New construction · Union Park
New construction roofing in Union Park, FL
Only 0.7 percent of homes in Union Park were built in 2010 or later, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 five-year estimates. That means most roofs here are older than new construction. If you are building a new home or replacing a roof on one, the rules that apply are set by the Florida Building Code and Orange County's permit office, and they are worth knowing before work starts.
Updated October 2026
Code and timing
The building code edition that will govern your roof permit
The current code in use is the 2023 edition, which took effect at the end of 2023. A newer edition is set for December 31, 2026. In Union Park, the date your permit application reaches Orange County decides which set of rules your roof must meet, so a filing made next year follows different requirements than one filed now.
Orange County's Division of Building Safety takes new permit applications and inspection requests online through its Fast Track portal. Plan your permit filing around that portal rather than assuming a paper route still works.
Permits also expire. Work that has not begun within 6 months of issuance, or that sits idle for 6 months, voids the permit. Ask the county building office how these clocks apply to your job.
What inspectors look for
Deck, underlayment and drip edge on a new roof in Union Park
Roof sheathing has to be fastened with specific ring shank nails, and the code names the nail type and size. Inspectors check that work after sheathing is complete. At the contractor's request, the sheathing check may be folded into a dry-in inspection or scheduled on its own.
A shingle or metal roof must be dried in by one of three methods. One method covers the whole deck with self-adhering membrane. A second uses membrane strips over every deck joint under an approved underlayment. The third uses two layers of felt-type underlayment with specified nail spacing. Ask your roofer which method the plans call for.
Drip edge at the eaves and gables must be nailed at 12 inches on center, and at 4 inches on center where design wind speed is 110 mph or more or the roof is taller than 33 feet.
Paperwork and crews
Product approval and who installs the roof
Roofing is a statewide product approval category under Florida Statute 553.842. Unless a product has been approved, you cannot market it as offering wind or debris protection. You can search the Florida Building Commission approval list by FL number, manufacturer or code version.
On a building it constructs itself, a builder is allowed to put down asphalt shingles. Tile, metal and membrane roofs must go to a roofing contractor holding a state certificate or registration. Without that certification, a general contractor cannot hold itself out as a roofer in advertising.
A builder must warrant a newly built home for 1 year against code-violating defects in materials or workmanship. Coverage does not extend to ordinary wear, ground movement, damage the owner causes, or natural disasters.
Questions
New construction roofing in Union Park: questions
Do new homes in Union Park need a permit for the roof?
Yes. Orange County's Division of Building Safety issues roof permits for unincorporated places like Union Park. You submit applications and inspection requests through the Fast Track portal. Expect separate inspections for sheathing, dry-in and final roof coverings before the job closes.
Source: Orange County Division of Building Safety, read Oct 5, 2026
Which building code will my new roof in Union Park follow?
It depends on when the permit is submitted. The current code is the 2023 edition, and a newer edition applies to permits submitted on or after December 31, 2026. Many homes in Union Park were built around 1987, so an older roof may need checks against today's code if repairs are planned. Confirm the edition with the county before you file, since the county sets the exact rules that apply to your permit.
Source: FRSA, "New 2023 FBC Eighth Edition is Now in Effect", 2024-02-13, read Oct 5, 2026
Do I need a roofing contractor for a tile or metal roof?
Usually yes. On a building it constructs itself, a builder is allowed to put down asphalt shingles. Work on tile, metal, or membrane roofs must be handled by a roofing contractor holding a state certificate or registration. Many homes in this area were built around 1987, so older tile or metal roofs are common and often need experienced hands. Check the license through the state before you sign.
Source: Florida Statutes, section 489.113 (2026), read Oct 5, 2026
What does a builder warranty cover on a new home in Florida?
Florida Statute 553.837 requires a builder to warrant a newly built home for 1 year against defects in equipment, material or workmanship that violate the Florida Building Code. Ordinary wear, settling, defects caused by the owner, and natural disasters fall outside its scope. Many newer neighborhoods in the area were built around the same period, and the median year homes were built locally is 1987 (margin of error ±6), so buyers of older homes should look at different protections. Ask the builder for the warranty in writing so the terms are clear before closing.
Source: Florida Statutes, section 553.837 (2026), read Oct 5, 2026
Sources for this page(25)
- 1.Permit office: Orange County Division of Building Safety. Orange County Division of Building Safety. Read Oct 10, 2026.
- 2.Orange County Government, Division of Building Safety. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 3.Share of homes built 2010 or later: 0.7%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 4.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, table B25034. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 5.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, tables B25034/B25035. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 6.Median year homes were built: 1987. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 7.FRSA, "New 2023 FBC Eighth Edition is Now in Effect", 2024-02-13. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 8.Miami-Dade County RER notice. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 9.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 1 (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). Source URL inherited from C-3 (the research cites it "as C-3").
- 10.2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., Chapter 8 (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).
- 11.2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., Chapter 9 (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). Source URL inherited from COM-29 (the research cites it "as COM-29").
- 12.2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., Chapter 3 (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.Florida Statutes, section 553.842 (2026). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 14.Florida Building Commission. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 15.Florida Statutes, section 489.113 (2026). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 16.Florida Statutes, section 553.837 (2026). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 17.Orange County Division of Building Safety, ocfl.net. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 18.Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, inspections FAQ (updated 2026-03-17), Citizens Property Insurance. Read Oct 4, 2026.
- 19.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 20.NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (annual/seasonal), access-data API, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 21.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Union Park 2020 Census internal point (28.5669, -81.2386), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 22.U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 MapServer: POP100, HU100, AREALAND, AREAWATER), U.S. Census Bureau. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 23.NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (2017), National Weather Service. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 24.NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ian (2022), National Weather Service. Read Oct 5, 2026.
- 25.NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (2016), National Weather Service. Read Oct 5, 2026.
South Fork Roofing
New construction roofing in Union Park
Answer a few questions about the job, or call.