New construction · Longwood

New construction roofing in Longwood, FL

Longwood's housing stock is newer than most of Seminole County, with 19.2 percent of homes built in 2010 or later. That share is well above the county's 12.3 percent. If you are building here, the roof is one of the steps the code checks most closely. Knowing the order of work and the inspections saves time on the build.

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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

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: Longwood City Hall FL by Connor J Williams, CC BY 2.0, cropped

Code and timing

Which edition of the building code governs a new roof in Longwood

Applications filed on or before December 31, 2026 are reviewed under the 2023 Florida Building Code, Eighth Edition. Permits submitted on or after that date must follow the Ninth Edition. If your plans are still being drawn for a Longwood lot, the filing date decides which set of roofing rules applies.

Your roof permit also carries a clock. Once a permit is issued, you have 6 months to begin work, after which it lapses. An active job needs an approved inspection within 180 days. Confirm these dates with the City of Longwood Permitting and Inspections office before you schedule crews.

What the inspector checks

Decking, underlayment and drip edge for a new Longwood roof

Roof sheathing has to be fastened with ring shank nails, and the code names the nail type and size. The inspector looks at this at the sheathing stage. Get it right before the roof covering goes on.

Pick one of three dry-in methods for shingle, metal and similar roofs.
Install drip edge at eaves and gables, fastened closer where wind speeds run higher.
Put gutters and downspouts on any eave under 6 inches, with downspouts discharging at least 1 foot from the wall.

Sequence and sign-off

Timing the roof work alongside construction and inspections

The roof comes after framing is in place and before the exterior finish. The inspections run in a fixed order: foundation, framing, sheathing, exterior walls and soffit, roofing, then final. Plan the crew around the sheathing and dry-in inspections, since the roof cannot move forward without them.

A tile, metal or membrane roof has to be put on by a contractor holding a certified or registered roofing license. A general contractor may self-perform asphalt shingles only on its own new building. Ask your builder which trade holds the roofing scope before work starts.

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Questions

New construction roofing in Longwood: questions

Which Florida building code edition applies to a new roof in Longwood?

Permits filed before December 31, 2026 follow the 2023 Florida Building Code, Eighth Edition. Permits filed on or after that date must comply with the Ninth Edition. Longwood's new-build share is 19.2 percent, so many current projects fall under the Eighth Edition. Check the filing date on your own permit with the City of Longwood Permitting and Inspections office.

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

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What inspections come before the roof covering goes on?

The code requires foundation, framing and sheathing inspections before the roof covering is installed. Sheathing can be checked as part of a dry-in inspection or on its own once all roof and wall sheathing and fasteners are complete. That roofing inspection checks dry-in, insulation, roof coverings and flashing. Many homes in this area were built around 1983, so older framing and sheathing often get extra attention during these checks. Ask the building office to confirm the order for your permit.

Source: 2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 1 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), read Oct 5, 2026

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Who can install a roof on a new home in Longwood?

Under Florida law, a general contractor must hand off roofing work to a subcontractor unless the general contractor holds its own roofing certificate or registration. Asphalt or fiberglass shingles can be laid by the builder personally, but only on a building that builder put up. Installing tile, metal or membrane roofing calls for a certified or registered roofing contractor. Longwood's housing stock is older than many Florida towns, with a median build year of 1983 (margin of error ±3), so re-roofing work on existing homes is common. You can confirm a contractor's license with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

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

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Does a new Longwood home come with a builder warranty on the roof?

Since July 1, 2025, Florida law requires a builder to warrant a newly constructed home for 1 year against code-violating defects in equipment, material or workmanship. The warranty runs from original conveyance or initial occupancy, whichever comes first. Longwood has a substantial stock of older housing, with the median home built around 1983 (margin of error ±3), so homeowners buying existing roofs should not confuse the new-construction builder warranty with coverage on older homes. Your policy typically excludes everyday deterioration, foundation movement, damage from workmanship errors you made, and losses caused by natural disasters. Read your builder's written terms for the exact coverage.

Source: Florida Statutes, section 553.837 (2026), read Oct 5, 2026

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