New construction · Palm Beach Shores

New construction roofing in Palm Beach Shores, FL

Only 5.8 percent of homes in Palm Beach Shores were built in 2010 or later, according to the 2024 American Community Survey. Most roofs here are older, which means new construction roofing is a small share of local work. If you are building or buying new, the rules that apply to your permit depend on the code edition and the inspections your roof must pass.

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Updated October 2026

Sandy beach lined with white beachfront condo towers under cumulus clouds above turquoise ocean water. — Photo: Atlantic Ocean, West Palm Beach, Florida by David Broad, CC BY 3.0, cropped

A roof deck sheathed in red-brown ZIP System panels with black seam tape, a bucket and a ladder on the deck, homes and a street behind. — Photo: Atlantic Ocean, West Palm Beach, Florida by David Broad, CC BY 3.0, cropped

New builds and permits

What new construction roofing in Palm Beach Shores involves

The town's median home was built in 1969, plus or minus 4 years. A new roof on a new house here is the exception, not the rule. Since roofing is the last major step before dry-in, your permit file and inspection schedule must line up with the framing and sheathing inspections that come before it.

Before a roof covering goes on, the inspector looks at framing, then roof sheathing and its fasteners. Under the code, sheathing is fastened with ring shank nails, and the inspector checks that the deck is complete before roofing begins.

Framing inspection after roof trusses and bracing are in place
Sheathing inspection, either with the dry-in or on its own request
Roofing inspection covering dry-in, insulation, covering and flashing
Once the roof work wraps up, the building official completes a final check.

Code and underlayment

Code edition and the dry-in underlayment on a Palm Beach Shores build

Florida adopted the 2023 Building Code, Eighth Edition, which went into force on December 31, 2023. Applications filed on or after December 31, 2026 will fall under the Ninth Edition, which starts that day. If your permit is filed in 2027, plan around the newer edition from the start.

For a shingle or metal roof, the code gives three dry-in choices. You can cover the full deck with self-adhering membrane, add membrane strips over each joint with an approved underlayment on top, or use two layers of felt-type underlayment fastened to a set spacing. Pick the option your inspector will accept before the deck is covered.

Eaves and gables need drip edge fastened at set spacing. Where the design wind speed is 110 mph or more, or the roof is taller than 33 feet, the spacing tightens to 4 inches on center.

Approvals and licensing

Who can install the roof and which products are approved

Palm Beach County is not inside the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, so the Miami-Dade and Broward product rules do not set your permit requirements here. Roofing is still a statewide product approval category, and the approval number belongs on the permit paperwork. Check the number against the state lookup before purchase.

If a general contractor lacks a roofing certificate or registration, it has to hand the roofing scope to someone who does. The one exception is asphalt or fiberglass shingles on a new building the contractor itself is constructing. Projects using tile, metal or membrane roofing must be handled by a contractor holding certification or registration.

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Questions

New construction roofing in Palm Beach Shores: questions

Which code edition applies to a new roof permit in Palm Beach Shores?

It depends on the date the permit application is submitted. Florida adopted the 2023 Building Code, Eighth Edition, which went into force on December 31, 2023. The Ninth Edition, the 2026 edition, becomes effective December 31, 2026, and applications submitted on or after that date must comply with it. Confirm the edition and filing date with the Town of Palm Beach Shores Building Department before you submit.

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

Related: New construction roofing

What is the dry-in requirement for a new shingle roof?

The code allows three dry-in options for shingle, metal and similar roofs. One is a full self-adhering membrane. Another is membrane strips at every deck joint under an approved underlayment. The third is two layers of felt-type underlayment fastened 12 inches on center in the field and 6 inches at laps. Many older homes in the area were built around 1969, so inspectors see plenty of decks that were never dried in this way, which makes checking the chosen method especially important. Your inspector will check which option you used during the roofing inspection.

Source: 2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., Chapter 9 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: New construction roofing

Does a new house in Palm Beach Shores need gutters on the roof?

Yes, when the eaves project less than 6 inches, the code requires gutters with downspouts, except at gable end rakes or on a roof above another roof. Water from downspouts has to exit at least 1 foot away from the wall, using an underground line, a tail extension or a splash block. Many homes in the area date from around 1969, when the median home was built, so older roof lines often need closer attention during a replacement. Gutters are part of the roof system your inspector reviews.

Source: 2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., Chapter 3 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: New construction roofing

Who can install the roof on a new home I am having built here?

Unless it holds a roofing certificate or registration, a general contractor is required to hand off the roofing portion to a qualified subcontractor. The exception covers asphalt or fiberglass shingles on a new building the contractor is building itself. For tile, metal or membrane roofs, you need a contractor that carries certification or registration for roofing. Many homes in this area were built around 1969, so older roofs here often use the materials that rules like these were written to cover. Ask the builder for the license number and check it with the state before the roof starts.

Source: Florida Statutes, section 489.113 (2026), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: New construction roofing

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