Roof replacement in Fort Lauderdale

Local homes

Fort Lauderdale homes: salt air, flood zones, canals

The city counts 165 miles of canals and waterways and seven miles of public beach, and its 1921 "Venice of America" nickname comes from the finger-island dredging in today's Las Olas Isles. We replace roofs across the city, from Victoria Park and Rio Vista to Coral Ridge, and waterfront homes raise a few questions inland homes don't.

• Salt air and metal Englert describes aluminum as naturally rust-resistant and suited to coastal air; steel relies on its Galvalume coating and paint. Metal Alliance's standard warranty excludes salt-water marine atmospheres except on its Tedlar finish, and its Coastalume steel is warrantied up to 300 feet from breaking surf. Near the water, get the coastal warranty terms in writing. Read more
• Flood zones Any work on a building in a Special Flood Hazard Area needs a permit, and the city reviews permit applications there for substantial improvement: work costing 50% or more of the building's market value, counted over a rolling two-year period. Above that, the whole house must meet flood-resistant construction rules, which FEMA says includes elevating the lowest floor to or above the base flood elevation. Your re-roof cost counts toward that two-year total, so we check it against the building's value before we file. Source
• Canal and waterfront homes In waterfront neighborhoods like Las Olas Isles, we plan tear-off, debris and material staging around narrow lots and the water, and we price the job the same way: per square, with tear-off included. Source
• If it does cross 50% The city requires an elevation certificate, prepared by a licensed surveyor, architect or engineer, for substantial improvements. We flag it before filing if your re-roof plus other recent work could push the two-year total over 50%. Source

Re-roof permit

Fort Lauderdale re-roof permit: what the city asks for

From the city's Roof Permit Checklist and roofing forms. We prepare and file all of it; you sign what we prepare.

• Roofing application packet The completed packet, including the HVHZ Uniform Roofing Permit Application, plus the Broward County Uniform Permit Application, which the city requires for all permit applications. Source
• Product approvals Miami-Dade County Notices of Acceptance from the point of purchase, with the relevant information circled rather than highlighted. Source
• Every re-roof A Statement of Responsibilities Regarding Asbestos from Broward County's Natural Resources Division, and a Rooftop Equipment Affidavit. Source
• Notice of commencement If the job costs more than $5,000 (Fla. Stat. §713.135), recorded at the Broward County Government Center East, 115 S. Andrews Avenue, per the city's checklist. Source
• Homes assessed at $300,000+ Single-family re-roofs need the Property Appraiser's assessed value and a notarized Hurricane Mitigation Affidavit for roof-to-wall connections (enhance them, or verify existing ones). Source
• The 15% cap Under BORA Formal Interpretation #28, quoted on the city's affidavit, roof-to-wall retrofits are required only if they can be done for 15% or less of the reroofing cost. Source

Fort Lauderdale roofing inspections

1. Tin-cap: the Water Barrier/Sheathing Renailing Affidavit must be on site before this inspection. It certifies deck renailing at 6 in. on center with 8d ring-shank nails and the secondary water barrier (FBC 1518.2.1). Source
2. In-progress: during installation of shingles, tiles or the cap sheet, as FBC §1512.4 requires in the HVHZ. Source
3. Final: after all roofing work is complete (FBC §1512.4.3.3). The Hurricane Mitigation Affidavit, when required, is due by final. Source
4. Schedule in LauderBuild or call 954-828-6520, option 1. Work can't start until the permit is issued. Source

HVHZ, NOA, the 25% rule

Roofing code in Fort Lauderdale

• High-Velocity Hurricane Zone Broward is one of the two HVHZ counties. Roofing follows FBC §§1512–1525: every roofing component, system and assembly needs a valid, current product approval, such as a Miami-Dade NOA. Source
• Design wind speed FBC §1620.2 sets Broward's 3-second-gust design wind speed at 170 mph for Risk Category II buildings, which covers most homes (156 mph for Category I, 180 for III, 185 for IV). Source
• Uniform roofing permit form Every HVHZ roofing job, including reroofing, needs an HVHZ Uniform Roofing Permit Application completed and signed by a licensed contractor (FBC §1512.3.1). BORA publishes the form for use across Broward. Source
• The 25% rule If your roof was built or replaced to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, only the portion being worked on has to meet current code, even at 25% or more of the roof (§553.844(5)). Older roofs can still need the whole section replaced. Source
• Code change on 12/31/2026 The 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code takes effect on 12/31/2026, with HVHZ changes that affect some roofing underlayment NOAs and hip and ridge shingles. Source
• Roof age and insurance An insurer can't refuse to issue or renew a homeowner's policy solely because the roof is under 15 years old. At 15 years or more, an authorized inspection showing at least 5 years of useful life left blocks a refusal on roof age alone (§627.7011(5)). Source

Check any NOA yourself on Miami-Dade's product control search or on floridabuilding.org.

Wind mitigation

Your new roof and your insurance

• Florida law requires home insurers to offer discounts for proven wind-mitigation features (§627.0629). An inspector records them on form OIR-B1-1802, Rev. 04/26. Source
• The roof questions on that form are Roof Covering (Question 4) and Sealed Roof Deck/Secondary Water Resistance (Question 8), plus roof slope, deck attachment, roof-to-wall attachment and roof geometry (Questions 3, 5, 6 and 7). Source
• My Safe Florida Home lists roof-to-deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections and secondary water resistance as grant-eligible upgrades, after the program's free wind-mitigation visit. Source

Your insurer and your policy decide the final credit. See roofing and insurance.