Brevard County · Census-designated place

Roofing in Merritt Island, Florida

In 2017, during Hurricane Irma, an EF-1 tornado tore through Merritt Island and damaged numerous homes and a church. The island is also older than most of Brevard County. The median home here dates to 1973, and many original roofs are likely past 25 years old. That affects repairs, permits and insurance renewals.

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Updated October 2026

Orange sunrise sitting low over a dark tree line reflected in calm lagoon water. — Photo: Sunrise seen over Merritt Island, Florida by Michael Seeley, CC BY 2.0, cropped

At a glance

Merritt Island homes at a glance

People (2020 Census): 34,518
Median year homes were built: 1973
Share of homes built before 1980: 59%
Share of homes built 2010 or later: 3.6%
Owner-occupied share of occupied homes: 80%

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

Housing age

Old homes and what they mean for your roof

About 59 percent of Merritt Island housing units were built before 1980. Countywide, that figure is 32.1 percent. Only 3.6 percent of homes here went up in 2010 or later. Many roofs on the island have probably been replaced at least once, and some may be on their second or third covering.

Florida's 25 percent rule matters most on older homes. If you repair or replace more than 25 percent of a roof section in any 12 months, the whole section must be brought up to current code. Only a roof built or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or a later edition qualifies for this exception. A 1973-era house with its original roof does not qualify.

Eighty percent of occupied homes here are owner-occupied, and the median resident is 50.2 years old. That suggests many owners are living with long-held roofs and deciding when to replace them, not flipping houses.

Insurance rules

Insurers and roofs that are 15 years or older

Under Florida Statute 627.7011(5), an insurer may not refuse to issue or renew a policy solely because a roof is under 15 years old. Once a roof reaches 15 years, you may pay for an authorized inspector to examine it, and your insurer has to accept that inspection.

When that inspection finds at least 5 years of useful life remaining, the insurer cannot deny coverage or decline to renew based only on the roof's age. With 59 percent of Merritt Island homes built before 1980, this rule will come up often. Check with your insurer or agent to learn how this rule works with your particular policy.

Storm history

Storms that have already tested Merritt Island roofs

Before Hurricane Matthew in 2016, barrier-island residents including Merritt Island were ordered to evacuate, and a gust of 81 mph was recorded here. Across Brevard County, Matthew damage generally involved roof shingles, soffits, awnings and pool enclosures.

Irma in 2017 damaged over 7,132 homes in the county. Eight tornadoes touched down, including an EF-1 at North Merritt Island. Water covers 63.3 percent of this town's total area, against 34.8 percent for the county, so wind and rain come off open water with little to slow them.

Rain is heavy too. NOAA Atlas 14 puts a 1-hour rain in a 10-year storm at 3.07 inches an hour, and 24-hour depth at 7.5 inches. Flashing, valleys and drainage need to handle that.

Permits

Permits for a Merritt Island roof

Merritt Island is an unincorporated census-designated place, so Brevard County Planning & Development issues roof permits here. The county also publishes address-level wind speed maps by risk category for permitting. Look up your address before choosing materials.

A permit goes invalid if work does not start within 6 months of issuance, or if work is suspended for 6 months. File a Notice of Commencement prior to scheduling the first inspection. The permit card warns you that skipping it may mean paying twice. The 2023 code applies now, and the Ninth Edition governs applications filed on or after December 31, 2026.

Building permits

Brevard County Planning & Development, Building Permits

Official building page

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

Local record

On record for Merritt Island

Before Hurricane Matthew (2016) mandatory evacuations were ordered for barrier-island residents, including Merritt Island; a peak gust of 81 mph was recorded on Merritt Island.
During Hurricane Irma (2017) an EF-1 tornado (85-95 kt) on Merritt Island damaged numerous homes and a church.
Water is 63.3% of the place's total area.
59.0% of housing units were built before 1980.

Services

Roofing services in Merritt Island

Questions

Merritt Island roofing questions

What is the 25 percent roof rule in Florida?

If you repair, replace or recover more than 25 percent of a roof section in any 12-month period, the entire section must meet current code. The exception applies if that roof was built or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or later. On Merritt Island, where the median home was built in 1973, many roofs will not qualify for that exception. Confirm details with the Brevard County building office.

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

What is the 15 year roof rule in Florida?

Florida's 15-year roof provision is found in Fla. Stat. 627.7011(5). Carriers cannot decline to write or continue a homeowner's policy only because the roof has not yet reached 15 years of age. When a roof is 15 years old or more, you are entitled to an authorized inspector's review at your own cost, and the insurer has to accept that route. Should that inspection find at least 5 years of remaining useful life, an insurer still may not turn down or non-renew coverage based on roof age alone. In Merritt Island the median home was built in 1973, so many owners may be asked about roof age.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, table B25034, read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof inspections

Who issues roof permits on Merritt Island?

Brevard County Planning & Development issues them, because Merritt Island is an unincorporated census-designated place with no city building office. The county also publishes building-code wind speed maps by address. Check your address there, then confirm current requirements with the building office.

Source: Brevard County Planning & Development, Building Permits, read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof replacement

Have tornadoes damaged roofs on Merritt Island before?

Yes. During Hurricane Irma in 2017, an EF-1 tornado on Merritt Island damaged numerous homes and a church. Irma brought eight tornadoes to Brevard County, with roof and shingle damage reported. Matthew in 2016 put an 81 mph gust on the island.

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (AL112017), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof repair

Do mobile homes here follow the same roof rules?

Mobile homes are 2.8 percent of Merritt Island housing units, against 7.2 percent countywide. Manufactured homes follow the federal HUD code, so the Florida Building Code's 2002 starting date does not apply to their roofs. Ask the Brevard County building office what applies to yours.

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

Related: Roof replacement

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Roofing in Merritt Island, Florida

Merritt Island homes at a glance

Roofing services in Merritt Island

What is the 25 percent roof rule in Florida?

What is the 15 year roof rule in Florida?

Who issues roof permits on Merritt Island?

Have tornadoes damaged roofs on Merritt Island before?

Do mobile homes here follow the same roof rules?

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Roofing in Merritt Island: tell us about yours.