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Roofing in Longwood, Florida

Longwood is the oldest city in Seminole County, and it has a designated Historic District with a walking tour of contributing historic structures. That history shapes roofing here. Many roofs on older homes are likely past their expected life, and some sit inside a district where a city review may apply before work starts.

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Updated October 2026

Yellow single-storey city hall building beside a green directional sign and a tall palm under blue sky.
Photo: Longwood City Hall FL by Connor J Williams, CC BY 2.0, cropped

At a glance

Longwood homes at a glance

People (2020 Census)
15,087
Median year homes were built
1983
Share of homes built before 1980
41.9%
Share of homes built 2010 or later
19.2%
Owner-occupied share of occupied homes
69.4%

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

Roof age

What the age of a roof in Longwood tells you, and why it matters

The median home here was built in 1983, and 41.9 percent of homes were built before 1980. Countywide the median is 1988. That suggests many original roofs in Longwood are at or beyond 25 years, the age where Citizens starts asking for proof of remaining life on soft roofs such as shingle.

Only 19.2 percent of homes were built in 2010 or later, compared with 12.3 percent across the county. Longwood has a larger share of older housing than the county as a whole, so an older roof here is more common than in newer parts of Seminole County.

Permits and review

Roof permits and review in the Longwood Historic District

Roof permits in Longwood are issued by the City of Longwood Permitting and Inspections office. That office is the place to confirm whether a permit is needed for your job and what it requires.

Because the city has a designated Historic District, a home inside it may face review beyond a standard permit. Ask the city before you choose materials or colors for an older house. The Historic District page on the city site lists contributing structures.

A permit clock also applies. Under the Florida Building Code, a permit becomes invalid unless work starts within 6 months of issuance, and it can lapse if work stops for 6 months. Plan the schedule so the job does not sit idle.

Building permits

City of Longwood Permitting and Inspections

Official building page

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

Storms and rain

Storms and heavy rain that reach Longwood roofs

Hurricane Irma in 2017 affected 4,939 of 7,125 residential structures assessed in the county, with 162 major and 24 destroyed. Hurricane Matthew in 2016 brought a 63 mph peak gust at Orlando-Sanford International, mostly from falling trees. Hurricane Ian in 2022 caused mainly flooding across the county.

Rain is the everyday concern. In a 10-year storm, a one-hour rain here falls at 2.88 inches an hour, and a 24-hour total reaches 6.15 inches. Check flashing and gutters before the wet season starts each June.

Mobile homes

Mobile and manufactured homes in Longwood

Mobile homes make up 1.4 percent of housing units in Longwood, against 2.1 percent countywide. That is a small share, but a mobile home roof has its own code path.

Local record

On record for Longwood

  • Longwood's Big Tree Park was home to The Senator, an ancient bald cypress described as the biggest and oldest in the world.
  • Water is 6.0% of the place's total area.

Services

Roofing services in Longwood

Questions

Longwood roofing questions

What is the 25% roof rule in Florida?

Under the 25 percent rule, you can only repair, replace or recover a set share of an existing roof within any 12-month span before the entire roof system must meet current code. Not more than 25 percent of the total roof area may be worked on in that span. If the existing roof was built or repaired under the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, only the repaired part must meet the current code. In Longwood, where the median home dates to 1983, this rule often applies to partial repairs on older roofs. Confirm the rule for your specific job with the City of Longwood Permitting and Inspections office.

Source: 2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof replacement

Do I need a permit to reroof in Longwood?

Roof permits in Longwood are issued by the City of Longwood Permitting and Inspections office. Ask that office whether your job needs a permit before work begins. Because a permit becomes invalid if work does not start within 6 months, and lapses after 6 months without progress, plan the timing carefully. Homes inside the Longwood Historic District may face added review, so confirm that as well.

Source: City of Longwood Permitting and Inspections, read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof replacement

Why does my Longwood roof age matter for insurance?

If your shingle roof is more than 25 years old, Citizens Property Insurance asks for proof that at least five years of useful life remain. The median home in Longwood was built in 1983, so many roofs here may already be at that threshold. Check with your insurer or agent about what documentation they require for your roof.

Source: Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, inspections FAQ (updated 2026-03-17), read Oct 4, 2026

Related: Roof inspections

How much rain can a Longwood roof face in a storm?

In a 10-year storm, a one-hour rain in this area falls at 2.88 inches an hour, and a 24-hour total reaches 6.15 inches. A 100-year storm produces 10.4 inches in 24 hours. Flashing, gutters and drainage are the parts most likely to fail under that kind of water, so inspect them before the rainy season.

Source: NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Longwood 2020 Census internal point (28.7014, -81.3484), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof repair

Can a mobile home in Longwood get a new roof?

Mobile homes are 1.4 percent of housing units in Longwood. Roofing on a manufactured home follows the building rules that applied when the home was built. Confirm the rules for your home with the City of Longwood Permitting and Inspections office.

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

Related: Roof replacement

Nearby

Near Longwood

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Seminole County

More in Seminole County

Sources for this page(29)
  1. 1.Median year homes were built: 1983. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  2. 2.Share of homes built before 1980: 41.9%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  3. 3.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, table B25035. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  4. 4.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.
  5. 5.Share of homes built 2010 or later: 19.2%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  6. 6.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, table B25034. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  7. 7.City of Longwood, Historic District. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  8. 8.Permit office: City of Longwood Permitting and Inspections. City of Longwood Permitting and Inspections. Read Oct 10, 2026.
  9. 9.Hurricane Irma (2017). NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (2017). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  10. 10.Hurricane Matthew (2016). NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (2016). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  11. 11.Hurricane Ian (2022). NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ian (2022). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  12. 12.NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (annual/seasonal), access-data API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  13. 13.Mobile homes, share of housing units: 1.4%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  14. 14.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, table B25024. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  15. 15.U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 MapServer: POP100, HU100, AREALAND, AREAWATER). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  16. 16.U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 MapServer: POP100, HU100, AREALAND, AREAWATER). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  17. 17.People (2020 Census): 15,087. U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 MapServer: POP100, HU100, AREALAND, AREAWATER) (2020 Census count). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  18. 18.Owner-occupied share of occupied homes: 69.4%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  19. 19.City of Longwood, History. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  20. 20.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  21. 21.Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, inspections FAQ (updated 2026-03-17), Citizens Property Insurance. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  22. 22.City of Longwood Permitting and Inspections, City of Longwood Permitting and Inspections. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  23. 23.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 1 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  24. 24.NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (2017), National Weather Service. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  25. 25.NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (2016), National Weather Service. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  26. 26.NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ian (2022), National Weather Service. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  27. 27.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Longwood 2020 Census internal point (28.7014, -81.3484), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  28. 28.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration 24-hour depth estimates at the Longwood 2020 Census internal point (28.7014, -81.3484), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  29. 29.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.

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