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Inspections ยท Merritt Island

Roof inspections in Merritt Island, FL

Mobile homes are 2.8 percent of Merritt Island housing units, so nearly all roofs here fall under the Florida Building Code, not the HUD code. Many of those roofs are likely old. A roof inspection tells you the covering, its condition and how much life it has left.

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Updated October 2026

Orange sunrise sitting low over a dark tree line reflected in calm lagoon water.
Top-down drone view of a gray-blend shingle roof with ridges, valleys and roof vents, lawn on both sides and a white fence at the left edge.Our work
Photo: Sunrise seen over Merritt Island, Florida by Michael Seeley, CC BY 2.0, cropped

Merritt Island figures this page uses

Median year homes were built
1973
Owner-occupied share of occupied homes
80%
Median age
50.2yrs
Mobile homes, share of housing units
2.8%

Housing age

How old are Merritt Island roofs?

The median Merritt Island home was built in 1973, compared with 1988 countywide. Also, 59 percent of homes here predate 1980, against 32.1 percent across Brevard County. That suggests many original roofs are long gone, and a good number of homes have been re-roofed once or twice.

Owners occupy 80 percent of homes, and the median resident is 50.2 years old. These are mostly people who live under the roof being inspected and plan to keep it. A year-built number cannot tell you the roof's age. A permit history and a look at the shingles can.

15-year rule

What the 15-year rule and the 4-point form mean for a 1973 house

Florida law, in Fla. Stat. 627.7011(5), bars an insurer from refusing a policy only because a roof is under 15 years old. After the 15-year mark, an owner can bring in an authorized inspector, paying out of pocket. A finding of 5 or more years of remaining life stops the insurer from dropping the policy for age alone.

On the 4-point form, the roof page lists covering type, roof age, remaining life, the last permit date and whether a replacement was full or partial. It also lists damage: cracking, curling, granule loss and soft decking. Citizens wants documented proof of five more years of life on shingle roofs past 25 years. With a median build year of 1973 here, expect to be asked. Your insurer or agent sets what your own policy requires.

Mobile homes sit outside this picture in one way. Senate staff read the 15-year section as not covering mobile home policies, and mobile homes are 2.8 percent of housing here. Ask your agent which rules apply to yours.

Timing

When to order a roof inspection here

  • Before you buy: a 1970s house may still carry its second or third roof, and the covering is hard to judge from the ground.
  • Before you sell: a written condition report answers a buyer's insurance questions early.
  • After an insurer letter about roof age: an inspection by an authorized inspector is how you document remaining life.
  • After a storm: Hurricane Irma's EF-1 tornado damaged numerous Merritt Island homes in 2017, and Matthew's 81 mph gust in 2016 stripped shingles across the county.

A roofer's inspection covers what the forms ask: covering, age, remaining life, permit history, damage and leaks. Merritt Island is unincorporated, so Brevard County Planning & Development issues the permits and holds your roof's permit record. Confirm current requirements with that office.

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Questions

Roof inspections in Merritt Island: questions

What is the 15 year roof rule in Florida?

Fla. Stat. 627.7011(5) says an insurer cannot refuse to issue or renew a homeowner's policy solely because the roof is under 15 years old. Once a roof is 15 or older, you can pay an authorized inspector to check it. If the report shows 5 or more years of useful life, age alone cannot be the reason for refusal. In Merritt Island, where 59 percent of homes predate 1980, many owners may meet this rule.

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 can inspect my roof for my insurance company?

The statute names an authorized inspector, someone your insurer accepts. Examples include a licensed home inspector, a certified building code inspector, a licensed roofing or general contractor, a professional engineer, or an architect. Merritt Island permits come from Brevard County, so ask that office about your roof's permit record. Check the inspector's license and get your insurer's acceptance before you pay for the visit.

Source: Florida Statutes, section 627.7011 (2026), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof inspections

Does an older Merritt Island home need a roof inspection to get insurance?

Not always, but age matters. Citizens requires a 4-point inspection, including the roof, for properties more than 20 years old. With a median build year of 1973 here, most homes pass that line. Citizens also wants proof of five years of remaining life on shingle roofs older than 25 years. Each insurer sets its own requirements, so your agent is the person to ask.

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 inspections

Are mobile home roofs in Merritt Island inspected the same way?

Not under the same law. Mobile homes are 2.8 percent of Merritt Island housing units, and Senate staff note the 15-year roof section does not apply to mobile home policies. For a mobile home more than 20 years old, Citizens continues to require a 4-point inspection with the application. Check with your agent for your policy's roof requirements.

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 inspections

Nearby

Roof inspections near Merritt Island

Sources for this page(34)
  1. 1.Median year homes were built: 1973. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  2. 2.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, table B25034. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  3. 3.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.
  4. 4.NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (2016). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  5. 5.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (AL112017). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  6. 6.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, table B25035. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  7. 7.Hurricane Matthew (2016). NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (2016). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  8. 8.Brevard County, Building Code Wind Speed Maps. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  9. 9.Owner-occupied share of occupied homes: 80%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  10. 10.Median age: 50.2. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  11. 11.Mobile homes, share of housing units: 2.8%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  12. 12.Hurricane Irma (2017). NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (2017). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  13. 13.Permit office: Brevard County Planning & Development, Building Permits. Brevard County Planning & Development, Building Permits. Read Oct 10, 2026.
  14. 14.Share of homes built before 1980: 59%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  15. 15.Florida Statutes, section 627.7011 (2026). Read Oct 4, 2026.
  16. 16.Insp4pt 03 25. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  17. 17.Citizens 4-Point Inspection Form, Sample Form Insp4pt 03 25. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  18. 18.Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, inspections FAQ (updated 2026-03-17). Read Oct 4, 2026.
  19. 19.Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  20. 20.Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  21. 21.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.
  22. 22.NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (2017), National Weather Service. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  23. 23.Brevard County Planning & Development, Building Permits, Brevard County Planning & Development. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  24. 24.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, table B25024, U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  25. 25.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  26. 26.NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (annual/seasonal), access-data API, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  27. 27.U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 MapServer: POP100, HU100, AREALAND, AREAWATER), U.S. Census Bureau. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  28. 28.U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 MapServer: POP100, HU100, AREALAND, AREAWATER), U.S. Census Bureau. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  29. 29.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Merritt Island 2020 Census internal point (28.3092, -80.6760), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  30. 30.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration 24-hour depth estimates at the Merritt Island 2020 Census internal point (28.3092, -80.6760), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  31. 31.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 1 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  32. 32.Florida Statutes, section 713.135 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  33. 33.FRSA, "New 2023 FBC Eighth Edition is Now in Effect", 2024-02-13, floridaroof.com. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  34. 34.Miami-Dade County RER notice, Miami. Read Oct 5, 2026.

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Roof inspections in Merritt Island

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