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Martin County ยท Census-designated place

Roofing in Hobe Sound, Florida

Hobe Sound sits on the Atlantic side of South Jupiter Narrows, across the water from Jupiter Island, with Intracoastal Waterway access. The homes here are old. The median home was built in 1983, and about 39 percent were built before 1980. That means many roofs have already passed the age where insurers start asking hard questions. Roof permits for this area come from the Martin County Building Department.

Request a quote407-242-2840

Updated October 2026

A two-lane road lined with large banyan trees whose branches arch overhead in soft morning light.
Photo: Hobe Sound Jupiter Island by AirportExpert, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped

At a glance

Hobe Sound homes at a glance

People (2020 Census)
13,163
Median year homes were built
1983
Share of homes built before 1980
39.4%
Share of homes built 2010 or later
3.7%
Owner-occupied share of occupied homes
77.8%

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

Roof age

How old are roofs in Hobe Sound homes

The median home here was built in 1983, a figure within two years of the county median of 1986 when you account for margin of error. Nearly 40 percent of homes were built before 1980. That suggests many original roofs are now 25 years old or more.

Documentation showing at least five years of remaining useful life is required by Citizens Property Insurance for any shingle roof that is more than 25 years old. Tile, slate, clay, concrete or metal roofs get the same test at 50 years. Check with your own insurer or agent about how they apply this to your home.

Housing mix

Mobile homes and seasonal homes in this area

About 28 percent of housing units here are mobile homes, against 8.8 percent across Martin County. If your home is a mobile home, the building code that applies depends on when it was manufactured. Ask the Martin County Building Department which edition governs your unit.

Roughly 13 percent of all units are held for seasonal or occasional use. Many roofs on those homes sit empty for months. Ask a roofer to check the attic and fascia on a closed house as well as an occupied one.

Permits

Permit requirements and how the 25 percent rule applies in Hobe Sound

Permits for roof work here are issued by the Martin County Building Department, since Hobe Sound is an unincorporated census-designated place. The Florida Building Code limits how much of an existing roof can be repaired in any 12-month period without bringing the whole roof system up to code. That limit is 25 percent of the roof area.

Building permits

Martin County Building Department

Official building page

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

Weather

Storms and rain affecting Hobe Sound roofs

Hurricane Irma in 2017 produced 1 to 3 feet of storm surge inundation along coastal Martin County. Hurricane Matthew in 2016 brought a 53-knot gust to Stuart. The window for hurricanes stretches from June 1 through November 30, and activity typically peaks near September 10.

Stuart receives roughly 62.72 inches of rain annually, with close to 68 percent of that arriving between May and October. In a 10-year storm, a one-hour rain here falls at 3.24 inches an hour. Before the rainy months arrive, inspect your gutters and flashing.

Local record

On record for Hobe Sound

  • 28.4% of housing units are mobile homes.
  • 12.9% of all housing units are vacant and held for seasonal, recreational or occasional use.

Services

Roofing services in Hobe Sound

Questions

Hobe Sound roofing questions

What is the 25% roof rule in Florida?

Under the 25 percent rule, no more than a set share of an existing roof may be fixed, swapped out or layered over within any 12-month span. Under FBC-B 1511.1.1, if more than 25 percent of the roof area is worked on, the entire roof system must be brought up to current code. Roofs constructed or fixed under the 2007 Florida Building Code or any newer edition are exempt from this limit. Hobe Sound permits are handled by the Martin County Building Department, so confirm how the rule applies to your roof before you start.

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

Related: Roof replacement

What is the new law in Florida about roofs?

The Florida Building Code's Ninth Edition, the 2026 edition, takes effect December 31, 2026. Any permit application or plan filed on or after that date has to comply with the updated edition. The Eighth Edition of 2023 became enforceable on December 31, 2023. If your roof project is planned for next year, ask the Martin County Building Department which edition applies to your permit.

Source: Miami-Dade County RER notice, read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof replacement

How old is the average home in Hobe Sound?

The median home in Hobe Sound was built in 1983, according to the American Community Survey 2024 five-year estimates. The county median is 1986. About 39 percent of homes were built before 1980. Many original roofs in this area are likely more than 25 years old, so an insurer may ask for documentation of remaining life.

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

Related: Roof inspections

Who issues roof permits in Hobe Sound?

Hobe Sound is an unincorporated census-designated place, so the Martin County Building Department issues roof permits. Call or visit the department to confirm the edition of the code that applies to your job and the permit clock for your project.

Source: Martin County Building Department, read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof replacement

How much of Hobe Sound's housing is mobile homes?

About 28.4 percent of housing units here are mobile homes, compared with 8.8 percent across Martin County. The building code for a mobile home depends on when it was manufactured. Units built before March 1, 2002 fall under the older Standard Building Code. Ask the county which rules apply to your unit.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25004, via Census Reporter API, read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof replacement

How much rain does Hobe Sound get?

The nearby Stuart station records 62.72 inches of rain in a normal year, and about 68 percent falls from May through October. In a 10-year storm, a one-hour rain falls at 3.24 inches per hour. Gutters and downspouts should handle that load, and a roofer can check them before the wet season.

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (access data service), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Gutters

Nearby

Near Hobe Sound

Martin CountyOur 20 counties

Martin County

More in Martin County

Sources for this page(30)
  1. 1.Median year homes were built: 1983. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25035, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  2. 2.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25035, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  3. 3.Share of homes built before 1980: 39.4%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25034, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  4. 4.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25035, B25034, B25024, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  5. 5.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25024, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  6. 6.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25004, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  7. 7.Permit office: Martin County Building Department. Martin County Building Department. Read Oct 10, 2026.
  8. 8.Hurricane Dorian (2019). NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Dorian (AL052019). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  9. 9.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.
  10. 10.Seasonal, recreational or occasional-use homes (share of all units): 12.9%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25004, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  11. 11.Hurricane Irma (2017). NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (AL112017). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  12. 12.Hurricane Matthew (2016). NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (AL142016). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  13. 13.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Climatology. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  14. 14.NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (access data service). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  15. 15.NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (access data service). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  16. 16.Wikipedia, 'Hobe Sound, Florida' (revision 1361216954). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  17. 17.Mobile homes, share of housing units: 28.4%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25024, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  18. 18.People (2020 Census): 13,163. U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (POP100, HU100) via TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 layer 28 (Census Designated Places). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  19. 19.Share of homes built 2010 or later: 3.7%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25034, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  20. 20.Owner-occupied share of occupied homes: 77.8% (4,811 of 6,185). U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25003, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  21. 21.Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, inspections FAQ (updated 2026-03-17), Citizens Property Insurance. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  22. 22.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 1 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  23. 23.Martin County Building Department, Martin County Building Department. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  24. 24.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Dorian (AL052019), NOAA National Hurricane Center. 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 National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (AL112017), NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  27. 27.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (AL142016), NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  28. 28.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Hobe Sound 2020 Census internal point (27.0745, -80.1432), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  29. 29.Miami-Dade County RER notice, Miami. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  30. 30.FRSA, "New 2023 FBC Eighth Edition is Now in Effect", 2024-02-13, floridaroof.com. Read Oct 5, 2026.

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