What happens if I leave a storm tarp on my roof?
A storm tarp is meant to be a temporary cover, so leaving it up for a long time can bring a code enforcement notice, and the roof underneath keeps getting worse. After a hurricane, tarps that stay on roofs are a common reason owners receive notices.
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What happens next depends on your city or county. In Florida, code enforcement is handled locally under Chapter 162, Florida Statutes. The process usually starts with a notice of violation that names the problem and gives a time to correct it. If the problem is not corrected, the case can be set for a hearing.
How a tarp turns into a code case
A tarp keeps rain out for a short time, but sun, wind and age wear it down. Water can then reach the decking, insulation and ceilings. A code officer who sees a tarp still up, or roofing that is missing or damaged, can cite the roof as a property condition.
If the notice is not resolved, the case goes to a code enforcement board or special magistrate, depending on the local government. They issue an order with a compliance date. A fine may be imposed for each day the violation continues past that date, and a certified copy of an order imposing a fine can be recorded as a lien on the property. The exact steps, deadlines and amounts are on your notice and vary by city and county.
Fixing the roof usually means a permit. The Florida Building Code (section 105.1) requires one for most repair and re-roofing work. The permit is issued by the building department with jurisdiction over the property, and the work is inspected. Roofing products must also carry the approval for where they are installed. In Broward and Miami-Dade, the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, that is usually a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance. Elsewhere it is typically Florida Product Approval or a local approval.
What you can check yourself
- Read the notice closelyNote what the officer cited, the compliance date and any hearing date. Then contact the code office named on the notice with questions about your case.
- Look at the tarp from the groundCheck from the ground whether it is torn, loose or lifting at the edges. Take dated photos. Do not climb onto the roof.
- Check for signs of water insideLook for ceiling stains, damp spots, peeling paint or a musty smell. These show the roof is letting water in and are worth photographing.
- Ask about permitsAsk your local building department whether any permit for this roof is open or expired. Also ask what it needs before a repair or re-roof can be permitted.
When to call us
Call when the roof needs repair or replacement. A damaged roof is a hazard: keep people, children above all, away from any area that may be unsafe, and do not walk on the roof or try the repair yourself. Re-roofing and most roof repairs need a permit, so the work should be done by a licensed contractor. Have the notice, any order and your photos ready.
Call (954) 906-7864 or send a request through the form on the website. The estimate is free. We look at the notice and the property, give you the price, and start work only after you agree to it. Questions about your own case, such as deadlines, hearing dates, fines and liens, go to the code enforcement office named on your notice. Legal questions go to a Florida attorney.
What we will do
- Read the notice and inspect the roofWe go through the citation with you and look at what the officer saw. That may be a tarp, missing or damaged roofing, leaks or rotted decking or fascia.
- Pull the permitWhen the work needs a permit, we pull it under our Florida Certified Roofing Contractor licence CCC1335340. This includes an after-the-fact permit if roofing was done without one.
- Repair or re-roofWe take off the tarp, repair or replace damaged decking and fascia, and install roofing with the product approval required for your area.
- Schedule inspections and close out the permitWe schedule the inspections and work to get the permit closed out. You get the paperwork to show the code office named on your notice.
Work by 360 Home Improvements, Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC1335340 · Certified Building Contractor CBC1267336. Electrical, plumbing and AC work goes to our Florida-licensed subcontractors, who pull that trade's permit.
Related questions
- Does a roof repair after a storm need a permit?
- Usually, yes. The Florida Building Code (section 105.1) requires a permit for most repair and re-roofing work. Your local building department can confirm what applies to your roof.
- What if the roof was already redone without a permit?
- Work done without a permit generally has to be permitted after the fact. That can involve drawings, inspections and opening finished surfaces so the work can be seen. We can pull an after-the-fact permit under our licence when the work needs one.
- How much does it cost to replace a tarp with a proper repair?
- It depends on the extent of the damage, whether decking or fascia has rotted, whether a permit and drawings are needed, and the roofing materials. Our estimate is free, and the price is agreed before work starts.
- Can you handle my hearing or my fines?
- No. We are a contractor, not a law firm, so we do not represent owners at hearings or negotiate fines or liens. Those are decided by the board, magistrate or local government named on your notice. We do the roof work and give you the paperwork to show that office.
This page is general information about Florida code enforcement, not legal advice. For questions about your own case (deadlines, hearing dates, fines or liens), contact the code enforcement office named on your notice, or a Florida attorney.
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Tell us what the notice says and where the property is, and we'll get back to you about the work it needs.
Code Violation Solver is run by 360 Home Improvements, a licensed Florida contractor. We fix the condition behind the violation; the code office named on your notice decides the case.