Every component on a Florida roof — the tile, the underlayment, the flashings, the fasteners — must carry a state-issued product approval before it can be installed. There are two systems. They are not interchangeable.
Florida Product Approval (FPA)
The state-wide system, administered by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Every product certified for installation anywhere in Florida outside of Miami-Dade and Broward counties carries an FPA number, typically in the format "FL-####" or "FL-#####".
You can look up any product's FPA at the state portal (floridabuilding.org). The lookup will tell you the wind speed rating, the eligible installation zones, the manufacturer, and the approved attachment methods.
Miami-Dade NOA (Notice of Acceptance)
A separate system, administered by Miami-Dade County, for products installed in the HVHZ — Miami-Dade and Broward counties. The NOA represents a more rigorous test protocol than FPA, with stricter wind, water, and impact criteria.
NOAs are numbered (e.g., "NOA 19-0814.02") and are looked up at the Miami-Dade Building Code portal.
A product can have FPA and not NOA. It cannot have NOA without also satisfying the broader Florida tests. Within the HVHZ, only NOA-approved products may be installed.
Why this matters for your roof
If your home is in the HVHZ, your roofer must be installing products with current NOAs. An expired NOA cannot be used; expired-NOA products on a roof can void warranty and can complicate insurance claims.
If your home is anywhere else in Florida, FPA-approved products are sufficient. NOA-approved products are also acceptable (they exceed the requirement) but typically cost more.
What to ask your contractor
Three documents should appear in your closeout package:
- The FPA or NOA number for each major component: tile, underlayment, fasteners, ridge venting.
- The current approval status at the time of installation. (Some products carry continuously renewed approvals; others lapse.)
- The attachment table referenced in the approval document — the specific spacing and pattern.
If your contractor cannot produce these on request, that is a flag.
A note on substitutions
Substitutions are common in roofing — the underlayment specified at contract is sometimes unavailable at delivery, and a contractor will substitute "an equivalent product." The substitute must carry its own current approval, ideally with the same wind speed rating and the same attachment requirements. We list substitution standards in writing for every contract because the field substitution is where compliance breakages most often occur.
Filed under