The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / City of Pensacola - Building Inspections

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Pensacola, FL?

Adopted code

City of Pensacola - Building Inspections

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Pensacola, FL, issued by City of Pensacola - Building Inspections. Re-roofing in Pensacola is permit work. The City's Applications, Documents, and Forms page lists "ROOFING DOCUMENTS": a Roofing Permit Application, a Roofing Affidavit and a Roofing Photos Guide. The Roofing Permit Application, a joint form of Escambia County Building Services and City of Pensacola Inspection Services, covers residential "Reroof", "Repair" and "New Installation" work and asks for the roof covering type, the Florida Product Approval numbers of the underlayment and roof material, and the number of squares; the applicant certifies "that no work or installation has commenced prior to the issuance of a permit". The form states: "The recorded Notice of Commencement is required if the project's cost of construction is $2,500 or more," and "A NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT MUST BE RECORDED AND POSTED ON THE JOB SITE BEFORE THE FIRST INSPECTION." The City's fee schedule for residential alterations carries its own "ROOF PERMIT" line. The City states that all sub-permits associated with a project for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, gas, roofing and fire systems "must be submitted online" as Add-to-Existing permits, and under City Code Section 14-2-134(d) "no permits for roofing, electrical, plumbing, gas, mechanical or other building service system shall be issued until after the building permit has been issued." The City asks applicants to "first verify your project falls in our jurisdiction using the Escambia County Property Appraiser website"; properties outside the city limits are permitted by Escambia County. Florida law also makes it "unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or governmental entity to construct, erect, alter, modify, repair, or demolish any building within this state without first obtaining a permit" (section 553.79(1)(a), Florida Statutes).

Roof code checklist: Pensacola, FL

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYescityofpensacola.com2026-10-16
Repair permit thresholdPublishedcityofpensacola.com2026-10-16
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedR908.3codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-16
Deck & sheathingPublishedcodes.iccsafe.org2026-10-16
Drip edgeYesR905.2.8.5codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-16
Ice & water shieldNoR905.1.2codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-16
Mid-roof inspectionNot published
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNolibrary.municode.com2026-10-16
Wind design criteriaPublishedcityofpensacola.com2026-10-16
Adopted codePublishedSec. 553.73(6)cityofpensacola.com2026-10-16
Contractor license / registrationYesleg.state.fl.us2026-10-16
Sales & use taxPublisheddr15dss_26.pdf2026-10-16

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 Pensacola, Florida
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
222 W. Main St., Fifth Floor of City Hall, Pensacola, FL 32502
Contact
  • url: https://www.cityofpensacola.com/131/Inspection-Services
  • phone: 850-436-5600
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," 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) 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(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) contains an owner-builder exemption for "Owners of property when acting as their own contractor and providing direct, onsite supervision themselves of all work not performed by licensed contractors"; this record does not decide whether a particular reader falls within it.
  • city_level: City Code Section 14-2-61 provides that no person or business entity "shall engage in the business of contracting within the city in any category of construction contracting as defined in F.S. ch. 489 or applicable county regulations without having first obtained a contractor certificate of competency (license) in the appropriate category" from the state Construction Industry Licensing Board, the state Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board or the county's competency boards, and that "Contractor's certificates of competency issued by the county pursuant to County Ordinance No. 90-4, County Ordinance No. 94-18, County Ordinance No. 94-2, and subsequent amendments thereto, are hereby accepted by the city". The Building Inspections page states that contractor registration "must be a complete package submitted through the MGO application portal" and that renewals are uploaded to the contractor's registration page. On owner-builder permits the City's FAQ states that owners of one- and two-family buildings "must intend to use the property as your personal residence for at least 1 year after completion of your project. You may not build or alter such residence for sale or lease."
Permit process note
Re-roofing in Pensacola is permit work. The City's Applications, Documents, and Forms page lists "ROOFING DOCUMENTS": a Roofing Permit Application, a Roofing Affidavit and a Roofing Photos Guide. The Roofing Permit Application, a joint form of Escambia County Building Services and City of Pensacola Inspection Services, covers residential "Reroof", "Repair" and "New Installation" work and asks for the roof covering type, the Florida Product Approval numbers of the underlayment and roof material, and the number of squares; the applicant certifies "that no work or installation has commenced prior to the issuance of a permit". The form states: "The recorded Notice of Commencement is required if the project's cost of construction is $2,500 or more," and "A NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT MUST BE RECORDED AND POSTED ON THE JOB SITE BEFORE THE FIRST INSPECTION." The City's fee schedule for residential alterations carries its own "ROOF PERMIT" line. The City states that all sub-permits associated with a project for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, gas, roofing and fire systems "must be submitted online" as Add-to-Existing permits, and under City Code Section 14-2-134(d) "no permits for roofing, electrical, plumbing, gas, mechanical or other building service system shall be issued until after the building permit has been issued." The City asks applicants to "first verify your project falls in our jurisdiction using the Escambia County Property Appraiser website"; properties outside the city limits are permitted by Escambia County. Florida law also makes it "unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or governmental entity to construct, erect, alter, modify, repair, or demolish any building within this state without first obtaining a permit" (section 553.79(1)(a), Florida Statutes).
Inspection requirements
Inspections are scheduled through the City's My Government Online (MGO) portal or by phone at (866) 957-3764, option 5. "It is the contractor's responsibility to obtain the owner's express permission for an inspector to enter an occupied home, go on roofs, or proceed behind closed gates." The roof permit fee line charges a $50.00 fee per inspection beyond two. Residential permits issued on or after July 1, 2026 "are valid for 1 year or until the start of a new Building Code cycle-- whichever is longer."
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; section 553.73(6), Florida Statutes, provides that the code "is deemed adopted for use statewide without adoptions by local government." The City's Building Inspections page states that "The current adopted codes are" the "2023 Florida Building Codes, (8th Edition) which includes Residential, Building, Existing Building, Energy Conservation, Accessibility, Fuel and Gas, Plumbing, and Mechanical," and the 2020 National Electrical Code. City Code Section 14-2-131 adopts the Florida Building Code "and all subsequent editions and revisions thereto as may be adopted by the state building commission". City Code Section 14-2-132, as codified, still refers to "Chapter 1 of the Florida Building Code 7th edition (2020)" with administrative revisions by the building official kept on file at the Inspection Services Department (not read for this record), and adopts Appendix J (Existing Buildings and Structures) and Appendix Q (Tiny Houses) of the 7th edition; Section 14-2-133 contains flood hazard amendments. The City's building construction standards chapter (Chapter 14-2) contains no technical roofing provision.
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," with closer spacing where the Vasd is 110 mph or greater. The requirement is written for shingle roofs. City Code Chapter 14-2 does not amend section R905.2.8.5. About drip edge
Ice & water shield
Not required — Not required. The Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023) reads "R905.1.2 Ice barriers. Reserved." and, for asphalt shingles, "R905.2.7 Ice barrier. Reserved." City Code Chapter 14-2 adds no ice barrier. A self-adhering ASTM D1970 underlayment remains one of the permitted underlayment methods under section R905.1.1.1; it is not prohibited. About ice & water barrier
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — City Code Chapter 14-2, Building Construction Standards (including its Florida Building Code administrative and flood hazard amendments in Sections 14-2-132 and 14-2-133), does not amend the roofing chapters; no UL 2218 or Class 4 impact requirement appears in the Florida Building Code, Residential Chapter 9, Building Chapter 15 or Existing Building Chapter 7 as they apply in Pensacola. Florida's shingle classes under section R905.2.6.1 (ASTM D3161, TAS 107, ASTM D7158) are wind ratings, not impact ratings.
Repair permit threshold
The City's Frequently Asked Questions page states: "Effective July 1, 2026, building permits for work on a single-family dwelling that is non-structural in nature and valued less than $7,500 is exempt from permitting. To receive a permit exemption, you must apply for a Building Permit Exemption Application through MGOConnect." The City's exemption application excludes "Work on a property that is partially or entirely located in a flood hazard area as defined by the Florida Building Code" and "Any electrical, plumbing, structural (to include windows and doors as structural components necessary to protect the building from wind pressure), mechanical, or gas work performed on property containing a single-family dwelling," requires the signed contract and a scope of work, carries a "non-refundable payment of $40 for the Administrative Fee", and states that "any project over $5,000 still requires the owner to file a Notice of Commencement". The underlying statute, section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes, 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," and "A construction project may not be divided into more than one project for the purpose of evading the requirements of this paragraph." A full re-roof ordinarily exceeds the $7,500 value, and the City's Roofing Permit Application covers both reroof and repair work. The Florida Building Code's own relief, Building section 105.2.2, allows "Ordinary minor repairs" without a permit only "with the approval of the building official." The Florida Building Code's 25 percent rule also applies to roof repairs (see the deck and sheathing field).
Wind design criteria
The City's Building Inspections page states: "Wind speed design shall be in accordance with Chapter 3 of the Florida Building Code, Residential, or Chapter 16 of the Florida Building Code, Building. You can verify your wind speed by using the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool. The current adopted version is ASCE 7-22." The City publishes no single design wind speed for the city; the value is site-specific. The Roofing Permit Application records the Florida Product Approval numbers of the underlayment and roof material. Pensacola is in Escambia County and is not in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, which the Florida Building Code defines as Broward and Miami-Dade 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." A single re-cover over one existing layer is therefore the most the code allows. City Code Chapter 14-2 (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 R908.7.1.1, 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." Section R908.1.1 (the 25 percent rule): "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. In Pensacola, the roof sheathing inspection is made "after all roof and wall sheathing and fasteners are complete."
Sales & use tax
7.5% combined: 6% Florida state sales and use tax plus Escambia County's 1.5% discretionary sales surtax, which the Department of Revenue's Form DR-15DSS for calendar year 2026 lists as a 1% surtax effective June 1, 1992 with an expiration date of December 31, 2028, and a 0.5% surtax effective January 1, 1998 with an expiration date of December 31, 2037. 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.

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The Building Inspections division of the City of Pensacola's Development Services Department, which enforces the Florida Building Code within the city limits. It issues building permits, including roofing permits and roofing sub-permits, through the City's My Government Online portal, registers contractors and performs the required inspections.

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Sources

Roofing questions: Pensacola, FL

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Pensacola, FL?

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Pensacola, FL. The City's Frequently Asked Questions page states: "Effective July 1, 2026, building permits for work on a single-family dwelling that is non-structural in nature and valued less than $7,500 is exempt from permitting. To receive a permit exemption, you must apply for a Building Permit Exemption Application through MGOConnect." The City's exemption application excludes "Work on a property that is partially or entirely located in a flood hazard area as defined by the Florida Building Code" and "Any electrical, plumbing, structural (to include windows and doors as structural components necessary to protect the building from wind pressure), mechanical, or gas work performed on property containing a single-family dwelling," requires the signed contract and a scope of work, carries a "non-refundable payment of $40 for the Administrative Fee", and states that "any project over $5,000 still requires the owner to file a Notice of Commencement". The underlying statute, section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes, 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," and "A construction project may not be divided into more than one project for the purpose of evading the requirements of this paragraph." A full re-roof ordinarily exceeds the $7,500 value, and the City's Roofing Permit Application covers both reroof and repair work. The Florida Building Code's own relief, Building section 105.2.2, allows "Ordinary minor repairs" without a permit only "with the approval of the building official." The Florida Building Code's 25 percent rule also applies to roof repairs (see the deck and sheathing field).

Is ice & water shield required in Pensacola, FL?

No. Not required. The Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023) reads "R905.1.2 Ice barriers. Reserved." and, for asphalt shingles, "R905.2.7 Ice barrier. Reserved." City Code Chapter 14-2 adds no ice barrier. A self-adhering ASTM D1970 underlayment remains one of the permitted underlayment methods under section R905.1.1.1; it is not prohibited.

Is drip edge required in Pensacola, FL?

Yes. 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," with closer spacing where the Vasd is 110 mph or greater. The requirement is written for shingle roofs. City Code Chapter 14-2 does not amend section R905.2.8.5.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Pensacola, 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." A single re-cover over one existing layer is therefore the most the code allows. City Code Chapter 14-2 (read in full) states no layer limit of its own and does not amend section R908.3.

Do roofing contractors need a license or registration in Pensacola, FL?

Yes.

What building code does Pensacola, FL use?

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; section 553.73(6), Florida Statutes, provides that the code "is deemed adopted for use statewide without adoptions by local government." The City's Building Inspections page states that "The current adopted codes are" the "2023 Florida Building Codes, (8th Edition) which includes Residential, Building, Existing Building, Energy Conservation, Accessibility, Fuel and Gas, Plumbing, and Mechanical," and the 2020 National Electrical Code. City Code Section 14-2-131 adopts the Florida Building Code "and all subsequent editions and revisions thereto as may be adopted by the state building commission". City Code Section 14-2-132, as codified, still refers to "Chapter 1 of the Florida Building Code 7th edition (2020)" with administrative revisions by the building official kept on file at the Inspection Services Department (not read for this record), and adopts Appendix J (Existing Buildings and Structures) and Appendix Q (Tiny Houses) of the 7th edition; Section 14-2-133 contains flood hazard amendments. The City's building construction standards chapter (Chapter 14-2) contains no technical roofing provision.