Roof replacement in Juno Beach, FL

Palm Beach County is not in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, so the county-wide roofing rules apply to this town rather than the stricter Miami-Dade and Broward ones. The town building department issues the roof permit.

Under the 25 percent rule, repairs or replacements covering more than a quarter of the roof area within any 12-month span trigger full replacement of the roof covering. If your current roof was constructed or patched under the 2007 Florida Building Code or any newer edition, just the portion that was patched must meet today's code.

• A permit must be obtained from the Town of Juno Beach building office before work starts.
• Work must begin within 6 months of permit issuance or the permit becomes invalid.
• Before the first inspection, the Notice of Commencement has to be recorded and displayed at the job site.

Under Florida law, an insurer cannot turn down a homeowner policy just because the roof is less than 15 years old. For a roof 15 years or older, the insurer must let the homeowner have an authorized inspector check it at the homeowner's expense, and may not refuse or non-renew coverage solely for age if the inspection shows 5 or more years of useful life left.

Because 57.9 percent of residents here are 65 or older, many owners are on fixed incomes. The My Safe Florida Home Program is a state program that may offer grants for roof work, though the statute says it does not create an entitlement. Check with your insurer or agent to find out which rules apply to your policy.