Covered patios & porch roofs
A covered patio turns a hot slab into a room you can use in July and in a summer storm. The part that matters most is the part you never see: how the new roof connects to the house and what holds it down in the wind.
Occupied or vacant homes This is exterior work, so it is fine while you live in the home.
What's included
- Footings and posts sized for the roof they carry
- Beams, rafters or trusses and the connection to your house
- Permit drawings and the permit application
- Coordinating the roof covering, fans and lights with licensed trade partners
- Inspections through final
Licensed trade partners. The roof covering is installed by a licensed roofing contractor, and fans or lights by a licensed electrician. We schedule them, and their work is inspected like ours.
The permit, in general
Permit: Yes – building permit (structural); electrical permit if wired
- Zoning
- Usually setback/lot-coverage review inside the building permit; HOA approval if any
- Usually needed
- Site plan / survey with setbacks · Sealed or engineered framing plan + connection details · Product approvals for roofing · Notice of Commencement (generally over $2,500; a copy is due to the building department before the first inspection over $5,000) · Owner authorization
- Inspections
- Footings · Framing / connections · Roof sheathing / dry-in (roofer) · Electrical rough + final if wired · Final
General Florida Building Code practice, not your building department's answer: the building department decides. Your city or the county may publish a different list. Check your address for its published checklist and sources.
Questions people ask
Can it tie into my existing roof?
Often, yes, but attaching to an existing roof or fascia changes how loads travel through the house. Many tie-ins need an engineer's design. We tell you which kind yours is before you sign anything.
Does it count against my setbacks?
Usually. A roofed structure is checked against the setback and lot-coverage rules where you live. Your survey shows how much room you have.
What about my HOA?
If you have one, plan on their approval before the permit. Some building departments ask for proof of it with the application.
What helps us price it
None of it is required to start. Anything you can send saves a round of questions.
- Photos of the patio and the back of the house, including the roof edge
- Your survey, if you have it
- Rough size you have in mind
- Whether you want fans or lights