Do I need a permit for roof replacement or repair in St. Augustine?
It depends. Whether roof replacement or repair needs a permit in St. Augustine comes down to the details of your project.
Florida requires a permit to replace or recover a roof, and most repairs above a small area also need one. Under the Florida 25 percent rule, if 25 percent or more of a roof section is repaired or replaced within 12 months, that section must be brought up to the current Florida Building Code. The roofing system usually needs Florida Product Approval.
Florida and local notes for St. Augustine
St. Johns County's own permitting office is the St. Johns County Building Department, reachable on (904) 827-6800 at https://www.sjcfl.us/departments/building-department/. Its online permit portal is https://webapp.sjcfl.us/WATSWebX/Permit/SearchPermit.aspx. It issues permits for the unincorporated county. If your city does not run its own building department, and many smaller Florida municipalities do not, this is the office that will handle the job. Roofing permits and the dry-in inspection are handled by whichever office serves your address, and Florida requires product approval documentation for roof coverings. St. Augustine does not require a building permit for improvements under $7,500 on a single-family home (effective July 1, 2026), but only after the city approves an exemption request filed through a land development application with the contract or cost documents. Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, structural work, and property in a flood hazard area still need permits at any cost, and starting without an approved exemption doubles the permit fees. In the Historic Preservation districts and on designated historic properties, removing a roof and replacing it with a different design or material requires a Certificate of Demolition (Partial). Replacement with matching materials and design may be approved administratively. Inspection requests go to buildinginspection@citystaug.com, and permit questions to buildingpermits@citystaug.com.
Documents you may need
- Permit applicationLikely required
- Licensed roofing contractor informationLikely required
- Product approval (FL number or NOA) for the roofing systemLikely required
- Notice of commencement (for work over the statutory value)Sometimes required
- Permit application (if above the local repair threshold)Sometimes required
- Roof permit application through the St. Augustine Permit PortalLikely required
- Florida Product Approval numbers (Product Approval Sheet)Likely required
- Notice of CommencementSometimes required
- Certificate of Demolition (Partial) in a Historic Preservation district when the roof material or design changesSometimes required
Possible inspections
- Sheathing and nailing inspection
- Dry-in (underlayment) inspection
- Final inspection
- Roofing inspection during installation
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for roof replacement or repair in St. Augustine?
- It depends. Whether roof replacement or repair needs a permit in St. Augustine comes down to the details of your project. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
- Who issues the permit in St. Augustine?
- The local building department for St. Augustine handles permitting. This page lists its contact details and online portal. Your mailing city is not always the permitting authority, so confirm the jurisdiction before you apply.
- How do I find out the exact requirements for my project?
- Run the free PermitRoadmap check for your specific project and answers. It returns the likely permits, documents, inspections, and next steps, each linked to its official source.
PermitRoadmap is an independent informational service and is not affiliated with any city, county, state agency, or permitting authority. Results are informational and do not replace confirming requirements with the local permitting authority.