Roofing in Jamaica

Jamaica's roofs are shaped by hurricanes, earthquakes and heavy rain. The country moved its building regulation to an International Building Code base in 2019, six years before Hurricane Melissa tore roofs from buildings across the south-west.

Climate and hazards

• Hurricanes: Hurricane Melissa made landfall in south-western Jamaica on 28 October 2025 as a Category 5 storm with winds of about 295 km/h (185 mph), the strongest to strike the island in 174 years of records. Officials reported roofs flying off buildings, and St. Elizabeth parish was largely flooded.
• Earthquakes, which the national code must also address.
• Heavy rain and landslides in the mountainous interior.

Roofing history

Taíno. Jamaica was settled by the Taíno, who built thatched houses of poles, woven straw and palm leaves in villages around central plazas (see bohio).

Roofing today

Regional guidance for hurricane islands favours hip roofs and strapped rafter connections (see roofing-in-the-caribbean).

Codes, standards and regulation

The Building Act of 2018 came into operation on 15 January 2019, repealing the Kingston and St. Andrew Building Act and the Parish Councils Building Act. It prescribes the International Building Code, together with documents declared as standards by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica, as the National Building Code of Jamaica. The Bureau advises the minister on how far the international codes apply to Jamaica and recommends accreditation standards for materials and methods.

Notable roofs

No individually roofs are listed.

Local roofing terms

• Hurricane strap: steel strap tying rafters to walls (see hurricane-tie).

Sources and gaps

Detailed accounts of colonial and later roofing history: published information is limited. No information on domestic roofing manufacturers was found in published sources.

Roof material shares, vernacular and colonial roof history, and Melissa damage totals: published information is limited.