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Martin County ยท Census-designated place

Roofing in Jensen Beach, Florida

Jensen Beach is an unincorporated community in the northeast corner of Martin County, bordered on the east by the Indian River. The county building office issues roof permits here, not a city. That makes Martin County the office to call before any roof work starts. The community also grew up around 19th-century pineapple farming, so many of its homes are older than the rest of the county.

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Updated October 2026

Wide sandy beach under clear blue sky with turquoise surf and small distant people at the shoreline.
Photo: Jensen Beach looking north at Jensen Beach Park by Dough4872, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped

At a glance

Jensen Beach homes at a glance

People (2020 Census)
12,652
Median year homes were built
1982
Share of homes built before 1980
46.2%
Share of homes built 2010 or later
10.5%
Owner-occupied share of occupied homes
77%

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

Housing age

How old are roofs in Jensen Beach?

The median home here was built in 1982. Across Martin County the median is 1986, so local homes are a few years older than the county average. Nearly half of the homes, 46.2 percent, were built before 1980. Only 10.5 percent were built in 2010 or later.

Roofs on many of these homes probably exceed 25 years in age. That matters for insurance. Citizens Property Insurance asks for documentation of at least five years of remaining useful life on a shingle roof older than 25 years, and on a tile or metal roof older than 50 years. Check with your insurer or agent for the exact form they require.

Mobile homes

Mobile homes and older-home roof rules

About 13.8 percent of housing units here are mobile homes. The county figure is 8.8 percent, so this community has a larger share of them than Martin County as a whole. A mobile home roof is still a roof permit question, and the permit goes to the Martin County Building Department.

Under the 25 percent rule, no more than 25 percent of a roof can be repaired or replaced in 12 months unless the whole roof is redone. If a roof was built to the 2007 code or later, only the repaired section must meet the current code. Ask the building office which edition applies to your roof before you sign anything.

  • Unincorporated community in the northeast corner of Martin County, bordered on the east by the Indian River; a 19th-century pineapple-farming center.
  • Hurricanes Frances (Sept 2004, 105 mph) and Jeanne (Sept 25, 2004, 120 mph) both made landfall on nearby Hutchinson Island.
  • 13.8% of housing units are mobile homes.

Storms and rain

Storms and rain that reach Jensen Beach

Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne both made landfall on nearby Hutchinson Island in September 2004. During Hurricane Irma in 2017, storm surge put 1 to 3 feet of water above ground along coastal Martin County. Hurricane Matthew in 2016 brought 53-knot gusts to Stuart.

Rain is heavy too. About 67.6 percent of Stuart's normal annual rain falls from May through October. A 10-year storm can drop 3.12 inches of rain in one hour here. Storm activity in the Atlantic basin is tracked from June 1 through November 30.

Permits and checks

Who to call before roof work in Jensen Beach

Only Miami-Dade and Broward fall under the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, so Martin County sits outside it. Local permits follow the state code, and the county building office confirms the edition that applies to each job.

Once six months pass after issuance without work starting, the permit lapses. Confirm the current permit terms with the Martin County Building Department before you schedule crews.

Permits

Roof permits for Jensen Beach

Building permits

Martin County Building Department

Official building page

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

Services

Roofing services in Jensen Beach

Questions

Jensen Beach roofing questions

What is the 25% roof rule in Florida?

The 25 percent rule limits how much of a roof can be repaired or replaced in any 12-month period without redoing the whole roof. Not more than 25 percent of the roof area can be worked on in that span unless the entire roof covering is replaced or recovered. If your roof was built, repaired or replaced to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, only the repaired section must meet current code. For a ruling on your particular roof, reach out to the Martin County Building Department.

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?

As of December 31, 2023, roofers in Florida must follow the Eighth Edition of the Florida Building Code. On December 31, 2026, the Ninth Edition takes hold, and any permit application filed from that day forward must comply with it. Jensen Beach permits are issued by the Martin County Building Department, so ask that office which edition applies to your job.

Source: FRSA, "New 2023 FBC Eighth Edition is Now in Effect", 2024-02-13, read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof replacement

How old are most roofs in Jensen Beach?

The median home here was built in 1982, and 46.2 percent of homes were built before 1980. Many of these roofs are likely more than 25 years old. Older roofs may prompt insurers to request documentation of how much service life remains. Ask your insurer or agent what documentation they need.

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

Do mobile homes in Jensen Beach need a roof permit?

About 13.8 percent of housing units here are mobile homes, compared with 8.8 percent across Martin County. Roof work on these homes goes through the Martin County Building Department. Check the permit requirements with that office before work begins.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25024, via Census Reporter API, read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof replacement

How much rain does Jensen Beach get in a storm?

A 10-year storm can drop 3.12 inches of rain in one hour here. About 67.6 percent of Stuart's normal annual rain falls May through October. The storm window opens June 1 and closes November 30, and activity typically peaks around September 10.

Source: NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Jensen Beach 2020 Census internal point (27.2440, -80.2411), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof repair

Nearby

Near Jensen Beach

Martin CountyOur 20 counties

Martin County

More in Martin County

Sources for this page(27)
  1. 1.Median year homes were built: 1982. 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: 46.2%. 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.Share of homes built 2010 or later: 10.5%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25034, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  5. 5.Wikipedia, 'Jensen Beach, Florida' (revision 1369166206). 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.Hurricane Dorian (2019). NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Dorian (AL052019). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  8. 8.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.
  9. 9.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.
  10. 10.Mobile homes, share of housing units: 13.8%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25024, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  11. 11.Permit office: Martin County Building Department. Martin County Building Department. Read Oct 10, 2026.
  12. 12.Hurricane Irma (2017). NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (AL112017). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  13. 13.Hurricane Matthew (2016). NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (AL142016). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  14. 14.NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (access data service). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  15. 15.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Climatology. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  16. 16.People (2020 Census): 12,652. U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (POP100, HU100) via TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 layer 28 (Census Designated Places). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  17. 17.Owner-occupied share of occupied homes: 77.0% (4,495 of 5,838). U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25003, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  18. 18.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Dorian (AL052019), NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  19. 19.Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, inspections FAQ (updated 2026-03-17), Citizens Property Insurance. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  20. 20.Martin County Building Department, Martin County Building Department. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  21. 21.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  22. 22.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (AL112017), NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  23. 23.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (AL142016), NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  24. 24.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Jensen Beach 2020 Census internal point (27.2440, -80.2411), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  25. 25.FRSA, "New 2023 FBC Eighth Edition is Now in Effect", 2024-02-13, floridaroof.com. 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.

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