Alachua County ยท City
Roofing in Hawthorne, Florida
Hawthorne had 1,478 people in the 2020 Census, and a Tropical Storm Colin report from June 2016 logged a tree down in town. That single report shows how close the storm track ran to this small city. Most homes here are older than the roofs that replaced them, so the age of your roof is the first thing to check.
Updated October 2026
Roof age in town
Hawthorne housing age and roof life
Census survey data puts the median build year for Hawthorne homes at 1976. Nearly 62 percent of units were built before 1980, against 34 percent across the county. Many original roofs in town are likely past 25 years, so age alone can start a repair conversation.
Citizens Property Insurance asks for documentation of at least five years of remaining useful life once a roof passes 25 years if it is a shingle roof, or 50 years for tile, slate, clay, concrete or metal. A roof that old may face that paperwork step. Ask your insurer or agent what they will need from you before you file anything.
Mobile home roofs
Mobile homes and small rental-style roofs in Hawthorne
Mobile homes make up only 0.4 percent of Hawthorne's housing units, so most roofing calls here will be for site-built houses. Check the date on your unit before you plan a re-roof.
Owner-occupied homes make up 68.2 percent of occupied units in town, and 403 of 591 occupied units are owner-occupied. Rental and seasonal roofs follow the same code, but the owner signs the permit and the Notice of Commencement, so keep those records in one place.
Permits and code
Permit rules and the 25 percent threshold in Hawthorne
Under the current code, no more than 25 percent of a roof can be repaired, replaced or recovered in any 12-month period unless the full roof covering is replaced. Your repair plan has to be sized with that cap in mind, and an older roof on a 1976-era house may need more than a patch.
Florida's active building code is the Eighth Edition from 2023, in force since December 31 of that year. The Ninth Edition takes effect December 31, 2026, and any permit application filed on or after that date must meet it. A permit also goes invalid if work does not begin within six months of issuance.
Storms and rain
Storms and rain affecting Hawthorne roofs
NOAA's Storm Events record for 2016 through 2025 lists five reports tied to Hawthorne: four thunderstorm wind events and one flood. Those reports are referenced to the town but may sit outside city limits, so treat them as a guide to exposure rather than a map of damage.
Hurricane Hermine (2016) brought downed trees and five damaged homes in the county, and Hurricane Irma (2017) brought countywide tree damage on homes. Alachua County has no coastline, so most wind risk here comes inland. In the 10-year storm, NOAA Atlas 14 puts a one-hour rain at 2.83 inches an hour and a 24-hour rain at 6.12 inches, so check your gutters and flashing after heavy rain.
Local record
On record for Hawthorne
- Tropical Storm Colin (June 2016): one report of a tree down in Hawthorne.
Services
Roofing services in Hawthorne
- Roof replacementTear-off, deck, code items and the two inspections.Re-roofs in Hawthorne
- Roof repairLeaks, lifted shingles, cracked tile and flashing.Repairs in Hawthorne
- Roof inspectionsRoof age, condition and what an insurer asks about.Inspections in Hawthorne
- Commercial roofingLow-slope systems, drainage and the code for buildings.Commercial roofs in Hawthorne
- New construction roofingDry-in, the sheathing inspection and the code edition.New construction in Hawthorne
- GuttersSizing for Florida rain, downspouts and fascia.Gutters in Hawthorne
Questions
Hawthorne roofing questions
What is the 25% roof rule in Florida?
Under the 25 percent threshold, no more than a quarter of a roof's area can be fixed, swapped out or layered over within any single 12-month span. The Florida Building Code says no more than 25 percent of the total roof area can be worked on unless the entire roof covering is replaced. If your roof was built or repaired under the 2007 code or later, only the repaired part must meet current code. Ask your building office how the rule applies to your roof before you start work.
Source: 2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), read Oct 5, 2026
What is the 25% rule for roofing?
It is the same 25 percent limit in the Florida Building Code, and it applies to any existing roof on a home. In a 12-month window, no more than 25 percent of the roof area can be repaired, replaced or recovered unless the whole roof covering is replaced. Your repair plan should account for that cap. Confirm the details with the building office that issues your permit.
Source: 2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), read Oct 5, 2026
How old are most homes in Hawthorne?
Census survey data gives a median build year of 1976 for Hawthorne homes. About 62 percent of units were built before 1980. That means many original roofs are likely past 25 years old, so a roof check is a reasonable step for most owners.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25035, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr), read Oct 5, 2026
Does Citizens need proof of roof life for an older roof?
Citizens does require proof of remaining life for older roofs. For a shingle roof older than 25 years, or a tile, slate, clay, concrete or metal roof older than 50 years, Citizens requires documentation showing at least five years of remaining useful life. Requirements can vary by neighborhood, and this area has 609 housing units spread across about 7.38 square miles of land, so local roof age can differ quite a bit. Ask your insurer or agent exactly what they will need, since they can tell you what applies to your specific policy.
Source: Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, inspections FAQ (updated 2026-03-17), read Oct 4, 2026
What is the Florida building code edition now in effect?
Effective December 31, 2023, the Eighth Edition of the Florida Building Code now governs roofing work across the state. Applications submitted from December 31, 2026 onward will need to meet the Ninth Edition, which becomes effective that day. If you plan a roof project that spans that date, ask the building office which edition applies.
Source: FRSA, "New 2023 FBC Eighth Edition is Now in Effect", 2024-02-13, read Oct 5, 2026
How much rain should a Hawthorne roof handle?
NOAA Atlas 14 estimates a 10-year storm drops 2.83 inches of rain in one hour and 6.12 inches over 24 hours at this location. A 100-year storm brings 10.1 inches in 24 hours. Gutters and flashing should be able to move that much water away from the house.
Source: NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Hawthorne 2020 Census internal point (29.5937, -82.0945), read Oct 5, 2026
Alachua County
More in Alachua County
Sources for this page(32)
- 1.Median year homes were built: 1976. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25035, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 2.Share of homes built before 1980: 61.9%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25034, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 3.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25034, B25035, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 4.Mobile homes, share of housing units: 0.4%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25024, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 5.Owner-occupied share of occupied homes: 68.2% (403 of 591 occupied units). U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25003, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 6.NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database bulk details files 2016-2025 (operator count by BEGIN_LOCATION; event ids: 629258, 795299, 795291, 906278, 1079015). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 7.NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, event 638899 (Tropical Storm, 2016-06-06, zone/county ALACHUA), bulk details file. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 8.Hurricane Hermine (2016). NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, event 657954 (Tropical Storm, 2016-09-02, zone/county ALACHUA), bulk details file; FEMA OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2 (designatedArea = county). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 9.NOAA NCEI Storm Events bulk files 2016-2025 (operator count). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 10.Hurricane Irma (2017). NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, event 720358 (Tropical Storm, 2017-09-10, zone/county ALACHUA), bulk details file; NHC TCR AL112017; FEMA OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2 (designatedArea = county). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 11.NOAA NCEI Storm Events bulk files 2016-2025 (CZ_NAME values for Alachua). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 12.Hurricane Ian (2022). NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, event 1051050 (Tropical Storm, 2022-09-29, zone/county EASTERN ALACHUA), bulk details file; FEMA OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2 (designatedArea = county). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 13.People (2020 Census): 1,478. U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (POP100/HU100) and 2020 TIGER land/water area, via TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 layer 26 (2020 Census count). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 14.NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (annual/seasonal), station USW00012816. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 15.Land area: 7.38 sq mi. U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (POP100/HU100) and 2020 TIGER land/water area, via TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 layer 26. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 16.Share of homes built 2010 or later: 2.7%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25034, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 17.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25035, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr), U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 18.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25034, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr), U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 19.Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, inspections FAQ (updated 2026-03-17), Citizens Property Insurance. Read Oct 4, 2026.
- 20.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25024, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr), U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 21.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 1 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 22.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25003, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr), U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 23.Florida Statutes, section 713.135 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 24.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 25.FRSA, "New 2023 FBC Eighth Edition is Now in Effect", 2024-02-13, floridaroof.com. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 26.Miami-Dade County RER notice, Miami. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 27.NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, event 657954 (Tropical Storm, 2016-09-02, zone/county ALACHUA), bulk details file; FEMA OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2 (designatedArea = county), NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 28.NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, event 720358 (Tropical Storm, 2017-09-10, zone/county ALACHUA), bulk details file; NHC TCR AL112017; FEMA OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2 (designatedArea = county), NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 29.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Hawthorne 2020 Census internal point (29.5937, -82.0945), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 30.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration 24-hour depth estimates at the Hawthorne 2020 Census internal point (29.5937, -82.0945), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 31.NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, event 1051050 (Tropical Storm, 2022-09-29, zone/county EASTERN ALACHUA), bulk details file; FEMA OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2 (designatedArea = county), NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 32.U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (POP100/HU100) and 2020 TIGER land/water area, via TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 layer 26 (2020 Census count), U.S. Census Bureau. Read Oct 5, 2026.
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