Permitting Authorities / Orange County - Division of Building Safety
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Unincorporated Orange County, FL?
Adopted codeOrange County - Division of Building Safety
Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated Orange County, FL, issued by Orange County - Division of Building Safety. Orange County issues a dedicated Roof Permit through its Fast Track online portal. The county's storm-repair permit guide lists among the "Types of Work That Require a Permit": "Roof repairs and replacements including shingles, sheathing, and structural components." The Roof Permit page asks for the building class, the type of building, the "Type of Work: New, Addition, Repair or Re-Roof", the value of the work, the roof square footage, the number of stories and the roofing material, and states: "If value of work exceeds $5000, a Notice of Commencement is required." Homeowners doing their own work "are required to complete an Owner Builder Disclosure Statement"; "An owner-builder may act as Contractor under Exemption to F.S. 489.103(7)(a)." The county fee directory (effective July 2025) carries a residential "Re-roof" fee of $26.00 up to and including $1,000 of valuation plus $5.00 for each additional $1,000. Under the county's amended Section 109.4 (Orange County Code Sec. 9-33), anyone who starts work before obtaining the permit "shall be subject to a penalty equivalent to double the permit fee, or one hundred three dollars ($103.00), whichever is greater, in addition to the required permit fees"; emergency work is excused only "as long as any and all required permits are obtained within three (3) business days of commencing such work." Since July 1, 2026 a state statute (Section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes) lets the owner of a single-family home, or the owner's contractor, request a written exemption for work valued at less than $7,500 that is not structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical or gas work and is not on property in a flood hazard area; the county publishes an exemption request form for it. The county has published no statement on whether roof work qualifies, and this record does not decide it. The county's advice: "If you are unsure whether your project requires a permit, please contact Orange County Permitting Services at 407-836-5550 before beginning work.".
Roof code checklist: Unincorporated Orange County, FL
| Item | Answer | Code cite | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit to replace a roof | Yes | orangecountyfl.net | 2026-09-26 | |
| Repair permit threshold | Published | orangecountyfl.net | 2026-09-26 | |
| Layer limit / roof-over | Published | R908.3 | codes.iccsafe.org | 2026-09-26 |
| Deck & sheathing | Published | Re-Roof Mitigation Requirements C... | 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 | Re-Roof Dry-in Inspection Affidav... | 2026-09-26 |
| Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofing | No | library.municode.com | 2026-09-26 | |
| Wind design criteria | Published | R905.2.6.1 | library.municode.com | 2026-09-26 |
| Adopted code | Published | Sec. 553.73(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
Orange County, Florida (unincorporated)
Jurisdiction type
county
Address
201 South Rosalind Avenue, 1st Floor (Orange County Administration Building), Orlando, FL 32801
Contact
- url: https://www.orangecountyfl.net/PermitsLicenses/DivisionOfBuildingSafety.aspx
- phone: 407-836-5550
- email: [email protected]
Permit portal
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
- state_level: Roofing is its own licensed trade in Florida. Section 489.113(2), Florida Statutes: "A person must be certified or registered in order to engage in the business of contracting in this state." Section 489.105(3)(e) defines a "Roofing contractor" as one whose services are unlimited in the roofing trade and who can "install, maintain, repair, alter, extend, or design" all kinds of roofing. A state-certified contractor may work statewide; a state-registered contractor may work only where he or she holds the local competency licence (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."). Verify a licence on the Department of Business and Professional Regulation licence search.
- county_level: Orange County Code Sec. 9-6(b) makes it a prerequisite to obtaining a permit that the person performing the work be "A homeowner and/or property owner performing such work himself as set forth in the Florida Statutes, this chapter, and related technical codes"; or "In possession of a certificate of competency issued by the county in accordance with this chapter"; or "A state-certified contractor who has registered a license with the building official. Such registration of license shall occur upon presentation of the license and proof of public liability insurance, property damage insurance, and workers' compensation insurance coverages"; and in each case "In good financial standing with the division of building safety". A county certificate of competency (Sec. 9-9 and 9-10) requires an examination and a $5,000 bond and is valid for two years; the county fee directory prices the initial contractor certification at $69.00 plus renewal. Contractor licensing questions go to [email protected], and licences can be checked on Fast Track's Licensed Contractors search. A general, building or residential contractor certified after 1973 may not act as a roofing contractor unless also certified as one (the county's re-roof affidavit repeats this rule).
- owner_builder: Section 489.103(7)(a), Florida Statutes, exempts owners "when acting as their own contractor and providing direct, onsite supervision themselves of all work not performed by licensed contractors" when improving one-family or two-family residences "for the occupancy or use of such owners and not offered for sale or lease." The county's Roof Permit page requires owners doing their own work to complete an Owner Builder Disclosure Statement, and its storm guide says the owner must "personally or virtually appear to sign for the building permit." The county FAQ says permit applications for properties owned by a corporation, LLC or trust "must be applied for by a Florida Licensed building contractor." Whether a particular owner qualifies is for the statute and the county to say, not this record.
Permit process note
Orange County issues a dedicated Roof Permit through its Fast Track online portal. The county's storm-repair permit guide lists among the "Types of Work That Require a Permit": "Roof repairs and replacements including shingles, sheathing, and structural components." The Roof Permit page asks for the building class, the type of building, the "Type of Work: New, Addition, Repair or Re-Roof", the value of the work, the roof square footage, the number of stories and the roofing material, and states: "If value of work exceeds $5000, a Notice of Commencement is required." Homeowners doing their own work "are required to complete an Owner Builder Disclosure Statement"; "An owner-builder may act as Contractor under Exemption to F.S. 489.103(7)(a)." The county fee directory (effective July 2025) carries a residential "Re-roof" fee of $26.00 up to and including $1,000 of valuation plus $5.00 for each additional $1,000. Under the county's amended Section 109.4 (Orange County Code Sec. 9-33), anyone who starts work before obtaining the permit "shall be subject to a penalty equivalent to double the permit fee, or one hundred three dollars ($103.00), whichever is greater, in addition to the required permit fees"; emergency work is excused only "as long as any and all required permits are obtained within three (3) business days of commencing such work." Since July 1, 2026 a state statute (Section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes) lets the owner of a single-family home, or the owner's contractor, request a written exemption for work valued at less than $7,500 that is not structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical or gas work and is not on property in a flood hazard area; the county publishes an exemption request form for it. The county has published no statement on whether roof work qualifies, and this record does not decide it. The county's advice: "If you are unsure whether your project requires a permit, please contact Orange County Permitting Services at 407-836-5550 before beginning work."
Adopted code
Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), Residential (2021 IRC base), effective December 31, 2023, adopted statewide by Rule 61G20-1.001, Florida Administrative Code, with no local adoption needed (Section 553.73(6), Florida Statutes). Orange County Code Sec. 9-35 adopts the "Florida Building Code, Residential, Eighth Edition" as the governing law for residential building standards, amending only Section R101.2.1 (administration under Chapter 1 of the Building volume as amended by the county), the Section R202 definitions of storable pools, substantial damage and substantial improvement, and flood provisions R322.1.4 and R322.2.2; Sec. 9-33 adopts the Building volume ("current edition as mandated by the State of Florida") with county administrative amendments to Chapter 1 (most recently Ordinance No. 2026-07, April 21, 2026), and Sec. 9-39 adopts the Existing Building volume. The Florida Building Commission's local-amendment registry lists only administrative (Chapter 1) amendments for the County of Orange under the 2023 code. The Division's FAQ: "Orange County abides by the current version of the Florida Building Code which includes these volumes: Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation, Existing and Accessibility."
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." Eave drip edges extend 1/2 inch below the sheathing and 2 inches back onto the roof, are installed over the underlayment, and are mechanically fastened at a maximum of 12 inches on center (closer where the design wind speed or roof height calls for it). This applies to shingle roofs. Orange County's amendments to the Residential code (Sec. 9-35) do not touch Chapter 9, and the state registry lists no county technical amendment, so the state text applies unchanged. About drip edge
Ice & water shield
Not required — Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023): "R905.1.2 Ice barriers. Reserved." There is no ice-barrier requirement anywhere in the Florida code, and Orange County's amendments to the Residential code (Sec. 9-35) do not touch Chapter 9. Self-adhered underlayment is still used in Florida, but as a secondary water barrier or underlayment method, not as an ice barrier. About ice & water barrier
Mid-roof inspection
Required — The Florida Building Code's required-inspection list (Section 110.3, which Orange County amends only for swimming pools) includes: "5. Roofing inspection. Shall at a minimum include the following building components:" dry-in, insulation, roof coverings and flashing. Orange County publishes a "Re-Roof Inspection Affidavit" (Re-Roof Dry-in Inspection Affidavit) in which a general, building, residential or roofing contractor, engineer, architect or Chapter 468 building inspector swears that he or she "did personally inspect the roof sheathing, nailing, dry-in, and flashings" and that they comply "(Florida Building Existing Code Section 706)"; the form states: "Affidavit must be completed and on-site at time of final inspection." The county's amended Section 104.4 lets the building official "accept reports of inspection by approved agencies and/or individuals." Plan on documenting the dry-in and deck nailing before the roof covering goes on. The county FAQ: "A list of required inspections are on the back of the Inspection Record provided to you when the permit is issued," and "All inspections must be performed prior to any insulation or coverings being installed."
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Orange County's amendments to the Florida Building Code (Orange County Code Sec. 9-33 for the Building volume, Sec. 9-35 for the Residential volume and Sec. 9-39 for the Existing Building volume) contain no roof-covering provision, and the state registry lists no county technical amendment; no UL 2218 or Class 4 impact requirement appears in the Florida Building Code's residential roofing chapter, the Building volume's roofing chapter or the Existing Building volume's reroofing provisions, or in the county's amendments. Florida's shingle classifications (ASTM D3161, TAS 107, ASTM D7158) are wind ratings, not hail-impact ratings. An insurer's discount for an impact-rated roof is not a code requirement.
Repair permit threshold
No roof-repair size or dollar threshold of the county's own. The county's storm-repair guide lists "Roof repairs and replacements including shingles, sheathing, and structural components" as work that requires a permit, and its list of work that does not need one is limited to "Minor, cosmetic repairs such as painting, flooring, or drywall patching", "Replacement of broken glass in existing window frames (without changing size or type)" and "Temporary protective measures such as tarps or boarding windows". The county's own list of permit exemptions (Section 105.2 as recreated by Orange County Code Sec. 9-33) names no roof work. State law adds one dollar test. Section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes (effective July 1, 2026): "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 as defined by the Florida Building Code" 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." The county applies it through its Building Permit Exemption Request Form (dated 7-1-2026), which limits it to single-family dwellings ("no rental properties or mobile homes", per the county's FAQ) and states that "Exterior window and door replacements are considered structural work in accordance with the Florida Building Code." Neither the statute nor the county says whether roof work is "structural" work, and this record does not decide it; a full reroof is ordinarily valued above $7,500 in any case. The statute adds: "A local government has no legal duty to the owner, contractor, or successors or assigns thereof for exempted work performed under this paragraph." Separately, the Florida Building Code, Existing Building (Section 706.1.1) limits partial work: "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" (Section 553.844(5), Florida Statutes, bars local amendment of that exception).
Wind design criteria
Orange County sets no wind speed of its own. Orange County Code Sec. 9-34: "The basic wind speed requirements for Orange County are established pursuant to (i) Section 1609.3 and Figures 1609A, 1609B, and 1609C of the Florida Building Code, Building and (ii) Section 301.2.1 of the Florida Building Code, Residential. The aforementioned references shall be kept on file at the Orange County Division of Building Safety and may be accessed online through the Orange County Infomap link." Read the site's ultimate design wind speed from the statewide map (Florida Building Code, Residential, Figure R301.2(4)) or the county's Infomap. Orange County is not in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, which the code defines as "Broward and Miami-Dade counties." Asphalt shingles "shall be tested and classified in accordance with ASTM D3161, TAS 107 or ASTM D7158 and shall meet the required classification in accordance with Table R905.2.6.1 to resist the basic wind speed in accordance with Figure R301.2(4)" (Section R905.2.6.1).
Roof layer limit / recover
Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), Section R908.3: "New roof coverings shall not be installed without first removing all existing layers of roof coverings where any of the following conditions occur: ... 3. Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering." Tear-off is also required where the existing roof is water soaked or deteriorated, where it is wood shingle or shake, slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile, where blisters are not cut and secured, and where the existing covering cannot meet the securement provisions; the Existing Building volume (Section 706.3) repeats the same conditions. One re-cover over a single existing layer is therefore the most the code allows. Orange County's amendments to the Residential and Existing Building volumes (Sec. 9-35 and 9-39), read in full, do not touch the reroofing sections, and the state registry lists no county technical amendment. Chapter 9: https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/FLRC2023P1/chapter-9-roof-assemblies
Deck & sheathing requirements
On a house not originally permitted under the Florida Building Code, a reroof triggers deck re-nailing and a secondary water barrier. Florida Building Code, Existing Building, 8th Edition (2023), Section 706.7: "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 706.7.1. (b) A secondary water barrier shall be provided as required by Section 706.7.2. Exception: Structures permitted subject to the Florida Building Code are not required to comply with this section." Sawn lumber or plank decking up to 12 inches wide with at least two 8d nails at each framing member "shall be deemed to be sufficiently connected"; wood structural panels follow the fastener table in Section 706.7.1.2. Section 706.7.2: "When a roof covering is removed and replaced, a secondary water barrier shall be installed" (roofs under 2:12 with a continuous roof system, and clay and concrete tile systems installed to the code, are deemed to comply). Orange County's handout "Mitigation Requirements for Re-Roofing Site-Built Single Family Residential Structures" first asks the roofer to verify whether the structure was permitted on or after March 1, 2002, and then states: "Plywood or OSB decking that is fastened with 8d nails spaced 6"o.c.(apart) are code compliant, decking that is not will be required to be re-nailed with 8d ring shank nails spaced 6"o.c.(apart). Roofs with sawn lumber or wood planks up to 12" wide and fastened with two (2) 8d nails are code compliant." It lists five ways to install the secondary water barrier, including a 4-inch strip of self-adhering polymer tape on all deck joints and seams, or full-deck self-adhering underlayment. The handout cites the older section number 708.7 for the same rule. Orange County's amendments (Sec. 9-35 and 9-39) do not change these provisions.
Sales & use tax
6.5% combined on materials: the 6% Florida state sales and use tax plus Orange County's 0.5% discretionary sales surtax (effective January 1, 2003, with an expiration date of December 31, 2035, per the Florida Department of Revenue's Form DR-15DSS for calendar year 2026). The surtax applies only to the first $5,000 of the sales amount of any single item of tangible personal property (Department of Revenue discretionary sales surtax guidance). Florida treats roofing as a real property contract (Rule 12A-1.051, Florida Administrative Code, lists "(cc) Roofing work"): "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 "They should charge no tax to their customers, regardless of whether they itemize charges for materials and labor in their proposals or invoices." Repairs and replacements are treated the same way.
More roof permit pages in Florida
Unincorporated Osceola County, FLRoof permit
Unincorporated Palm Beach County, FLRoof permit
Unincorporated Pasco County, FLRoof permit
Unincorporated Pinellas County, FLRoof permit
Unincorporated Polk County, FLRoof permit
Roofing in FloridaState hub
Related guides
The building department of Orange County, Florida (the Orlando area). The Division of Building Safety reviews plans, issues building permits, including roof permits, and performs inspections for the unincorporated county and for any municipality that has come under the county building chapter by interlocal agreement. A city that runs its own building department issues permits within its own limits.
Hail reports near the center of Orange County, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 11, 2023 | 1.00 in | 3 mi WNW |
| Sep 11, 2023 | 1.00 in | 8 mi N |
| Sep 11, 2023 | 1.00 in | 2 mi NNW |
| May 18, 2023 | 1.00 in | under 1 mi |
| Jun 18, 2022 | 0.88 in | 3 mi NNW |
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 Orange County, FL. Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.
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Sources
- orangecountyfl.net verified 2026-09-26
- orangecountyfl.net verified 2026-09-26
- orangecountyfl.net verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26
- codes.iccsafe.org verified 2026-09-26
- orangecountyfl.net verified 2026-09-26
- floridarevenue.com verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26
- orangecountyfl.net verified 2026-09-26