- Best source
- Re-roof permit date
- Fallback
- Assessor year built
- Typical asphalt life
- About 20 to 30 years
What are the ways to date a roof?
| Method | How reliable | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Re-roof permit history | Best where permits are required | Search the city or county permit portal by address or parcel number |
| Assessor year built | Good for original roofs | From county property records; says nothing about later replacements |
| Owner records | Good | Contracts, receipts, warranties, home inspection reports |
| Insurance records | Good | Insurers often record roof age or replacement date |
| Shingle labels (Texas impact-resistant) | Good where present | Texas requires labels on UL 2218 roofs to show the year manufactured |
| Manufacturer lot codes | Inconsistent | Codes differ between manufacturers and are hard to read on an installed roof |
How do I look up roof permit history?
Find the issuing jurisdiction (city inside city limits, county outside), open its online permit portal and search by address or parcel number for roofing or re-roof permits. Note the issue date and whether the permit was finaled. Paper-era permits may need a public records request. A step-by-step walkthrough: how to look up building permits by address.
Hail Pro links roofing permits from city and county permit offices to each property and shows the last re-roof date on the property card, where the jurisdiction publishes permits. See roof permits.
How does Florida define roof age?
For insurance purposes, Florida law dates a roof from the last time 100% of it was replaced under the building code then in effect (Florida Statutes 627.7011(5)(d)). The same statute says that, for policies from July 1, 2022, an insurer may not refuse or nonrenew coverage solely because of roof age if the roof is less than 15 years old, and for older roofs the homeowner may get an inspection showing at least 5 years of remaining life.
How long do roofs last?
Two widely cited sources give expected lifespans, and they disagree in places. Use them as rough guides; climate, installation, ventilation and storms matter more.
| Material | NAHB / Bank of America (2007) | InterNACHI |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles | 20 years (not split by type) | 3-tab 20 years; architectural 30 years |
| Fiber cement | 25 years | 25 years |
| Wood shingles and shakes | 30 years | 25 years |
| Simulated slate | 50 years | Not listed |
| Slate | 50+ years | 60 to 150 years |
| Clay or concrete tile | Lifetime | 100+ years |
| Copper | Lifetime | 70+ years |
| Metal | Not listed | 40 to 80 years |
The NAHB figures come from a 2007 survey of manufacturers and are dated.
Why does roof age matter?
- Insurance. Some insurers pay older roofs on an actual cash value basis or by an age schedule; see hail damage insurance claims.
- Hail damage. Older, brittle shingles are damaged by smaller hail; see what size hail damages a roof.
- Sales and lending. Buyers, inspectors and lenders ask for roof age.
- Roofing leads. Contractors skip recently replaced roofs after a storm; see storm roofing leads.
Frequently asked questions
Can I find a roof's age from the address?
Often, yes: search the address in the local building department's permit portal for a re-roof permit. If none exists, the county assessor's year built gives the age of an original roof.
Does the county assessor know when a roof was replaced?
Usually not. Assessor records carry year built and sometimes a roof material, but rarely a replacement date. Permits are the better source.