New construction roofing in Orange County, FL

The 2023 Florida Building Code, 8th edition, in force since December 31, 2023, governs permit applications filed before December 31, 2026. Anything submitted on or after that date is reviewed under the 9th edition. With Horizon West and other parts of the county still building out, homes designed this year may land on either side of that line, so confirm the date the permit application will actually go in.

Start with the permit's inspection history: a new roof should show a passed sheathing or dry-in inspection and a passed roofing inspection. Ask for the product approval numbers of the roofing and underlayment. Then walk the outside: downspouts should discharge at least 1 foot from the wall, and FEMA's hurricane advice is that soffit panels be fastened at both the wall and the fascia. In fast-growing areas such as Horizon West, ask for these records before the walk-through rather than after.

Only if the eaves are short. The Florida residential code requires gutters with downspouts on buildings whose eaves project less than 6 inches, except at gable-end rakes or on a roof above another roof. Wider eaves are exempt, but the water still has to go somewhere: Orlando International averages 23.20 inches of rain in June, July and August alone, and wherever downspouts are installed, they must discharge at least 1 foot from the wall.

Yes. Under Fla. Stat. 553.791, the fee owner of a building, or the owner's contractor with explicit written authorization, may use a private provider for plan review or building code inspections at any time. The provider must be a licensed building code administrator, engineer or architect. The option exists whether the permit is issued by the Orange County Division of Building Safety or by a city department such as Winter Garden's.