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Roofing in Malabar, Florida

The median home in Malabar was built in 1993, according to the Census Bureau's five-year estimates. That makes the typical house here about 30 years old, and many original roofs are likely near the age where insurers start asking questions. Countywide, the median is 1988, so Malabar's housing is somewhat newer than much of Brevard County. Your roof's age, its material and the permit history on your house all shape what you can do next.

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Updated October 2026

A single-story house sits amid standing floodwater with tall pines and palms under an overcast sky.
Photo: FEMA - Flooded neighborhood in Central Florida by Barry Bahler, Public domain, cropped

At a glance

Malabar homes at a glance

People (2020 Census)
2,949
Median year homes were built
1993
Share of homes built before 1980
16.9%
Share of homes built 2010 or later
21.5%
Owner-occupied share of occupied homes
98.8%

Census figures; each one is listed in the sources at the end of this page.

Roof age

Malabar roof age and what insurers ask for

Only 16.9 percent of Malabar homes were built before 1980. About 21.5 percent were built in 2010 or later, which is roughly double the countywide share of 10.9 percent. That mix suggests a large group of roofs from the 1990s and early 2000s, now roughly 20 to 35 years old.

If your roof is older than 25 years and covered in shingle, Citizens Property Insurance wants documentation showing at least five years of remaining useful life. Roofs made of tile, slate, clay, concrete or metal get a 50-year threshold instead. Ask your insurer or agent which form they use before you assume your roof qualifies.

Permits and code

Malabar permit portal and the 25 percent rule

Malabar building permits are handled through the Town of Malabar building permit portal, which is where you apply and track status. Confirm with the Town's building office which inspections apply to your job before work starts.

Florida's 25 percent rule limits how much of an existing roof can be repaired or replaced in any 12-month period without bringing the whole roof system up to current code. Most Malabar roofs were built under codes that predate the Eighth Edition of the Florida Building Code, which took effect December 31, 2023. Ask your contractor how that rule applies to your roof's age and any past repairs.

Building permits

Town of Malabar building permit portal

Official building page

Office names and links only. Fees, forms and timing change; check the official page.

Storms and rain

Storms and rain that reach Malabar roofs

Hurricane Matthew in 2016 produced 77 mph gusts at Cocoa Beach and 81 mph on Merritt Island. Damage across the county generally involved roof shingles, soffits and awnings. Hurricane Irma in 2017 damaged more than 7,132 homes across Brevard County, and Hurricane Dorian in 2019 pushed Indian River Lagoon water about 2 feet above ground level.

Malabar sits between the Indian River Lagoon and the interior, and water covers 19.4 percent of its total area. Rainfall runs about 50.79 inches annually at Melbourne International, while Palm Bay logs roughly 55.55 inches over the same span. NOAA's 10-year, 24-hour storm dumps 7.38 inches of rain, so check that your gutters and flashing drain well.

Local record

On record for Malabar

  • Water is 19.4% of the place's total area.

Services

Roofing services in Malabar

Questions

Malabar roofing questions

How old is a typical house in Malabar?

The median year homes were built in Malabar is 1993, based on the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 five-year estimates with a margin of error of 5 years. That makes most houses roughly 30 years old. Countywide the median is 1988. Only 16.9 percent of homes here were built before 1980, so many roofs are in their second or third decade. Check your roof's installation date on your permit records or with your insurer.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, table B25035, read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof replacement

Will my insurer require a roof inspection in Malabar?

Citizens Property Insurance requires at least five years of remaining useful life for roofs older than 25 years if the roof is shingle, or older than 50 years if it is tile, slate, clay, concrete or metal. Documentation is needed to show that. Ask your insurer or agent what form they require and what they will accept. Your policy language decides what it covers.

Source: Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, inspections FAQ (updated 2026-03-17), read Oct 4, 2026

Related: Roof inspections

Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Malabar?

Roof replacement work is typically permitted. Malabar permits are handled through the Town of Malabar building permit portal, which is the verified link for applications. Confirm with the Town's building office which inspections and documents apply to your project before work starts.

Source: Town of Malabar building permit portal, read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof replacement

What are the three main types of roofs?

The three common residential roof types in Florida are shingle, tile and metal. Shingle roofs are the most common and have a shorter insurance-review threshold of 25 years. Tile, slate, clay, concrete and metal roofs fall under the 50-year threshold used by Citizens Property Insurance. Your roof type determines which age rule applies to your insurance paperwork.

Source: Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, inspections FAQ (updated 2026-03-17), read Oct 4, 2026

Related: Roof replacement

How much rain should my roof handle in Malabar?

NOAA's 24-hour rainfall for a 10-year storm at this town is 7.38 inches. A 5-minute downpour in a 10-year storm falls at 10.5 inches an hour. Over a typical year, Melbourne International collects around 50.79 inches of rain. Make sure gutters and flashing are clear and draining before the rainy season.

Source: NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration 24-hour depth estimates at the Malabar 2020 Census internal point (27.9871, -80.5825), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Gutters

Nearby

Near Malabar

Brevard CountyOur 20 counties

Brevard County

More in Brevard County

Sources for this page(28)
  1. 1.Share of homes built before 1980: 16.9%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  2. 2.Share of homes built 2010 or later: 21.5%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  3. 3.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, table B25034. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  4. 4.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, tables B25034/B25035. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  5. 5.Permit office: Town of Malabar building permit portal. Town of Malabar building permit portal. Read Oct 10, 2026.
  6. 6.Median year homes were built: 1993. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  7. 7.Hurricane Matthew (2016). NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (2016). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  8. 8.Hurricane Irma (2017). NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (2017). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  9. 9.Hurricane Dorian (2019). NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Dorian (2019). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  10. 10.Brevard County, Building Code Wind Speed Maps. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  11. 11.Water share of total area: 19.4%. U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 MapServer: POP100, HU100, AREALAND, AREAWATER). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  12. 12.NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (annual/seasonal), access-data API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  13. 13.U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 MapServer: POP100, HU100, AREALAND, AREAWATER). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  14. 14.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, table B25035. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  15. 15.U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 MapServer: POP100, HU100, AREALAND, AREAWATER). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  16. 16.People (2020 Census): 2,949. U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 MapServer: POP100, HU100, AREALAND, AREAWATER) (2020 Census count). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  17. 17.Owner-occupied share of occupied homes: 98.8%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  18. 18.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  19. 19.Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, inspections FAQ (updated 2026-03-17), Citizens Property Insurance. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  20. 20.Town of Malabar building permit portal, malabarfl.portal.iworq.net. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  21. 21.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  22. 22.FRSA, "New 2023 FBC Eighth Edition is Now in Effect", 2024-02-13, floridaroof.com. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  23. 23.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 1 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  24. 24.NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (2016), National Weather Service. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  25. 25.NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (2017), National Weather Service. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  26. 26.NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Dorian (2019), National Weather Service. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  27. 27.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration 24-hour depth estimates at the Malabar 2020 Census internal point (27.9871, -80.5825), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  28. 28.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Malabar 2020 Census internal point (27.9871, -80.5825), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.

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