucountyfl.com verified 2026-09-26
- nassaucountyfl.com verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26
- nassaucountyfl.com verified 2026-09-26
- nassaucountyfl.com verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26
- codes.iccsafe.org verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26
- nassaucountyfl.com verified 2026-09-26
- floridarevenue.com verified 2026-09-26
- nassaucountyfl.com verified 2026-09-26