Roof code violation

Why this gets cited

• A temporary tarp left up long after a storm, which many cities read as damage that has not been repaired.
• Missing or loose shingles, broken tiles, or underlayment showing from the street.
• Rotted fascia, soffit or decking, or a section of roof that sags.
• A re-roof or repair done without a permit, or a roof permit that was never closed.
• Roof leaks, reported by a tenant, that have damaged the inside of a rental.

How we resolve it

1. 1We inspect the roof, including the decking under any tarp, and explain what the citation needs, with a free estimate.
2. 2We pull the roofing permit under our roofing license, using materials with the product approvals your jurisdiction requires.
3. 3We replace damaged decking, dry the roof in, and install the roof covering to the code in effect.
4. 4We pass the in-progress and final inspections as the building department schedules them.
5. 5You get the final approval for the code office, with a request to re-inspect and close the violation.

The Florida angle

Florida's sun, heat, salt air and storm season are hard on roofs, and one storm can leave whole streets under tarps. In Broward and Miami-Dade, the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone requires roofing materials with a product approval for that zone. Across the rest of the state, the Florida Building Code still requires a permit for most roof work, and the building department inspects it.

Free tools for this

• Florida Building Code lookupWhich part of the Florida Building Code covers my job?Pick the job — re-roof, roof repair, windows, shutters, fence, shed, pool, AC, water heater, electrical, remodel, garage conversion, addition and more — and see which book of the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), governs it, the chapters and sections to look at in plain English, free links to the official text, the extra Broward and Miami-Dade sections, and whether it usually needs a permit.Open →
• Notice decoderWhat does my notice mean?Tick the words you can see on your letter — notice of violation, compliance date, hearing, order imposing fine, lien — and get each one in plain English, where you likely are on the usual Florida timeline, and a next-steps checklist.Open →
• Deadline checkerHow many days do I have?Enter the date on your notice and the days to correct, or the compliance date, and get the days left, a dated plan to get it corrected in time, a printable copy and a calendar file.Open →
• Proof-of-compliance photo guideWhat photos prove it's fixed?Pick the violation on your notice and get a shot list for before, during and after the work — the wide shot with the house number, the inspector's angles, close-ups, the permit card and the final inspection — plus a printable photo card to hold in the first frame.Open →
• Contractor license guideWhich licensed contractor fixes this?Tick the work your notice calls for — roof, structure, electrical, plumbing, AC, pool, fence or lot clean-up — and see the Florida license that usually does it, the DBPR codes to look for, who pulls each permit, and how to check a license.Open →

Questions people ask

Do I need a permit for a roof repair?

Most roof work in Florida needs a permit, and replacing a roof does. Whether a small repair is exempt depends on the building department, so we check before starting.

Will a tarp satisfy the code officer?

Usually not for long. A tarp is a temporary measure after damage, and most cities expect the roof to be repaired by the compliance date in the notice. Check your notice for what yours says.

What is a product approval?

In Broward and Miami-Dade, the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, roofing materials must carry a product approval showing they were tested for that zone. We use approved products and list the approvals with the permit.

Does the whole roof have to be replaced?

Not always. The citation is about the condition the inspector saw. We will tell you whether a repair corrects it or the roof needs replacing, and the building department's rules decide what the permit has to cover.

General information, not legal advice. Your notice and your city's code office have the final word.

Find your city

Florida: Jacksonville

Find your county's code office — the office named on your notice is the one to ask about deadlines, hearings, fines and liens.