Permit
A permit is needed
Florida’s code exempts no building work from permits (FBC Building § 105.2); in Sewall's Point the reroof permit comes from the town’s building department.
Roof Replacement in Sewall's Point, FL
Sewall's Point has 1,014 homes, and half of them were standing by 1989. 63% predate 2000, and Florida’s reroof rules depend on when the house was permitted.
New Roofing Costs connects homeowners with independent local roofing contractors. We do not perform roofing work.
Call (833) 781-1806 Replacement and new roofs only · homeowners
This number connects homeowners who are planning a new roof or a full roof replacement with independent local roofing contractors. It is not for leak repairs or patch jobs. The call must come from the homeowner who decides on the roof. Calls may be recorded.
The rules for a reroof in Sewall's Point
Layers
When the old roof must come off
A tear-off to the deck is required where the roof already has two layers, where the covering is tile, slate or wood shake, or where it is water-soaked or deteriorated (FBC Existing Building 706.3).
The 25 percent rule
Partial work can bring in the whole roof
Florida limits partial work: if more than 25 percent of a roof or roof section is redone in 12 months, the whole roof or section has to meet the current code. Roofs built or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or later are exempt; only the new part must meet the code in effect (FBC Existing Building 706.1.1; Fla. Stat. § 553.844(5)).
Source: FBC Existing Building, 8th ed. (2023), Chapter 7; Fla. Stat. § 553.844
Houses permitted before 2002
A secondary water barrier and deck re-nailing
If your site-built single-family home was permitted before the Florida Building Code took effect (March 1, 2002), a full roof replacement must include a secondary water barrier and re-nailing of the roof deck: at least two 8d nails per rafter, a nail counting as 8d if it is at least 0.113 inch thick and 2¼ inches long (Fla. Stat. § 553.844(3); FBC Existing Building 706.7).
63% of homes in Sewall's Point were built before 2000 (ACS); the year the house was permitted is what counts.
Source: Fla. Stat. § 553.844; FBC Existing Building, 8th ed. (2023), Chapter 7
Checked against the code text on October 24, 2026. Everything else the state requires: roof replacement in Florida.
Homes and roofs in Sewall's Point
94% of the occupied homes in Sewall's Point are lived in by their owners: 805 households, the people this line is for. Counting by decade, 0% before 1960, 32% before 1980, 63% before 2000 of the housing was in place, and 37% dates from 2000 on. (ACS 2020–2024.)
The housing is 100% detached houses.
Of the 11 Martin County places on this site, Sewall's Point has the smallest share of homes built before 2000: 63%, against a county range of 63% to 90%.
ZIP codes: 34996
Sewall's Point and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 2000 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sewall's Point | 1989 | 63% | 94% | 0% | 15 |
| Stuart | 1981 | 84% | 69% | 4% | 18 |
| Rio | 1977 | 90% | 96% | 0% | 17 |
| Port Salerno | 1987 | 74% | 81% | 10% | 15 |
| Jensen Beach | 1986 | 74% | 76% | 4% | 15 |
| North River Shores | 1979 | 71% | 74% | 1% | 17 |
Median built: median year the homes were built. Before 2000: share of homes built then. Owners: share of homes that are owner-occupied. Row, twin: share of homes that are rowhouses, twins or townhouses. Census ACS 2020–2024. Hail days: days with hail of 1 inch or larger within 10 miles, 2006–2025, NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Hail and storms near Sewall's Point
NOAA’s storm reports show 15 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Sewall's Point, topping out at 1.75 in on May 19, 2024.
That is more hail days than 81% of the places in the state on this site.
At the county level, Sewall's Point shares Martin County’s record of 8 storm disaster declarations since 2006, the newest DR-4834 (Hurricane Milton, October 2024). (OpenFEMA.)
Storm reports are what observers logged, not a measure of damage to any roof. When wind or hail damage means a new roof.
What goes on the roof next
Lifespans come from HUD’s capital-needs table, not from a brochure. More in the guides to shingles, metal, slate, tile and flat roofs.
| Material | HUD useful life | Fits a house like | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles | 20 years | Most pitched roofs; 100% of homes here are detached | Wind class set by the design wind speed (IRC Table R905.2.4.1) |
| Metal (standing seam, panels) | 50 years | Low pitches and long runs | A complete standing-seam system may go over the old roof (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older and historic houses | Never a base for a new layer (R908.3.1.1); heavy |
| Clay or concrete tile | 60 years | Houses framed for tile | Can’t be roofed over (FBC-EB 706.3) |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Additions and porch roofs | Coating is not a replacement |
Checking a contractor in Florida
A Florida roofer needs a state license, CCC statewide or RC locally; check the number of whoever prices the roof in Sewall's Point on DBPR before signing.
Contracts, deposits and the right to cancel: Florida roofing licenses. What moves the price: new roof cost in Florida.
Questions about a new roof in Sewall's Point
Does a roof replacement in Sewall's Point need a permit?
A permit is needed. Florida’s code exempts no building work from permits (FBC Building § 105.2); in Sewall's Point the reroof permit comes from the town’s building department.
Is a roof-over allowed in Sewall's Point, or is it a tear-off?
A tear-off to the deck is required where the roof already has two layers, where the covering is tile, slate or wood shake, or where it is water-soaked or deteriorated (FBC Existing Building 706.3).
When were most homes in Sewall's Point built?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Sewall's Point was built in 1989, 63% of homes were built before 2000, 94% are owner-occupied.
Does Sewall's Point get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 15 days within 10 miles of Sewall's Point from 2006 through 2025 (NOAA Storm Prediction Center). A report means hail fell nearby, not that a roof was damaged.
What license or registration should a roofer in Sewall's Point have?
A Florida roofer needs a state license, CCC statewide or RC locally; check the number of whoever prices the roof in Sewall's Point on DBPR before signing.
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in Sewall's Point, or at least the ZIP code
- The number of stories, and whether the house stands alone
- What is on the roof now (asphalt shingles, metal, slate, tile, or a flat membrane) and roughly how old it is
- The number of layers, if anyone has counted
- That you want a new roof or a full replacement, and when you want the work done
- The year the house was built and the year the roof was last replaced
- That the house is yours and the decision is yours
The full list: before you call.