Permitting Authorities / Pinellas County - Building and Development Review Services
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Unincorporated Pinellas County, FL?
Adopted codePinellas County - Building and Development Review Services
Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated Pinellas County, FL, issued by Pinellas County - Building and Development Review Services. Re-roofing in unincorporated Pinellas County is permitted through the Pinellas County Access Portal. The County's list of Express permits includes a Roofing permit type with the subtypes "Reroof Metal, Aluminum (Residential/Commercial)", "Shingle and/or Flat" and "Tile"; online Express applications "are only available to Licensed Contractors, but homeowners can apply in-person" at 440 Court Street, Clearwater. Applications need product approvals, "Information proving your windows, doors, or roofing materials meet Florida code." The County's storm-recovery guidance lists "Roof repair or installation (includes tile, shingle, flat, metal and aluminum)" among work that requires a permit, and its Building FAQ states that "Solar and roof permits are required to replace your roof when you have solar panels installed." Every re-roof must pass an in-progress inspection, and a Re-Roofing Mitigation Affidavit must be posted on the job site for work not visible at that inspection. Small jobs: since July 1, 2026, state law requires the County to exempt single-family work valued at less than $7,500 on written request (not in a flood hazard area, and not electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical or gas work); the County lists roofs among projects that might qualify, but the owner or contractor "must obtain approval from the County's Building Official before proceeding," and exempt work "will not be inspected by County staff." A full re-roof valued at $7,500 or more needs the permit.
Roof code checklist: Unincorporated Pinellas County, FL
| Item | Answer | Code cite | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit to replace a roof | Yes | pinellas.gov | 2026-09-26 | |
| Repair permit threshold | Published | pinellas.gov | 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 | pinellas.gov | 2026-09-26 | |
| Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofing | No | pcclb.com | 2026-09-26 | |
| Wind design criteria | Published | building_1609.3.pdf | 2026-09-26 | |
| Adopted code | Published | Sec. 553.73(6) | pinellas.gov | 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
Pinellas County, Florida (unincorporated)
Jurisdiction type
county
Address
440 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756
Contact
- url: https://pinellas.gov/applying-for-a-building-permit/
- phone: 727-464-3888
- 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), Florida Statutes, defines a "Roofing contractor" as one "whose services are unlimited in the roofing trade," with a scope that includes "required roof-deck attachments." 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," including one-family or two-family residences "for the occupancy or use of such owners and not offered for sale or lease"; this record does not decide whether a particular reader falls within it.
- county_level: Contractor licensing in Pinellas County is run countywide by the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board (PCCLB), whose contractor classifications include "Roofing contractor," defined in the same terms as the state statute. The PCCLB's notice to state-certified contractors (updated June 24, 2024) states that under 2024 legislation (House Bill 1483, the "New Special Act") state-certified contractors are no longer required to register with the PCCLB, but "you may be required to register or have your state license verified with each local building department in Pinellas County in order to pull a building permit or schedule inspections," and must provide "proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance (or exemption) to each local building department with that jurisdiction named as Certificate Holder." The PCCLB continues to govern contractors holding local licenses beginning "C-" and journeymen ("J-"), and "will continue to sanction state-certified contractors for violations." The County's permitting page tells homeowners to verify state certified contractors at MyFloridaLicense.com and locally registered contractors with the PCCLB. For owner-builders, the County's Building FAQ states "You may pull your own permit to build or improve a one-family or two-family residence," for "your own use or occupancy," with "full-time, direct onsite supervision of all work you perform," an Owner Contractor Affidavit, and a presumption of a violation if the home "is sold or leased within one year after the construction is complete."
Permit process note
Re-roofing in unincorporated Pinellas County is permitted through the Pinellas County Access Portal. The County's list of Express permits includes a Roofing permit type with the subtypes "Reroof Metal, Aluminum (Residential/Commercial)", "Shingle and/or Flat" and "Tile"; online Express applications "are only available to Licensed Contractors, but homeowners can apply in-person" at 440 Court Street, Clearwater. Applications need product approvals, "Information proving your windows, doors, or roofing materials meet Florida code." The County's storm-recovery guidance lists "Roof repair or installation (includes tile, shingle, flat, metal and aluminum)" among work that requires a permit, and its Building FAQ states that "Solar and roof permits are required to replace your roof when you have solar panels installed." Every re-roof must pass an in-progress inspection, and a Re-Roofing Mitigation Affidavit must be posted on the job site for work not visible at that inspection. Small jobs: since July 1, 2026, state law requires the County to exempt single-family work valued at less than $7,500 on written request (not in a flood hazard area, and not electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical or gas work); the County lists roofs among projects that might qualify, but the owner or contractor "must obtain approval from the County's Building Official before proceeding," and exempt work "will not be inspected by County staff." A full re-roof valued at $7,500 or more needs the permit.
Inspection requirements
Re-roof permits take an in-progress inspection (County inspection code 1075, "Reroof in Progress"), requested through the Access Portal, by text to 844-746-1717 or on the automated line at 727-453-4000, after the dry-in is applied and the roof loaded; metal and tile roofs also need a dry-in and flashing inspection before work proceeds. "Re-Roofing Mitigation Affidavits will still be required for any portion of the roof that is not visible at the time of the in-progress inspection, such as deck nailing and the balance of the underlayment and flashing already covered"; photos are no longer required, but affidavits must be posted on the job site at final inspection. The affidavit is signed by a licensed contractor, engineer, architect or building inspector certifying that roof deck nailing and/or secondary water barrier work was done "according to the Hurricane Mitigation Manual (Based on 553.844 F.S.)." For shingle roofs, "you must have a wrapper on the job site at the time of final 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; section 553.73(6), Florida Statutes, makes the code applicable statewide "without adoptions by local government." The County's Building Codes and County Policies page lists the current code as the "2023 Florida Building Code, Building, Eighth Edition." Pinellas County Code section 22-2 adopts "The Florida Building Code" without naming an edition, and section 22-3 makes the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board "the sole local governing body authorized to make technical amendments to the Florida Building Code" for all of Pinellas County. The Board's local technical amendments to the 2023 code cover building definitions, design wind speed (Building section 1609.3), the electrical code, condensate disposal, water supply and the Pinellas Gulf Beaches Coastal Construction Code (Building section 3109.1); none amends the Residential roofing chapter or the Building roofing chapter, and the Florida Building Commission's registry of local amendments to the 2023 code lists no Pinellas amendment to either 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." The requirement is written for shingle roofs. Neither Pinellas County Code Chapter 22, Article I (read in full) nor the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board's local technical amendments to the 2023 code amend it. 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." Neither Pinellas County Code Chapter 22, Article I (read in full) nor the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board's local technical amendments to the 2023 code add an ice barrier. A self-adhering ASTM D1970 underlayment remains a permitted underlayment method; it is not prohibited. About ice & water barrier
Mid-roof inspection
Required — Pinellas County's Roofing Inspection Policies state: "All re-roofing projects must have an in-progress inspection, which allows us to review the underlayment and / or final roofing material as it is being installed and make sure all work is code compliant. This inspection should take place after the dry-in has been applied and the roof loaded." "Metal and tile roofs must still have a dry-in and flashing inspection, which must be successfully completed before the work can proceed." A contractor who fails to request the in-progress inspection "may be subject to discipline by the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board (PCCLB)."
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither the Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023) roofing chapter nor the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board's local technical amendments to the 2023 code require impact-rated roof coverings, and Pinellas County Code Chapter 22, Article I (read in full) contains no roofing provision; no UL 2218 or Class 4 impact requirement appears in the code as it applies in unincorporated Pinellas County or in its amendments. Florida "impact" provisions concern protection of windows and doors from windborne debris, not roof coverings, and Florida's shingle classes (ASTM D3161, ASTM D7158) are wind ratings.
Repair permit threshold
The County's Permit Exemptions for Work Under $7,500 page states that as of July 1, 2026 "new permit exemptions under Florida House Bill 803 (Florida Statute 553.79) are in effect for unincorporated Pinellas County," that "certain non-structural residential construction projects with a total value of less than $7,500 may qualify for a permit exemption," and lists "Roofs" among the projects that might qualify. The exemption "does not apply to" properties "located in a Flood Zone or Flood Hazard Area," or to gas, electrical, mechanical, plumbing or structural work. "To qualify for the exemption, applicants must submit a written request to the County Building Official along with documentation describing the proposed work, and a copy of signed contract"; property owners and contractors "must obtain approval from the County's Building Official before proceeding with exempt work," a stamped copy of the approved request must stay on the job site (failure "may result in receiving a Stop Work Order"), and "Work performed under an approved permit exemption will not be inspected by County staff." The statute behind it, 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." Separately, the County's Building FAQ states that "Pinellas County requires a permit for any new building, addition, remodeling, demolition, or other work in the unincorporated county that is either in excess of $500.00 or requires an inspection," and its permit page describes minor repairs that generally need no permit as "Repairs costing less than $500, as long as they do not involve structural changes, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work." The Florida Building Code's 25 percent rule also applies to roof repairs (see the deck and sheathing field).
Wind design criteria
The Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board's local technical amendment to the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), Building, section 1609.3 Ultimate design wind speed, states: "The exact location of wind speeds are approved and adopted as follows: All incorporated and unincorporated Pinellas County, Risk Category I - 135 MPH with interpolation permitted as allowed in the Code and ASCE 7-16; Risk Category II - 145 MPH with interpolation permitted as allowed in the Code and ASCE 7-16; Risk Category III - 155 MPH with interpolation permitted as allowed in the Code and ASCE 7-16; Risk Category IV - 157 MPH with interpolation permitted as allowed in the Code and ASCE 7-16." Its stated purpose: "This amendment defines Pinellas County's basic wind speed designations." The Florida Building Commission's registry lists the amendment for the 2023 code. Pinellas County is not in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, which the Florida Building Code limits to 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." Tear-off is also required where blisters are not cut open and secured, or where the existing covering is to be used for attachment and the securement provisions cannot be met. A single re-cover over one existing layer is therefore the most the code allows. Pinellas County Code Chapter 22, Article I, read in full, states no layer limit of its own, and the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board's local technical amendments to the 2023 code do 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"; wood structural panel decks are fastened to Table R908.7.1.2. 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." 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, where "only the repaired, replaced, or recovered portion is required to be constructed in accordance with the Florida Building Code in effect." In Pinellas County the roofer documents deck nailing and secondary water barrier work not visible at the in-progress inspection on the County's Re-Roofing Mitigation Affidavit, which certifies the work was done "according to the Hurricane Mitigation Manual (Based on 553.844 F.S.)."
Sales & use tax
7% combined: 6% Florida state sales and use tax plus Pinellas County's 1% discretionary sales surtax. The Department of Revenue's Form DR-15DSS for calendar year 2026 lists the Pinellas surtax at 1%, effective February 1, 1990, with an expiration date of December 31, 2029. Per the Department, the surtax "applies to the first $5,000 of the sales amount on the sale" of 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.
More roof permit pages in Florida
Unincorporated Polk County, FLRoof permit
Unincorporated Seminole County, FLRoof permit
Unincorporated St. Johns County, FLRoof permit
Unincorporated Sumter County, FLRoof permit
Unincorporated Volusia County, FLRoof permit
Roofing in FloridaState hub
Related guides
The permitting authority for unincorporated Pinellas County. Building and Development Review Services issues building and trade permits, including re-roofing permits, through the Pinellas County Access Portal, and also serves Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Kenneth City, Oldsmar and Safety Harbor.
Hail reports near the center of Pinellas County, FL
- Reports, last 24 months
- 1
- Largest, last 24 months
- 1.00 in Jun 25, 2025
- Most recent
- Jun 25, 2025 1.00 in
- Reports, last 5 years
- 2
| Date | Hail size | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 25, 2025 | 1.00 in | 8 mi SSE |
| Aug 8, 2022 | 1.00 in | 9 mi SE |
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 Pinellas County, FL. Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.
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Sources
- pinellas.gov verified 2026-09-26
- pinellas.gov verified 2026-09-26
- leg.state.fl.us verified 2026-09-26
- pcclb.com verified 2026-09-26
- pinellas.gov verified 2026-09-26
- pinellas.gov verified 2026-09-26
- pinellas.gov verified 2026-09-26
- codes.iccsafe.org verified 2026-09-26
- pcclb.com verified 2026-09-26
- floridarevenue.com verified 2026-09-26
- pcclb.com verified 2026-09-26