Skip to content

Repairs ยท Plantation

Roof repair in Plantation, FL

Before drainage in the early 1900s, the land that is now Plantation was Everglades wetland, often under 2-3 feet of water. Today the water comes from the roof side. Most storm leaks here start at flashing, ridge vents and lost shingles, and the repair rules are stricter than in most of Florida.

Request a quote407-242-2840

Updated October 2026

Aerial view over a dense grid of suburban homes, roads and lakes under partly cloudy sky.
Close view across a gray shingle roof slope with a black pipe boot, a palm and a green lawn below.Our work
Photo: PlantationEastbound aerial suburban neighborhood grid by Yanjipy, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped

Storm damage

Where Plantation roofs fail in storms

Hurricane Irma in 2017 brought a 97-kt gust at Deerfield Beach and widespread tree and power-pole damage across the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area. Wind did not need to peel a whole roof to cause leaks. FEMA found that damaged roof covering was a primary source of water intrusion after high winds.

Ridge vents are a weak point. FEMA notes that losing them can open large holes in the deck, and one example house had ceilings collapse though only ridge shingles and the ridge vent were gone. Soffits have also performed poorly in hurricanes, so check them from the ground.

Rain alone can find a weak spot. Tropical Storm Eta in 2020 dropped 20.74 inches in Pembroke Pines and put water inside structures in Fort Lauderdale and Lauderhill. Leaks usually follow flashing at wall-to-roof joints, slope changes and roof openings, where the code requires it.

Repair limits

The 25% rule in Plantation and how it decides between repairing and replacing

Florida code caps patching at 25 percent of a roof or roof section in any 12-month period. Go past it and the whole roof section must be replaced or recovered. With a median home build year of 1984, many Plantation roofs have likely been redone since, but you should confirm each roof's own history.

An exception exists. When your roof was built, repaired or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or a later edition, current code applies only to the section being repaired. No ordinance passed by a local government can alter that exception.

Some roofs cannot take a patch or an overlay at all. A roof that is water soaked, or already has two or more layers of covering, needs a tear-off to the deck. Housing here is 45.3% single-family detached and 31.5% in buildings of 10 or more units, so condo and townhome boards should ask which roof section a repair falls in.

Permits, safety

Permits and safe steps after a storm

Broward is in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone. There, permits are required for all work on any roofing component, including repair and maintenance. A licensed contractor has to complete and execute the application. The City of Plantation Department of Building Safety handles roof permits, so confirm requirements with it first.

  • Stay off the roof and look from the ground for missing shingles, lifted ridge caps and loose soffit panels.
  • Check ceilings and the attic for stains, which show where water entered.
  • Photograph damage before any temporary cover goes on.
  • Questions about what your policy covers go to your insurer or agent, so give them a call. Claim notice is due within 1 year of the loss.
Request a quote

Questions

Roof repair in Plantation: questions

What is the 25% roof rule in Florida?

Under the Florida Building Code, no more than 25 percent of a roof or roof section may be repaired, replaced or recovered in any 12-month period unless the whole roof section is brought up to code. The exception covers roofs built or redone to the 2007 code or later, where only the repaired part must meet current code. In Plantation, the City of Plantation Department of Building Safety can tell you how it applies to your roof.

Source: 2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof repair

Do I need a permit for roof repair in Plantation?

Probably yes. Broward County is in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, where permits are required for all work on any roofing component, including repair and maintenance. A licensed contractor must sign the application. Ordinary minor repairs can be approved without a permit, but that call belongs to the building official. Ask the City of Plantation Department of Building Safety before work starts.

Source: Florida Building Commission, 'Setting New Standards for Safety: The Florida Building Code' (2004 publication; wind-speed figures in it are outdated and not used), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof repair

My Plantation roof is 15 years old. Can my insurer drop me?

Age by itself is not a reason when an inspection shows the roof has 5 or more years of useful life remaining. For a roof 15 years or older, Florida law lets you have an authorized inspector check it at your own expense. Your insurer may not refuse or non-renew solely because of roof age if that inspection shows 5 or more years remaining. Plantation's median home was built in 1984, so many roofs here have been replaced once already and a 15-year-old roof is far from unusual. Ask your insurer or agent how your policy handles it.

Source: Florida Statutes, section 627.7011 (2026), read Oct 4, 2026

Related: Roof repair

Why does my roof leak at the ridge after a storm?

Ridge vents and ridge shingles are often the first parts lost in high wind, and that opens the deck to rain. FEMA found one house where the only roof damage was lost ridge shingles and ridge vent, yet ceilings collapsed. Hurricane Irma in 2017 sent a 97-kt gust to Deerfield Beach, so Broward roofs do see these winds. Have the ridge checked after any storm.

Source: FEMA FL-RA2, read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof repair

Nearby

Roof repair near Plantation

Sources for this page(34)
  1. 1.Hurricane Irma (2017). NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (AL112017). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  2. 2.Hurricane Isaias (2020). NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Isaias (AL092020). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  3. 3.Tropical Storm Eta (2020). NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Eta (AL292020). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  4. 4.Median year homes were built: 1984. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25035, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  5. 5.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25035, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  6. 6.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25024, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  7. 7.Florida Building Commission, 'Setting New Standards for Safety: The Florida Building Code' (2004 publication; wind-speed figures in it are outdated and not used). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  8. 8.Permit office: City of Plantation - Department of Building Safety. City of Plantation - Department of Building Safety. Read Oct 10, 2026.
  9. 9.Wikipedia, 'Plantation, Florida' (revision 1368688175). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  10. 10.FEMA FL-RA2. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  11. 11.FBCR Ch. 9. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  12. 12.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026. FBC text read from UpCodes (unofficial transcription): check floridabuilding.org or the ICC viewer before quoting (spec 8.7).
  13. 13.Florida Statutes, section 553.844 (2026). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  14. 14.Citizens 4-Point Inspection Form, Sample Form Insp4pt 03 25. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  15. 15.Florida Statutes, section 627.70132 (2026). Read Oct 4, 2026.
  16. 16.FBC-B 2023 Ch. 1. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  17. 17.Florida Statutes, section 627.7011 (2026). Read Oct 4, 2026.
  18. 18.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (AL112017), NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  19. 19.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Isaias (AL092020), NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  20. 20.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Eta (AL292020), NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  21. 21.City of Plantation - Department of Building Safety, City of Plantation. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  22. 22.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25035, B25034, B25024, via Census Reporter API, U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  23. 23.Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, inspections FAQ (updated 2026-03-17), Citizens Property Insurance. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  24. 24.Florida Statutes, section 553.842 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  25. 25.miamidade.gov, miamidade.gov. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  26. 26.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 1 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  27. 27.Miami-Dade County RER notice, Miami. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  28. 28.FRSA, "New 2023 FBC Eighth Edition is Now in Effect", 2024-02-13, floridaroof.com. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  29. 29.Florida Statutes, section 713.135 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  30. 30.NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (access data service), NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  31. 31.NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (access data service), NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  32. 32.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration 24-hour depth estimates at the Plantation 2020 Census internal point (26.1256, -80.2618), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  33. 33.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Climatology, NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  34. 34.Florida Building Commission, Florida Building Commission. Read Oct 5, 2026.

South Fork Roofing

Roof repair in Plantation

Answer a few questions about the job, or call.

Request a quote407-242-2840
CallGet a quote