Permitting Authorities / City of St. Petersburg - Construction Services and Permitting Division
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in St. Petersburg, FL?
Adopted codeCity of St. Petersburg - Construction Services and Permitting Division
Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in St. Petersburg, FL, issued by City of St. Petersburg - Construction Services and Permitting Division. Re-roofing in St. Petersburg is permit work. The City's Permitting Fee Schedule (Building Department, revised 10/1/2017, the schedule the City's Applications and Forms page links today) prices re-roofs as flat-fee permits: "Reroof up to 15 squares (a sq. equals 100 sq. ft.)" $100.00, "Reroof over 15 squares up to 40 squares" $150.00 and "Reroof over 40 squares" $300.00, and the City's permit application lists "Roof" as a Building sub-trade line. State law 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), and the City's List of Exempted Permits names no roofing work. Small jobs: the City's Building Permits page states that under House Bill 803 (effective July 1, 2026) its Permit Exemption form for single-family work under $7,500 "applies only to properties that are not located in a flood hazard area and where the work does not include structural components (including window and door replacement, roofing, soffit and fascia, or siding), mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or gas work," so the City does not treat roofing as eligible for that exemption. Owners who pull their own permit must appear in person and sign the permit application and an owner-builder disclosure statement; the City adds a $20.00 surcharge to each permit issued to a property owner for work costing more than $2,000.00. After a storm, the City's storm-permitting page states that "Emergency temporary application of tarps to structures to reduce the risk of further water intrusion" does not require a permit; for work requiring a permit, "the applicant needs to obtain an approved permit before starting construction.".
Roof code checklist: St. Petersburg, FL
| Item | Answer | Code cite | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permit to replace a roof | Yes | Fee_Schedule_Doc_Nov_2017.pdf | 2026-09-26 | |
| Repair permit threshold | Published | stpete.org | 2026-09-26 | |
| Layer limit / roof-over | Published | R908.3 | codes.iccsafe.org | 2026-09-26 |
| Deck & sheathing | Published | codes.iccsafe.org | 2026-09-26 | |
| Drip edge | Yes | R905.2.8.5 | codes.iccsafe.org | 2026-09-26 |
| Ice & water shield | No | R905.1.2 | codes.iccsafe.org | 2026-09-26 |
| Mid-roof inspection | Yes | Sec. 110.3 | Inspection_Request_Options.pdf | 2026-09-26 |
| Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofing | No | library.municode.com | 2026-09-26 | |
| Wind design criteria | Published | building_1609.3.pdf | 2026-09-26 | |
| Adopted code | Published | Sec. 553.73(6) | Current_Codes_Adopted.pdf | 2026-09-26 |
| Contractor license / registration | Yes | leg.state.fl.us | 2026-09-26 | |
| Sales & use tax | Published | dr15dss_26.pdf | 2026-09-26 |
Each row comes from the sourced record on this page; full wording is in the table below. "Not published" means no official source for that item was found when the record was last verified.
Jurisdiction
City of St. Petersburg, Florida
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
One 4th Street North (Municipal Services Center), St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Contact
- url: https://www.stpete.org/business/building_permitting/building_permits.php
- phone: 727-893-7231
- email: [email protected]
Permit portal
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
- state_level: Roofing contractor is a separately licensed trade in Florida. Section 489.105(3)(e), Florida Statutes, defines a "Roofing contractor" as one "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." Section 489.103(7) contains an owner-builder exemption for owners "acting as their own contractor and providing direct, onsite supervision themselves of all work not performed by licensed contractors," including one- and two-family residences for the owner's own use and not offered for sale or lease; this record does not decide whether a particular reader falls within it.
- county_level: City Code section 8-303 provides that "The contractors licensing laws of the City shall be the licensing laws as adopted and amended by the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board (PCCLB)." The PCCLB's published definition of "Roofing contractor" matches the state trade. The PCCLB's notice to state-certified contractors (updated June 24, 2024) states that under 2024 legislation state-certified contractors no longer register with the PCCLB, but "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," with proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance naming each department as certificate holder. The PCCLB continues to govern contractors holding its own local licenses (those beginning C-, and J- for journeymen) and states that it "will continue to sanction state-certified contractors for violations."
- city_level: City Code section 8-305 makes it "unlawful for any person to engage in contracting without first registering with the POD the appropriate certificates, licenses and other documents that are necessary to show compliance with the provisions of this article," and section 8-304 requires compliance with "all State laws, county laws and City ordinances pertaining to licensing, certification and registration of contractors." The City's Contractor Affidavit (updated July 17, 2024) sets out registration: a state-certified contractor files the affidavit, a copy of the state license, proof of general liability insurance "showing City of St. Petersburg as the certificate holder" at the minimums of Florida Administrative Code Rule 61G4-15.003 (listed for a Roofing Contractor as $100,000 liability and $25,000 property damage), and proof of workers' compensation or an exemption; a PCCLB-licensed specialty contractor files the affidavit and a copy of the PCCLB license. The City's inspection instructions state that inspections cannot be scheduled where "Contractor registration/renewal has not occurred." City Code section 8-353 also requires "a separate business tax receipt ... for each field of contracting"; that is a business tax, not a trade credential. For owners, City Code section 8-36 lets residential owners acting as their own contractor obtain permits if they "personally appear and sign the permit application," with the state disclosure statement.
Permit process note
Re-roofing in St. Petersburg is permit work. The City's Permitting Fee Schedule (Building Department, revised 10/1/2017, the schedule the City's Applications and Forms page links today) prices re-roofs as flat-fee permits: "Reroof up to 15 squares (a sq. equals 100 sq. ft.)" $100.00, "Reroof over 15 squares up to 40 squares" $150.00 and "Reroof over 40 squares" $300.00, and the City's permit application lists "Roof" as a Building sub-trade line. State law 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), and the City's List of Exempted Permits names no roofing work. Small jobs: the City's Building Permits page states that under House Bill 803 (effective July 1, 2026) its Permit Exemption form for single-family work under $7,500 "applies only to properties that are not located in a flood hazard area and where the work does not include structural components (including window and door replacement, roofing, soffit and fascia, or siding), mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or gas work," so the City does not treat roofing as eligible for that exemption. Owners who pull their own permit must appear in person and sign the permit application and an owner-builder disclosure statement; the City adds a $20.00 surcharge to each permit issued to a property owner for work costing more than $2,000.00. After a storm, the City's storm-permitting page states that "Emergency temporary application of tarps to structures to reduce the risk of further water intrusion" does not require a permit; for work requiring a permit, "the applicant needs to obtain an approved permit before starting construction."
Inspection requirements
Inspections are scheduled online through the City's permitting portal ("schedule/cancel insp.") or through the Telephone Inspection Request Line at 727-893-4101 using the phone access code on the permit summary. The City's inspection code list (effective June 13, 2017) includes "In-Progress Roof" (0104), "Roof Final" (0096, commercial only), "Retro Roof to Wall Connection" (0093) and, for City use, "Retro Fastening & Water Barrier" (0091). An inspection cannot be scheduled while "Sub-Contractor Cards have not been received" or "Contractor registration/renewal has not occurred." A same-day inspection cannot be cancelled. A Florida registered design professional may certify passed inspections, including "In-Progress Roof" and "Roof Final," on the City's Affidavit Inspection Report. A reinspection fee of $100.00 applies "after a second failed reinspection for noncompliance with at least one of the same code deficiencies."
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 City's Current Building Codes sheet (Construction Services & Permitting, "Effective 12/31/2023") lists the "8th Edition 2023 Florida Building Code - Residential" and the other 8th Edition volumes, and states that "Technical Code Amendments can be obtained through the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board (PCCLB)." The link to that sheet on the City's Building Permits page is labelled "Current Adopted Codes In Use (effective Dec. 2020)." City Code section 8-35 adopts "The Florida Building Code and its incorporated standards" without naming an edition and provides that later amendments "will be automatically adopted." The City's own amendments in section 8-36 (last amended by Ord. No. 573-H, March 21, 2024) are administrative provisions, flood provisions (Residential R202 and R322; Building 202, 1604.5, 1612; Existing Building 502, 503, 701, 1401) and a wind-load clause in Building 1609.1.1; none touches the roofing chapters. The Florida Building Commission's local-amendment registry lists no 2023 amendment by the City or the PCCLB to Residential Chapter 9 or Building Chapter 15.
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 8, Article II (sections 8-35 to 8-38), read in full, does not amend it, and no registered City or PCCLB amendment reaches Residential Chapter 9. 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 City Code Chapter 8, Article II (read in full) nor any registered City or PCCLB amendment adds an 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
Mid-roof inspection
Required — The Florida Building Code, Building, section 110.3 (which, under Residential section R101.2.1, governs administration of the Residential code) lists "Roofing inspection. Shall at a minimum include the following building components," listed as dry-in, insulation, roof coverings and flashing. City Code section 8-36 modifies section 110.3 only in its final-inspection and manufactured-building items, which concern flood certifications. The City's inspection code list names an "In-Progress Roof" inspection (code 0104) alongside "Roof Final" (code 0096), which the list marks "(Commercial Only)".
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither the City's building code amendments (City Code section 8-36, read in full with the rest of Chapter 8, Article II) nor the PCCLB's registered technical amendments to the 2023 Florida Building Code (Building 1609.3, 1612, 202, 2701 and 3109; Residential M1411.3, P2903.1 and P2903.2.1; Plumbing 610.2) 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 St. Petersburg. 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 Building Permits page states: "Per Florida House Bill (HB) 803, effective July 1, 2026, the Building Department has established a Permit Exemption form for work on a single-family dwelling totaling less than $7,500. This exemption applies only to properties that are not located in a flood hazard area and where the work does not include structural components (including window and door replacement, roofing, soffit and fascia, or siding), mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or gas work." The City's Permit Exemption form requires a notarized statement that the scope of work "Must not include work that is structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and gas" and that the total value "Must not exceed $7,500." The statute behind it, section 553.79(1)(g), Florida Statutes (effective July 1, 2026), reads: "A local government that issues building permits shall exempt an owner of a single-family dwelling or the owner's contractor from the requirement to obtain a building permit to perform any work valued at less than $7,500 on the owner's property," does not apply to "Work on a property that is partially or entirely located in a flood hazard area" or to "Any electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, or gas work," requires "a written request for exemption to the local enforcement agency with a copy of the contract," and provides that "A construction project may not be divided into more than one project for the purpose of evading the requirements of this paragraph." The City's List of Exempted Permits (last revised January 1, 2014), the Building Official's list of casual, minor or inconsequential work exempt from permit, names no roofing work, and the City fee schedule's smallest re-roof line covers jobs "up to 15 squares." The Florida Building Code's own relief, section 105.2.2, allows "Ordinary minor repairs" without a permit only "with the approval of the building official." Separately, the Florida Building Code's 25 percent rule 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, Building, 8th Edition (2023), 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". The City's Current Building Codes sheet points to the PCCLB for technical amendments. City Code section 8-36 amends Building section 1609.1.1 to classify Group R-2 buildings of three or more attached units in a Special Flood Hazard Area as Risk Category III for wind design, and provides that one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses "not more than three stories above grade plane are permitted to be designed under the wind loads established per section R101.2 of the Florida Building Code, Residential and ASCE 7." St. Petersburg 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." 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. City Code Chapter 8 (Article II, the building code, read in full) states no layer limit of its own and does not amend section R908.3, and no registered City or PCCLB amendment reaches Residential Chapter 9.
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, where only the repaired, replaced or recovered portion must meet the code in effect. The City's inspection code list includes "Retro Fastening & Water Barrier" (0091) and "Retro Roof to Wall Connection" (0093) inspections. City Code section 8-36 does not amend these sections.
Sales & use tax
7% combined: 6% Florida state sales and use tax plus Pinellas County's 1% discretionary sales surtax, which the Department of Revenue's Form DR-15DSS for calendar year 2026 lists as 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, use, lease, rental, or license to use any item of tangible personal property." Under Rule 12A-1.051, Florida Administrative Code, "Roofing work" is a real property contract, and "Contractors are the ultimate consumers of materials and supplies they use to perform real property contracts and must pay tax on their costs of those materials and supplies, unless the contractor has entered a retail sale plus installation contract"; such contractors "should charge no tax to their customers, regardless of whether they itemize charges for materials and labor in their proposals or invoices." The rate is the roofer's cost on materials, repair and replacement alike, not a tax charged to the homeowner.
Local roofing hub
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Related guides
The permitting authority for the City of St. Petersburg. The Construction Services and Permitting Division, which the City Code designates as its Building Code Enforcement Agency, issues residential and commercial building and trade permits, including re-roof permits, through the City's online permitting system and at the Municipal Services Center, and performs plan review and inspections.
Hail reports near St. Petersburg, 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 | 6 mi WNW |
| Aug 8, 2022 | 1.00 in | 5 mi WNW |
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 St. Petersburg, FL (Census point). Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.
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Sources
- stpete.org verified 2026-09-26
- stpete.org verified 2026-09-26
- leg.state.fl.us verified 2026-09-26
- stpete.org verified 2026-09-26
- stpete.org verified 2026-09-26
- stpete.org verified 2026-09-26
- codes.iccsafe.org verified 2026-09-26
- library.municode.com verified 2026-09-26
- floridarevenue.com verified 2026-09-26
- pcclb.com verified 2026-09-26