Skip to content

Re-roofs ยท Tampa

Roof replacement in Tampa, FL

In Tampa, 44.5 percent of homes were built before 1980, so a roof replacement here often lands on a deck nailed more than two decades before Florida had a statewide code. Once the old covering is off, that code asks for two things before the new roof goes on: deck nailing brought up to its table and a sealed secondary water barrier.

Request a quote407-242-2840

Updated October 2026

Drone view of a single-story home mid re-roof: part of the roof stripped to white synthetic underlayment, the rest still in gray shingles, a dump trailer of debris and a pickup in the driveway.

Tampa figures this page uses

Share of homes built before 1980
44.5%
Median year homes were built
1985
Share of homes built before 2000
65.7%

Local know-how

Re-roofing Tampa's pre-1980 houses

Countywide, 30.4 percent of homes predate 1980; in Tampa the median home dates to 1985 and 65.7 percent predate 2000. Section R908.7 of the residential code reaches all of them: when a covering is removed and replaced over a sawn-lumber, plank or wood-panel deck, the deck attachment must meet R908.7.1 and a secondary water barrier goes in under R908.7.2.

What the deck gets depends on what the first crew used. Staples or 6d nails, at any spacing, get ring-shank nails added until no gap tops 6 inches. Existing 8d nails at 6 inches or closer stay as they are, and wider 8d spacing is filled in. The added nails are RSRS-01 ring-shank, at least 2-1/4 inches long (Table R908.7.1.2).

The water barrier comes in three code forms: self-adhering membrane over the entire deck, membrane strips or tape over every deck joint under a standard underlayment, or two lapped layers of approved felt-type underlayment (R905.1.1.1). After Helene and Milton in 2024, it earns its place: FEMA found a sealed deck can significantly cut the water that gets in when shingles blow off.

Permit

City permits, historic districts and the 25 percent rule

Inside city limits, the City of Tampa's Construction Services permits the job. The plan-review step is skipped for reroofs, but two inspections are not: one of the sheathing with the dry-in, and a roofing inspection of the dry-in, insulation, coverings and flashing (FBC-B 107 and 110.3).

A house in one of the city's four Local Historic Districts, or one of its 64 Local Historic Landmarks, has a second door to go through. The City's Certificate of Appropriateness process covers exterior repairs, so raise the roof with its preservation staff before you pick a profile or color.

Patching has a ceiling: no more than 25 percent of a roof or roof section in 12 months unless the whole section is redone to current code (R908.1.1). Roofs built to the 2007 code or later are excepted (Fla. Stat. 553.844(5)), but that code took effect March 1, 2009, so an older Tampa roof does not qualify.

Request a quote

Questions

Roof replacement in Tampa: questions

What drives the cost of a roof replacement in Tampa?

The house more than the zip code. On a Tampa home built before 1980, as 44.5 percent are, the code items decide a lot: how many ring-shank nails the deck needs, which secondary water barrier method goes down, and how much rotten sheathing turns up once the old roof is off. Roof size, pitch and material come next. Above a set contract amount, the City's Construction Services also needs a recorded Notice of Commencement before the first inspection.

Source: 2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, R908.7; Fla. Stat. 713.135, read October 5, 2026.

Related: Roof cost estimator

Do I need a Notice of Commencement for a Tampa re-roof?

Often, yes. The Florida Building Code has the permit card warn owners that skipping a recorded Notice of Commencement can mean paying twice for the same work, and the notice must be recorded and posted on the job before the first inspection. Under Fla. Stat. 713.135(1)(e), the permitting office, here the City of Tampa's Construction Services, requires a copy before that inspection when the direct contract is above a set amount.

Source: 2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 105.8; Fla. Stat. 713.135, read October 5, 2026.

Related: Roof replacement

Will a new roof on my Tampa house need roof-to-wall straps?

Only in some cases. Fla. Stat. 553.844(3) made a re-roof on a site-built single-family home include a secondary water barrier and stronger deck attachment, and in the wind-borne debris region it adds improved roof-to-wall connections for homes above a set value. Even then, connections are not required unless the gable ends or corners can be done for 15 percent of the re-roof cost. In a city that is 35.8 percent water, that turns on your lot's distance from the shore and its design wind speed.

Source: Fla. Stat. 553.844, read October 4, 2026; 2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, Ch. 2.

Related: Roof replacement

Sources for this page(79)
  1. 1.Share of homes built before 1980: 44.5%. U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), table B25034, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  2. 2.Median year homes were built: 1985. U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), table B25035, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  3. 3.Share of homes built before 2000: 65.7%. U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), table B25034, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  4. 4.City of Tampa, Architectural Review & Historic Preservation (official). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  5. 5.Wikipedia, "Tampa, Florida" (secondary source). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  6. 6.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Helene. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  7. 7.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Milton. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  8. 8.Permit office: City of Tampa - Construction Services. City of Tampa - Construction Services. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  9. 9.Share of homes built before 1980: 30.4%. U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), table B25034, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  10. 10.Hurricane Helene (2024). NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Helene. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  11. 11.Hurricane Milton (2024). NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Milton. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  12. 12.U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2020 place geography (AREALAND/AREAWATER) via TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  13. 13.FBCR Ch. 9. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  14. 14.FEMA Recovery Advisory 2. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  15. 15.FBC-B 2023 Ch. 1. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  16. 16.Florida Statutes, section 553.844 (2026). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  17. 17.Florida Building Commission, "Florida Building Code Effective Dates". Read Oct 5, 2026.
  18. 18.Fla. Stat. 553.844. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  19. 19.FBCR Ch. 2. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  20. 20.Senate SB 808 staff analysis pp. 3-4. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  21. 21.U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), table B25034, via Census Reporter API, U.S. Census Bureau. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  22. 22.U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), table B25034, via Census Reporter API, U.S. Census Bureau. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  23. 23.OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 (Hillsborough County, 2016 on), FEMA. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  24. 24.Florida Statutes, section 713.135 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  25. 25.City of Tampa, Construction Services. Read Oct 5, 2026. Official page fetched 2026-10-05 (HTTP 200).
  26. 26.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Idalia, NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  27. 27.U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), table B25035, via Census Reporter API, U.S. Census Bureau. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  28. 28.U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), table B25024, via Census Reporter API, U.S. Census Bureau. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  29. 29.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ian, NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  30. 30.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Debby, NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  31. 31.FRSA, "New 2023 FBC Eighth Edition is Now in Effect", 2024-02-13, www.floridaroof.com. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  32. 32.Miami-Dade County RER notice, www.miamidade.gov. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  33. 33.FEMA FL-RA2, FEMA. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  34. 34.ICC Building Safety Journal, Karl Fippinger, 2024-02-07, International Code Council (Florida Building Commission). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  35. 35.Florida Statutes, section 627.7011 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  36. 36.OIR form, Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  37. 37.Hillsborough County, Building Permits & Records (unincorporated Hillsborough County). Read Oct 5, 2026. Official page fetched 2026-10-05 (HTTP 200).
  38. 38.NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012842 TAMPA INTL AP, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  39. 39.2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., chapter 9 roof assemblies (ICC viewer), International Code Council (Florida Building Commission). Read Oct 4, 2026.
  40. 40.Florida Statutes, section 489.105 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  41. 41.Florida Statutes, section 489.103 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  42. 42.Citizens 4-Point Inspection Form, Sample Form Insp4pt 03 25, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  43. 43.Florida Statutes, section 627.70132 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  44. 44.Florida Statutes, section 489.147 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  45. 45.NOAA NHC, NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  46. 46.Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  47. 47.Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, inspections FAQ (updated 2026-03-17), Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  48. 48.Insp4pt 03 25, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  49. 49.Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26), Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  50. 50.Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  51. 51.Florida Statutes, section 627.0629 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  52. 52.Florida Statutes, section 215.5586 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  53. 53.FBC-B 2023 Ch. 15, UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026. Unofficial transcription (UpCodes); verify on floridabuilding.org.
  54. 54.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026. Unofficial transcription (UpCodes); verify on floridabuilding.org.
  55. 55.Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA), www.floridaroof.com. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  56. 56.2023 Florida Building Code, Plumbing, 8th ed., Chapter 11 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026. Unofficial transcription (UpCodes); verify on floridabuilding.org.
  57. 57.FBC-Building 2023 Chapter 2 definitions, UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026. Unofficial transcription (UpCodes); verify on floridabuilding.org.
  58. 58.Florida Statutes, section 718.112 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  59. 59.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 1 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026. Unofficial transcription (UpCodes); verify on floridabuilding.org.
  60. 60.Professional Roofing magazine (NRCA), www.professionalroofing.net. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  61. 61.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration point estimates at the Tampa 2020 Census internal point (27.9657, -82.4759), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  62. 62.Florida Statutes, section 553.791 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  63. 63.2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., Chapter 8 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026. Unofficial transcription (UpCodes); verify on floridabuilding.org.
  64. 64.FBCR Ch. 8, International Code Council (Florida Building Commission). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  65. 65.2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., Chapter 9 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026. Unofficial transcription (UpCodes); verify on floridabuilding.org.
  66. 66.Florida Statutes, section 489.113 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  67. 67.Florida Statutes, section 553.837 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  68. 68.2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., Chapter 3 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026. Unofficial transcription (UpCodes); verify on floridabuilding.org.
  69. 69.FEMA, FEMA. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  70. 70.Florida Statutes, section 553.842 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  71. 71.NOAA Atlas 14 (HDSC Precipitation Frequency Data Server), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  72. 72.bergerbp.com, bergerbp.com. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  73. 73.NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  74. 74.National Weather Service, National Weather Service. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  75. 75.2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., R318.5 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription); FBC-Building 1503.7, UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026. Unofficial transcription (UpCodes); verify on floridabuilding.org.
  76. 76.Gutterall 6K hanger, gutterall.com. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  77. 77.blogs.ifas.ufl.edu, University of Florida / UF/IFAS. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  78. 78.ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu, University of Florida / UF/IFAS. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  79. 79.thig.com, Tower Hill Insurance Group. Read Oct 5, 2026.

South Fork Roofing

Roof replacement in Tampa

Answer a few questions about the job, or call.

Request a quote407-242-2840
CallGet a quote