Building code & storms
Roofing in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (Miami-Dade and Broward)
Updated 2026-09-16. Facts checked against official sources on that date.
Short answer
Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone is Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Roofs there follow stricter code sections: every roofing product needs a product approval, repairs need permits, inspections happen in stages and design wind speeds are set county-wide. The rest of Florida uses statewide wind maps instead.
What the HVHZ is
The Florida Building Code defines the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) as Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Roofs there follow their own set of roofing sections instead of the general roofing chapter.[1][2]
Under Florida law, a local government elsewhere can adopt the HVHZ roofing rules too. We haven't found an official list of places that have, so if you're outside those two counties, ask your building department.[2]
The current code is the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), which took effect December 31, 2023. A 2026 update is in development, so details may change.[4]
What's different for roofs in the HVHZ
| Rule | What it means for your roof |
|---|---|
| Product approval | Every roofing component, system and assembly must have a valid, current product approval. If the manufacturer's instructions conflict with the approval, the approval wins. |
| Licensed contractor | All roofing work must be done by a contractor licensed for roofing. |
| Permits for repairs too | Permits are required for applying, repairing or maintaining any roofing component, with limited exceptions in the code. |
| Uniform permit application | New roofs, re-roofs and repairs use the HVHZ Uniform Roofing Permit Application, completed and signed by a licensed contractor. |
| Inspections in stages | The building official inspects during installation, for example at the underlayment, and again after all roofing work is finished. |
| Tile uplift test | Adhesive-set and mortar-set tile roofs need a field uplift test before the final inspection. |
Your HVHZ roofer must also give you an Owner's Notification for Roofing Considerations and explain it. One of its warnings: the existing wood roof deck may need to be renailed to meet current code.[2]
- No re-cover over existing wood shingles, shakes, slate, tile or metal shingles.
- New asphalt shingles may go over only one existing layer of asphalt shingles.
Design wind speeds in the HVHZ
| Building type | Miami-Dade · Broward |
|---|---|
| Risk Category I (low-risk, such as sheds) | 165 mph · 156 mph |
| Risk Category II (most homes) | 175 mph · 170 mph |
| Risk Category III (schools, gathering places) | 186 mph · 180 mph |
| Risk Category IV (hospitals, emergency buildings) | 195 mph · 185 mph |
Outside the HVHZ, design wind speed isn't one number per county. It's read from the statewide wind maps for the exact location.[3]
Product approvals and NOAs
Miami-Dade County's Product Control Section issues Notices of Acceptance (NOAs) for building envelope products, including roofing. The county says products with an NOA meet the requirements for the HVHZ. An approval is valid for five years. You can search approved products on the county's website.[5][6]
Florida also runs a statewide product approval system that covers roofing, and Miami-Dade's Product Control Division is one of its approved evaluation entities. Marketing a product as hurricane or windstorm protection without the required approval violates Florida's deceptive trade practices law.[7]
Ask for the approval number
Before you sign, ask your roofer which product approval covers the roof system they plan to install, and check it on the approving agency's search.
Rules that apply everywhere in Florida
The 25% rule isn't HVHZ-only. Statewide, no more than 25% of a roof or roof section can be repaired, replaced or recovered in any 12 months unless that whole roof or section is brought up to current code.[2]
State law carves out an exception: if the existing roof was built, repaired or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, only the part being repaired or replaced has to meet current code. Local governments can't change that exception by ordinance.[8]
And statewide, replacing the roof on a site-built single-family home must include a secondary water barrier and improvements to how the roof deck is attached.[8]
Every roofer in this directory shows its license
Each listing carries the license number, type and status from the state record, with the date we checked.
Find roofers by countyQuestions
Which counties are in Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone?
Broward and Miami-Dade, as defined in the Florida Building Code. Other local governments may adopt the HVHZ roofing provisions, so if you live elsewhere, check with your building department.
What wind speed must a house roof meet in Miami-Dade and Broward?
For most homes (Risk Category II), the code's design wind speed is 175 mph in Miami-Dade and 170 mph in Broward (Florida Building Code, 8th Edition, Section 1620.2).
What is a Miami-Dade NOA?
A Notice of Acceptance is a product approval from Miami-Dade County's Product Control Section. The county says NOA products meet HVHZ requirements, and approvals last five years.
Does the 25% roof rule only apply in the HVHZ?
No. It applies statewide, with an exception in s. 553.844, Florida Statutes: if the existing roof was built or replaced under the 2007 code or later, only the repaired or replaced part must meet current code.
Sources
- [1] Florida Building Code, Building, 8th Edition (2023), Chapter 2: Definitions (Section 202), checked 2026-09-16
- [2] Florida Building Code, Building, 8th Edition (2023), Chapter 15: Roof assemblies (Sections 1501, 1511, 1512–1525), checked 2026-09-16
- [3] Florida Building Code, Building, 8th Edition (2023), Chapter 16: Structural design (Sections 1609.3, 1620.2), checked 2026-09-16
- [4] Florida Building Commission: Building Codes Information System, checked 2026-09-16
- [5] Miami-Dade County: Product approval, checked 2026-09-16
- [6] Miami-Dade County: Product Control news (July 6, 2026), checked 2026-09-16
- [7] Florida Statutes s. 553.842: Product evaluation and approval, checked 2026-09-16
- [8] Florida Statutes s. 553.844: Windstorm loss mitigation; roofs, checked 2026-09-16
General information, not legal advice. Laws and records change; confirm with the agency before you act.