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Pinellas County ยท Census-designated place

Roofing in Lealman, Florida

In 2015 the Pinellas County Commission created the Lealman Community Redevelopment Area, the first redevelopment area in unincorporated Pinellas County. That matters for your roof because Lealman is unincorporated, so permits for your roof come from Pinellas County Building Services, not a city office. Most of the roofs here are on homes built long before the modern code, so age and permit history deserve a close look.

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Updated October 2026

Front of a single-story brick home with a dark shingle hip roof, a white garage door, two small palms in the front bed and a blue sky with a streak of sun glare.

At a glance

Lealman homes at a glance

People (2020 Census)
21,189
Median year homes were built
1968
Share of homes built before 1980
73.2%
Share of homes built 2010 or later
6.9%
Owner-occupied share of occupied homes
62.9%

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

Home age

How old Lealman roofs tend to be

The median home here was built in 1968, nine years older than the Pinellas County median of 1977. Roughly 73 percent of homes were built before 1980, and only about 7 percent were built in 2010 or later. Many of these roofs are likely past 25 years old, and some may be near the end of their service life.

Age also drives insurance. If your shingle roof is more than 25 years old, Citizens Property Insurance will want paperwork showing at least five years of remaining useful life before it renews coverage. Tile and metal roofs face the same review, but the threshold is 50 years instead. Ask your insurer or agent which category your roof falls into before you need a claim.

Housing mix

What mobile home ownership means for the roof above it

About 24 percent of the housing units here are mobile homes, a large share compared with a typical single-family neighborhood. Single-family detached homes make up 47.3 percent of units, and buildings with five or more units account for 18 percent. Roof work on a mobile home can differ from work on a site-built house, so confirm the building type with the permitting office before you start.

Owners occupy about 63 percent of the occupied homes here. If you rent out part of your property, the owner remains responsible for permits and the roof, so keep the permit records with the property file.

Permits

Who issues roof permits in Lealman

Lealman is unincorporated, so Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services, Building Services, issues roof permits here. Confirm the current permit requirements with that office before work starts, since county rules and forms can change.

Once issued, a permit lapses if no work begins within six months, and it also lapses if work pauses for six months. Work stays in active progress only while it passes an inspection at least every 180 days. Plan your schedule around those windows so the permit does not lapse mid-job.

Building permits

Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services - Building Services (unincorporated Pinellas plus Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Kenneth City, Oldsmar and Safety Harbor)

Official building page

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

Weather

Storms and rain that reach Lealman

Pinellas County sits on a peninsula with 587 miles of coastline, and Hurricane Hermine in 2016 dropped up to 22.36 inches of rain near Tarpon Springs, with Pinellas County getting the most. Lightning is also a regular concern: the corridor from Tampa Bay east receives the most lightning in the United States, and more than 90 percent of it falls May through October.

Rainfall intensity matters for gutters and drainage. NOAA Atlas 14 puts a 1-hour rain in a 10-year storm at 2.83 inches an hour, and a 24-hour rain in a 100-year storm at 13.6 inches. Normal annual rainfall at St. Petersburg is 52.48 inches, with roughly 62 to 63 percent falling June through September.

Local record

On record for Lealman

  • In 2015 the County Commission created the Lealman Community Redevelopment Area, the first redevelopment area in unincorporated Pinellas County.
  • Bordered by Pinellas Park to the north and St. Petersburg to the east and south; elevation about 49 feet.

Services

Roofing services in Lealman

Questions

Lealman roofing questions

What is the 25% roof rule in Florida?

The rule limits how much of an existing roof can be repaired, replaced or recovered in a 12-month period without replacing the entire roof covering. The text says not more than 25 percent of the total roof area can be worked on in any 12-month period unless the whole roof system is replaced. In Lealman, Pinellas County Building Services applies this rule to roof permits. If your roof was repaired to 2007 code or later, the exception may limit what must be upgraded. Confirm with the county before you schedule work.

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?

The Florida Building Code's Ninth Edition takes effect December 31, 2026, and all permit applications submitted on or after that date must follow it. The 2023 Eighth Edition is the code now in force. Lealman homes are old, with a median build year of 1968, so a new edition matters most when a roof is replaced. Check with Pinellas County Building Services about which edition applies to your permit.

Source: Miami-Dade County RER notice, read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof replacement

Who issues roof permits in Lealman?

Because Lealman sits in unincorporated Pinellas County, roof permits there come from Building Services within Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services. The county office also covers Kenneth City and several other cities. Call or visit the county before work starts to confirm forms and requirements. The office can tell you whether your permit clock and inspection schedule fit your project.

Source: Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services - Building Services (unincorporated Pinellas plus Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Kenneth City, Oldsmar and Safety Harbor), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof replacement

How old are most roofs in Lealman?

The median home here was built in 1968, and about 73 percent of homes were built before 1980. Many of these roofs are likely past 25 years old. Citizens Property Insurance requires documentation of at least five years of remaining useful life on roofs older than 25 years if they are soft roofs such as shingle. Ask your insurer or agent how that applies to your roof.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year (place vs. county comparison, computed), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof inspections

Does heavy rain in Lealman affect roofs and gutters?

Yes. NOAA Atlas 14 estimates a 1-hour rain in a 10-year storm at 2.83 inches an hour, and a 24-hour rain in a 100-year storm at 13.6 inches. Normal annual rainfall at St. Petersburg is 52.48 inches. Water that cannot drain off the roof can damage gutters, fascia and decking. Check your gutters and downspouts before the June through September rainy season.

Source: NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Lealman 2020 Census internal point (27.8197, -82.6846), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Gutters

Nearby

Near Lealman

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More in Pinellas County

Sources for this page(31)
  1. 1.Median year homes were built: 1968. U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), table B25035, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  2. 2.U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year (place vs. county comparison, computed). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  3. 3.Share of homes built before 1980: 73.2%. U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), table B25034, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  4. 4.Share of homes built 2010 or later: 6.9%. U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), table B25034, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  5. 5.Hurricane Hermine (2016). NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Hermine. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  6. 6.Mobile homes, share of housing units: 24%. U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), table B25024, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  7. 7.Single-family detached share of housing units: 47.3%. U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), table B25024, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  8. 8.Share of homes in buildings with 5+ units: 18%. U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), table B25024, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  9. 9.Owner-occupied share of occupied homes: 62.9%. U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), table B25003, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  10. 10.Permit office: Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services - Building Services (unincorporated Pinellas plus Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Kenneth City, Oldsmar and Safety Harbor). Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services - Building Services (unincorporated Pinellas plus Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Kenneth City, Oldsmar and Safety Harbor). Read Oct 10, 2026.
  11. 11.Pinellas County, "Building Departments in Pinellas County" (official). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  12. 12.Wikipedia, "Pinellas County, Florida" (secondary). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  13. 13.NWS Melbourne, Lightning Facts and Trivia. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  14. 14.Hurricane Irma (2017). NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  15. 15.Hurricane Eta (2020). NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Eta. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  16. 16.City of St. Petersburg; City of Tarpon Springs (official); Wikipedia (St. Pete Beach). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  17. 17.NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, stations USC00087886 ST PETERSBURG and USW00012873 ST PETERSBURG INTL AP. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  18. 18.Wikipedia, "Lealman, Florida" (secondary source). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  19. 19.City of St. Pete Beach; Town of Redington Shores; City of Largo (official). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  20. 20.People (2020 Census): 21,189. U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (POP100) via TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  21. 21.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Hermine, NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  22. 22.Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, inspections FAQ (updated 2026-03-17), Citizens Property Insurance. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  23. 23.Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services - Building Services (unincorporated Pinellas plus Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Kenneth City, Oldsmar and Safety Harbor), Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  24. 24.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 1 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  25. 25.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  26. 26.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma, NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  27. 27.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Eta, NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  28. 28.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Lealman 2020 Census internal point (27.8197, -82.6846), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  29. 29.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration 24-hour depth estimates at the Lealman 2020 Census internal point (27.8197, -82.6846), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  30. 30.Miami-Dade County RER notice, Miami. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  31. 31.FRSA, "New 2023 FBC Eighth Edition is Now in Effect", 2024-02-13, floridaroof.com. Read Oct 5, 2026.

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