The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / City of Zephyrhills - Building Department

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

Adopted code

City of Zephyrhills - Building Department

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Zephyrhills, FL, issued by City of Zephyrhills - Building Department. Re-roofing in Zephyrhills is permit work. The City's Permitting Requirements page lists "Re-roofs" under "OVER THE COUNTER permitting" (same-day permitting with the application filled out completely), and the City's permit application lists "Reroofs if shingles" under over-the-counter permitting and has a "ROOFING" box. The City's permit FAQ states: "Simple permits such as: Re-roofing a house, replacing an air conditioner, are done over the counter." 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). The application must be signed by owner and contractor and notarized, or accompanied by a copy of the contract; the Permitting Requirements page states that "If over $2500, a recorded Notice of Commencement is required," while the permit application form reads "If over $5,000, a Notice of Commencement is required." Under the City's fee sheet, "Where construction has commenced prior to the issuance of required permits, the permit fee shall be double the normal fee," and "Any subsequent 'after-the-fact' permits issued to the same contractor within a 12 month period shall be triple the normal permit fee." Inspection requests are scheduled for the following workday.

Roof code checklist: Zephyrhills, FL

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYeszephyrhills.gov2026-10-16
Repair permit thresholdPublishedzephyrhills.gov2026-10-16
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedR908.3codes.iccsafe.org2026-10-16
Deck & sheathingPublishedzephyrhills.gov2026-10-16
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 criteriaNot published
Adopted codePublishedSec. 553.73(6)library.municode.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 Zephyrhills, Florida
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
5335 8th Street, Zephyrhills, FL 33542
Contact
  • url: https://www.zephyrhills.gov/162/Building-Department
  • phone: 813-780-0020
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," including one- and two-family residences for the owner's own occupancy or use and not offered for sale or lease; this record does not decide whether a particular reader falls within it.
  • city_level: The City's Contractor Certificate Requirements page lists, to be registered in the City's system, a "State Certified License, OR State Registered License with County Competency," a business tax receipt, workers' compensation, "General Liability with the City of Zephyrhills as certificate holder," a notarized authorization letter naming the people allowed to sign for or pick up permits, and a "$30.00 charge for contractors who are not Department of Professional Licensee." The City's Permitting Requirements page states the licensing requirement as "Proof of either (a) State Certification or (b) County Competency with State Registration." City Code section 156.04 makes it unlawful "for any person to whom a business tax receipt or contractor certificate has not been issued in accordance with the provisions of this chapter to do any construction or make repairs, alterations, additions or changes to any existing buildings," except a "bona fide homeowner" personally working on his premises who abides by Florida Statutes Chapter 489, submits plans, secures a permit, files an affidavit "that he is a bona fide owner and will personally do the work on his own premises only," and engages only properly licensed subcontractors. The business tax receipt is a business tax, not a trade credential. The Permitting Requirements page adds that "If homeowner resides in said dwelling & desires to do work, a homeowner's permit may be pulled," and that property that will be rented, leased or sold "will have to be contracted by properly licensed people as per state law."
Permit process note
Re-roofing in Zephyrhills is permit work. The City's Permitting Requirements page lists "Re-roofs" under "OVER THE COUNTER permitting" (same-day permitting with the application filled out completely), and the City's permit application lists "Reroofs if shingles" under over-the-counter permitting and has a "ROOFING" box. The City's permit FAQ states: "Simple permits such as: Re-roofing a house, replacing an air conditioner, are done over the counter." 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). The application must be signed by owner and contractor and notarized, or accompanied by a copy of the contract; the Permitting Requirements page states that "If over $2500, a recorded Notice of Commencement is required," while the permit application form reads "If over $5,000, a Notice of Commencement is required." Under the City's fee sheet, "Where construction has commenced prior to the issuance of required permits, the permit fee shall be double the normal fee," and "Any subsequent 'after-the-fact' permits issued to the same contractor within a 12 month period shall be triple the normal permit fee." Inspection requests are scheduled for the following workday.
Inspection requirements
Inspections are requested by phone to the Building Department and are scheduled for the following workday; per the City's FAQ, "All permitted construction must be inspected." The City's Inspections Required list for buildings includes a "Sheathing" inspection, and states that the listed inspections "must be called in with permit # & recorded - or Certificate of Occupancy will not be issued." The City's Roofing Inspection Affidavit has a person licensed under Chapter 468, Florida Statutes, as an architect, building inspector, contractor or engineer certify the date of personal inspection of the "Dry in," "Flashing and Drip Edge" and "Roof Deck Nailing," the underlayment used ("30 Pound Felt," "Peel and Stick" or other), and that "the installation was done according to the Hurricane Mitigation Retrofit Manual (Based on Section 553.844, Florida Statutes)," sworn before a notary. Under the City's fee sheet, a $45.00 reinspection fee "may be charged for each trip for each trade" for reasons including "Work not ready at time of inspection" and "Permit not posted in a conspicuous place at job site."
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 and each update "is deemed adopted for use statewide without adoptions by local government." City Code section 156.01 (Ord. 981-07, August 13, 2007) adopts the "2004 Florida Building Code as adopted and updated by the Florida Building Commission and all subsequent amendments or editions"; the City's Permitting Requirements page and fee sheet still carry an older line naming the 7th Edition. City Code section 156.02, the City's supplements to the adopted codes, reaches modular and mobile home setup, grease interceptors, electrical connections, moving buildings, unit numbers and a wind zone designation; it contains no roofing provision. No local amendment registered with the Florida Building Commission for the 2023 code reaches 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." The requirement is written for shingle roofs. The City's construction standards chapter (City Code Chapter 156, read in full) does not amend it, and no registered local amendment reaches Residential Chapter 9. The City's Roofing Inspection Affidavit lists "Flashing and Drip Edge" among the items inspected. 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 the City's construction standards chapter (City Code Chapter 156, read in full) nor any registered local 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
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — The City's construction standards chapter (City Code Chapter 156, read in full) contains no roofing provision, and no local amendment registered with the Florida Building Commission for the 2023 code reaches Residential Chapter 9 or Building Chapter 15; 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 Zephyrhills. 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 has published no roof-repair size or dollar line. Its permit FAQ states: "All construction needs to be permitted whether the job is considered 'minor' or not," and that the listed activities, including "Alteration or repair of a building," "require a building permit unless exempted in writing by the Building Official." City Code section 156.04(C) requires a homeowner working on his own premises to "Make application and secure a permit before starting any work of any character." The City's fee sheet charges no permit fee on work valued at "$1,000 and less," "unless inspection required, in which case $45.00 fee for each inspection shall be charged"; that is a fee rule, not a permit exemption. 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 pages read predate that statute and do not address it.
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. The City's construction standards chapter (City Code Chapter 156, read in full) states no layer limit of its own and does not amend section R908.3, and no registered local amendment reaches Residential Chapter 9.
Deck & sheathing requirements
The City's Permitting Requirements page states: "Staples are prohibited in sheathing." The City's Roofing Inspection Affidavit covers personal inspection of the "Roof Deck Nailing" and certifies the work against the "Hurricane Mitigation Retrofit Manual (Based on Section 553.844, Florida Statutes)." 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." 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. City Code Chapter 156 does not amend these provisions.
Sales & use tax
7% combined: 6% Florida state sales and use tax plus Pasco County's 1% discretionary sales surtax, which the Department of Revenue's Form DR-15DSS for calendar year 2026 lists as effective January 1, 2005, with an expiration date of December 31, 2039. 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.

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The permitting authority for the City of Zephyrhills. The City's Building/Code Enforcement Department issues residential and commercial building permits, including re-roofing permits, reviews plans for compliance with the Florida Building Code, coordinates inspections and registers contractors working in the City.

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Sources

Roofing questions: Zephyrhills, FL

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

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Zephyrhills, FL. The City has published no roof-repair size or dollar line. Its permit FAQ states: "All construction needs to be permitted whether the job is considered 'minor' or not," and that the listed activities, including "Alteration or repair of a building," "require a building permit unless exempted in writing by the Building Official." City Code section 156.04(C) requires a homeowner working on his own premises to "Make application and secure a permit before starting any work of any character." The City's fee sheet charges no permit fee on work valued at "$1,000 and less," "unless inspection required, in which case $45.00 fee for each inspection shall be charged"; that is a fee rule, not a permit exemption. 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 pages read predate that statute and do not address it.

Is ice & water shield required in Zephyrhills, 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." Neither the City's construction standards chapter (City Code Chapter 156, read in full) nor any registered local 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.

Is drip edge required in Zephyrhills, 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." The requirement is written for shingle roofs. The City's construction standards chapter (City Code Chapter 156, read in full) does not amend it, and no registered local amendment reaches Residential Chapter 9. The City's Roofing Inspection Affidavit lists "Flashing and Drip Edge" among the items inspected.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Zephyrhills, 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. The City's construction standards chapter (City Code Chapter 156, read in full) states no layer limit of its own and does not amend section R908.3, and no registered local amendment reaches Residential Chapter 9.

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

Yes.

What building code does Zephyrhills, 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 and each update "is deemed adopted for use statewide without adoptions by local government." City Code section 156.01 (Ord. 981-07, August 13, 2007) adopts the "2004 Florida Building Code as adopted and updated by the Florida Building Commission and all subsequent amendments or editions"; the City's Permitting Requirements page and fee sheet still carry an older line naming the 7th Edition. City Code section 156.02, the City's supplements to the adopted codes, reaches modular and mobile home setup, grease interceptors, electrical connections, moving buildings, unit numbers and a wind zone designation; it contains no roofing provision. No local amendment registered with the Florida Building Commission for the 2023 code reaches Residential Chapter 9 or Building Chapter 15.