A roof replacement in Orlando or Orange County needs a permit and inspections. A permit creates a public record that your roof was built to the Florida Building Code, which matters when you sell, file a claim or get a wind mitigation inspection. Here is how the two offices compared in 2026.
| Detail | City of Orlando | Unincorporated Orange County |
|---|---|---|
| Permit needed to replace a roof | Yes | Yes |
| How to apply | Online residential re-roofing form | Fast Track online portal |
| Reroof inspections | Dry-in/in-progress (code 125) and final | In-progress and final |
| Extra paperwork | Inspection affidavit at final | Owner Builder Disclosure Statement if self-performed |
| Notice of Commencement | Required over $5,000 | Required over $5,000 |
Which office handles my roof permit?
It depends on where your home is. If your address is inside City of Orlando limits, the City's Permitting Services handles it. If you are in unincorporated Orange County, the county handles it through Fast Track. Other cities have their own rules. For example, Orange County's Do I Need a Permit page says homes in the City of Edgewood need city approval before applying through the county. If you are not sure which office covers your address, your roofer can check your parcel. Our Orlando and Apopka pages name the permit office that covers each city.
How does the City of Orlando roof permit work?
The City of Orlando residential roof permit page explains that the permit exists so roof work is safe and meets city standards. The steps, as of 2026:
- Submit the online residential re-roofing form. It covers project cost, roof details, underlayment, roof covering and fastener types.
- Wait for review. City staff review the form and reach out within three business days, per that page.
- Pay the fee. After approval you get payment instructions by email and can pay through Permit Lookup.
- Receive your permit packet. The City emails the permit itself, an inspection sign-off sheet and the affidavit your roofer completes at final.
- Record the Notice of Commencement if the project is over $5,000.
- Pass the dry-in inspection. For permits issued on or after January 1, 2020, the City requires a dry-in, in-progress inspection (code 125) on every residential and commercial reroof. A roof that skipped it may be disapproved at final and may need some or all of the covering removed.
- Pass the final inspection with a completed affidavit verifying the roof deck nailing and secondary water barrier installation.
How does the Orange County roof permit work?
Orange County says a replacement roof needs a permit (Orange County permit guide). The process, as of 2026:
- Apply on Fast Track. See Orange County's roof permit page. You provide details like the building type, type of work, job value, roof area, number of stories and roofing material.
- Get approved and pay. Once the application is complete, approved and paid, the permit is issued and emailed to the contact on the application.
- Record the Notice of Commencement if the job is over $5,000.
- Pass inspections. Reroofs need an in-progress inspection and a final inspection. Roof-overs need a final inspection.
Questions go to Orange County Permitting (Sub-Trades) at esubs@ocfl.net or (407) 836-5564.
What is a Notice of Commencement?
It is a short form, recorded with the Orange County Comptroller, that tells anyone who checks the public record that work is starting on your property. Section 713.13, Florida Statutes requires it to be recorded and a copy posted at the job site before work starts. Orlando and the county each want a filed copy before the first inspection once the contract passes $5,000, and almost no full reroof comes in under that. Who signs it, when it expires and how to close it out are in our Notice of Commencement guide.
Can I pull the permit myself?
You can, as an owner-builder, but you take on the legal duties for the work. Florida's owner-builder exemption in section 489.103(7) requires you to directly supervise the work yourself, and the home must be for your own use. Selling or leasing it within a year of completion creates a presumption the work was done for sale. You must personally sign the permit application and a disclosure statement. In Orlando, the Owner/Builder Declaration must be signed in person at the Permitting office.
If a roofer asks you to pull the permit, ask why. A licensed contractor should pull its own. See how to choose a roofer in Orlando.
What does the inspector check?
The in-progress, or dry-in, inspection happens while the work is still underway, before it is fully covered. In Orlando, the final inspection affidavit confirms deck nailing and the secondary water barrier. Those are two of the main reroof requirements in the Florida Building Code. Read Florida Building Code roof requirements for the details.
Does the permit slow my roof down?
It adds a review step before work starts. Orlando's stated review window is three business days, so the permit rarely holds a reroof up for long. See how long does roof replacement take for a typical timeline.
Who should handle the paperwork?
Your licensed roofer should pull the permit and book the inspections. When the final passes, file the signed-off permit with your roof records, because a buyer, an insurer or a wind mitigation inspector will ask for its date. To get a roof looked at before any of that, request a free roof inspection, or compare materials and budgets on our roof replacement service page and Orlando roof replacement cost guide.
