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Polk County ยท Census-designated place

Roofing in Highland City, Florida

Two thunderstorm wind reports tied to Highland City appear in NOAA storm records from 2016 through 2025. Those reports sit beside a county with a long record of hurricane damage. Highland City is an unincorporated community, so roof permits here go to the Polk County Building Division, not to a city office. Confirm each permit with that division before work starts.

Request a quote407-242-2840

Updated October 2026

Drone view looking down on a single-story home with a gray shingle roof, a backyard patio with chairs, a white vinyl fence, palm trees and a debris container at the edge of the frame.

At a glance

Highland City homes at a glance

People (2020 Census)
12,355
Median year homes were built
2000
Share of homes built before 1980
14.1%
Share of homes built 2010 or later
22.5%
Owner-occupied share of occupied homes
79.3%

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

Housing age

How old are the roofs in Highland City?

The median home here was built in 2000, based on the 2024 American Community Survey. That suggests many original roofs from that period are now past 25 years. A roof that old may need an inspection before a storm season, even if no leak is visible.

Only 14 percent of homes here date before 1980, compared with 30 percent across Polk County. The town has far fewer very old roofs than the county as a whole. Newer construction still ages, though. About 22 percent of homes were built in 2010 or later.

Mobile homes

Mobile homes and permits in Highland City

About 6.2 percent of housing units here are mobile homes, according to the 2024 American Community Survey. That is a meaningful share of the town. Roof work on these homes follows the same permit path, but the county building office should confirm which code edition applies to your unit.

Florida's 25 percent rule limits how much of a roof can be repaired or replaced in any 12-month period without bringing the whole roof system up to code. Should your roof have been built or repaired under the 2007 Florida Building Code or a later edition, just the repaired section needs to satisfy today's code.

Building permits

Polk County Building Division

Official building page

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

Storms and rain

Storm and rain risk for Highland City roofs

Hurricane Irma in 2017 produced a 75 knot gust near Bartow and 17.61 inches of rain in Davenport. Hurricane Ian in 2022 brought a 78 mph gust in Bartow and 6 to 12 inches of rain across the county. Polk County received federal disaster declarations because of both storms.

NOAA Atlas 14 puts a 1-hour rain in a 10-year storm at 2.82 inches an hour here. A 24-hour rain in a 100-year storm reaches 10.5 inches. Gutters and drainage matter during those events, so check them before the rainy season.

Local record

On record for Highland City

  • Housing age mix: 14% of housing units built before 1980 and 22% built 2010 or later (county: 30% and 18%); 15% of residents are 65 or older.

Services

Roofing services in Highland City

Questions

Highland City roofing questions

Who issues roof permits in Highland City, FL?

Highland City is an unincorporated census-designated place, so roof permits go to the Polk County Building Division. Highland City does not have its own municipal permit office. Confirm the permit requirements for your specific job with the county before you start work. Ask whether any local review applies to your property.

Source: Polk County Building Division, read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof replacement

What is the 25% roof rule in Florida?

The rule limits repairs, replacement or recovery to no more than 25 percent of a roof in any 12-month period unless the entire roof system is brought up to code. When the current roof was constructed or fixed under the 2007 Florida Building Code or newer, only the fixed part has to meet the present code. Local governments have no authority to alter that exception through an ordinance.

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 Eighth Edition of the Florida Building Code, dated 2023, went into force on December 31, 2023. The Ninth Edition, which is the 2026 code, will apply starting December 31, 2026, so any permit application filed on or after that day must follow it. Ask the county building office which edition applies to a permit you file.

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

Related: Roof replacement

Do roofs in Highland City need to be replaced after a storm?

The county was hit by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Hurricane Ian in 2022, both of which produced federal disaster declarations. Whether a roof needs replacement depends on its condition after a storm. Have a qualified inspector check the roof, then confirm the permit path with the Polk County Building Division. Reach out to your insurance company or agent for help with any claim you file.

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, event 721819 (Hurricane (Typhoon), 2017-09-10, zone/county POLK), bulk details file; FEMA OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2 (designatedArea = county), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof repair

What roofing issues are common for mobile homes in Highland City?

About 6.2 percent of housing units here are mobile homes. Confirm with the county building office which code edition applies to your unit before roof work begins. Check whether the roofing product carries a statewide approval number through the Florida Building Commission product approval search.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25024, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof replacement

Nearby

Near Highland City

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Polk County

More in Polk County

Sources for this page(30)
  1. 1.Median year homes were built: 2000. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25035, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  2. 2.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25034, B01001, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  3. 3.Share of homes built 2010 or later: 22.5%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25034, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  4. 4.Hurricane Irma (2017). NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, event 721819 (Hurricane (Typhoon), 2017-09-10, zone/county POLK), bulk details file; FEMA OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2 (designatedArea = county). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  5. 5.Hurricane Ian (2022). NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, event 1058669 (Tropical Storm, 2022-09-28, zone/county POLK), bulk details file; NHC TCR AL092022; FEMA OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2 (designatedArea = county). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  6. 6.Hurricane Nicole (2022). NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, event 1060337 (Tropical Storm, 2022-11-10, zone/county POLK), bulk details file; FEMA OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2 (designatedArea = county). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  7. 7.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25034, B25035, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  8. 8.Mobile homes, share of housing units: 6.2%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25024, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  9. 9.NOAA NCEI Storm Events bulk files 2016-2025 (operator count). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  10. 10.City of Winter Haven, Our Lakes; City of Lakeland, Lakes & Stormwater. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  11. 11.NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database bulk details files 2016-2025 (operator count by BEGIN_LOCATION; event ids: 808367, 899130). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  12. 12.Permit office: Polk County Building Division. Polk County Building Division. Read Oct 10, 2026.
  13. 13.U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 county population estimates (co-est2025-alldata.csv: ESTIMATESBASE2020, POPESTIMATE2025). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  14. 14.People (2020 Census): 12,355. U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (POP100/HU100) and 2020 TIGER land/water area, via TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 layer 28 (2020 Census count). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  15. 15.Share of homes built before 1980: 14.1%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25034, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  16. 16.Owner-occupied share of occupied homes: 79.3% (3,659 of 4,614 occupied units). U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25003, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  17. 17.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25035, B25077, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  18. 18.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25035, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr), U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  19. 19.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25034, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr), U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  20. 20.NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, event 721819 (Hurricane (Typhoon), 2017-09-10, zone/county POLK), bulk details file; FEMA OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2 (designatedArea = county), NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  21. 21.NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, event 1060337 (Tropical Storm, 2022-11-10, zone/county POLK), bulk details file; FEMA OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2 (designatedArea = county), NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. 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.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25024, via Census Reporter API (release acs2024_5yr), U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  24. 24.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  25. 25.FRSA, "New 2023 FBC Eighth Edition is Now in Effect", 2024-02-13, floridaroof.com. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  26. 26.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Highland City 2020 Census internal point (27.9635, -81.8786), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  27. 27.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration 24-hour depth estimates at the Highland City 2020 Census internal point (27.9635, -81.8786), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  28. 28.Polk County Building Division, Polk County Building Division. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  29. 29.Miami-Dade County RER notice, Miami. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  30. 30.Florida Building Commission, Florida Building Commission. Read Oct 5, 2026.

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