A new roof in Miami-Dade needs a permit, and the paperwork changes depending on which building department covers your address. This page collects what the county, Coral Gables and Miami Beach publish, with official sources linked where they exist, so you know what to expect before a contractor starts. Forms and rules change, so check the linked pages for the current version.
Questions about your own roof? Call (305) 279-0475 for a roof inspection. For the work itself, see roof replacement in Miami and roof repair in Miami.
1. Does your roof need a permit, and from whom?
The county says exterior work including a new roof needs a permit (Miami-Dade, how to apply for a permit). Its process applies to folios that start with 30, which are unincorporated Miami-Dade, and each municipality has its own Building Official. Check the Property Appraiser to see which municipality your property sits in. Our pages on Kendall, Coral Gables and Miami Beach go deeper on each.
2. Who pulls the permit
The county says permits are issued in the name of the person performing the work, and only licensed contractors or owner-builders may obtain one. Contractors can get roofing permits that do not need plan review through the county's e-permitting system. Caston Roofing is a licensed and insured contractor (Lic. # CCC1328328), and you can ask us what permits and product approvals your building needs before you sign.
3. Documents typically needed
Lists differ by city, so treat these as examples from the published checklists and confirm with your building department.
- Roof plan and elevation drawings, and for Miami Beach, digitally or electronically signed and sealed drawings (Coral Gables, Miami Beach).
- Color photographs of the existing roof and the area of work, and the specifications and selected color of the new tile or material (Coral Gables).
- A Notice of Acceptance or product approval for each roof component (Coral Gables, Miami Beach).
- The High Velocity Hurricane Zone roof permit application forms (Coral Gables).
- An owner's notification for roofing, and where listed, wind design calculations and the fire directory listing page (Coral Gables, Miami Beach).
4. Product approval lookup (NOA)
The county's Product Control Section reviews and issues approval for building envelope products, including roofing, and runs a public Product Approval Search. Ask your contractor for the approval number of each component and look it up yourself.
5. The hurricane zone
Miami-Dade and Broward are Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, which carries more stringent requirements than the rest of the state (Wikipedia, Florida Building Code). Miami Beach's checklist states that all roofing work must comply with Chapter 15 of the Florida Building Code and the test protocols for the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone.
6. Notice of Commencement and inspections
If the value of the work is above the county's listed threshold, the owner records a Notice of Commencement with the Clerk of Court before inspections. Your permit card lists the required inspections. For examples of a roof sequence, Coral Gables lists, where applicable, lightweight concrete installation, mopping, uplift test, tiles or shingles placing, tin caps, and final historical, public works and building inspections. Miami Beach lists its own roof inspections, and says not all of them are required, on its residential re-roof checklist; our Miami Beach page has that list.
When the job is done, the county says the contractor should show proof that final inspections were approved or a Certificate of Completion, and you should ask for final lien releases from anyone who supplied labor or materials.
Official pages
- Miami-Dade County: how to apply for a permit
- Miami-Dade County: product approval
- City of Coral Gables: permit requirements (PDF)
- City of Miami Beach: Building Department
- City of Miami Beach: permitting checklists
Not in one of these? Other cities, such as Hialeah and Pinecrest, run their own departments, and our pages for them link to the official sources.
Common Questions
Who can pull a roofing permit in Miami-Dade?
The county says building permits are issued in the name of the person doing the work, and only licensed contractors or owner-builders may obtain one. Cities with their own building department have their own processes.
How do I know if my address is county or city?
The county says its process applies to folios that start with 30, which are unincorporated Miami-Dade. Each municipality has its own Building Official. The Property Appraiser can tell you which municipality your property is in.
How do I check a roofing product approval?
Use the county's Product Approval Search. Ask your contractor for the approval number of each roof component and look it up before work starts.
How are roofing inspections scheduled?
In unincorporated Miami-Dade, the county says to schedule one business day ahead, before 4 p.m., online, by its automated line or at the permit counter. Your permit card lists the inspections your job needs. Cities set their own scheduling.
Does Caston Roofing handle permits?
The county says only licensed contractors or owner-builders may pull a roofing permit, and Caston Roofing is a licensed contractor (Lic. # CCC1328328). Ask us who will pull the permit on your job, and what permits and product approvals your building needs, and get the answer in writing before you sign. Call (305) 279-0475.
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