New Construction Roof Installation in Florida: Inspections, Code and Paperwork

What inspections does a new roof go through?

Section 110.3 lists the required inspections and the minimum items each one covers. The three that matter for the roof are:

The sheathing inspection looks at the deck and its fasteners, which the underlayment then covers, so ask how it is being scheduled on your job. When an inspection finds violations, the building official notifies the permit holder or their agent of what has to be corrected, and the work moves on once that portion is released.

Who requests each inspection, and who handles corrections, belongs in the written roofing scope. Our new construction roofing page lists what to put in front of a roofer before pricing.

A roof-to-wall transition like this one is the kind of flashing detail the roofing inspection covers.

What does Florida require for dry-in underlayment?

Dry-in means the roof deck is covered so the house is weather-tight. In Florida that covering is more than a layer of felt. Outside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (Miami-Dade and Broward), the residential code requires a sealed roof deck under asphalt shingles and metal panels, and it allows three ways to build one:

1. A self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen underlayment (ASTM D1970) over the entire roof deck.
2. Self-adhering membrane strips or flashing tape over every joint in the deck, with an approved underlayment over the whole roof.
3. Two layers of approved felt or synthetic underlayment, lapped and fastened as specified.

Tile is handled differently. It follows the FRSA/TRI Florida High Wind installation manual for concrete and clay tile. These options come from Section R905.1.1 of the Florida Building Code, Residential. The Florida Building Commission's roofing fact sheet describes them as the sealed-deck rules that first became standard in the 7th Edition (2020) code.

Ask which of the three your roofer's proposal uses. It should be named in the scope, along with the underlayment product.

How do you choose between shingle, tile and metal on a new build?

On a new build the covering is a design decision, not a swap. Tile is much heavier than shingle, so settle on it before the trusses are engineered, and ask your builder or engineer what the roof structure was designed for. Our comparisons cover the trade-offs: metal vs. shingles, tile vs. shingle and architectural vs. 3-tab shingles.

Two code points apply whichever you pick:

• Florida product approval. Roofing is one of the product categories that needs statewide approval under Section 553.842, Florida Statutes, and the product has to be used consistent with the conditions of its approval. A local jurisdiction cannot ask for extra testing of an approved product used that way. Ask for the approval numbers for the underlayment and the covering and keep them with the permit file.
• Shingle wind rating. For asphalt shingles, Section R905.2.6.1 requires the shingle to be tested and classified under ASTM D3161, TAS 107 or ASTM D7158 and to meet the class in Table R905.2.6.1 for the design wind speed. The wrapper has to be labeled with that classification. Ask your builder for the design wind speed on your plans and read the label on the bundles.

Shingles going on at the rear of a new build, with the covered patio below.

Is a new Florida Building Code coming?

Yes. The 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code is scheduled to take effect on December 31, 2026. Miami-Dade County's building department has announced that permit applications submitted on or after that date must follow the new edition, and building departments generally apply the code edition in effect when the permit application is filed.

This guide describes the 2023 (8th Edition) code, which applies until then. It does not cover what changes in the 9th Edition. If your permit application will land near the year-end cutoff, ask your builder and your building department which edition applies.

What should you keep when the roof is done?

• The final roof inspection sign-off and the permit record.
• Product approval numbers and manufacturer documents for the underlayment and the covering, including the warranty. Warranty terms and service life are different things, so read the terms.
• Dated photos from the dry-in stage. Once the covering is on, the underlayment cannot be seen.
• A wind mitigation inspection report. The state's Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form (OIR-B1-1802) must be the Rev. 04/26 version for inspections on or after April 1, 2026. A completed form is valid for up to five years if the structure has not materially changed, and admitted insurers in Florida must accept a valid form completed by a qualified inspector. The discount depends on your insurer, the home and which features verify, so we do not promise a figure. Our hurricane prep guide explains the inspection.

What should you ask before the roof goes on?

1. Who hired the roofer, the builder or you, and who is responsible for permits, inspection requests and corrections?
2. Which underlayment method is being used, and what are the product approval numbers?
3. Which covering is specified, and what design wind speed and shingle class are on the plans?
4. When will the sheathing and roofing inspections happen, and who calls them in?
5. What happens if an inspection fails?
6. Who delivers the final paperwork, including the sign-off, approvals, warranty and dated photos?

What is the next step?

Building in Central Florida? We work directly with builders and site supervisors from our Clermont and Orange City offices, and we price from your plans. Send them through our new construction roofing page and we will come back with a plans-based price.

This guide is general information. Your plans, your building department and the code edition that applies to your permit control the requirements for your home.