Does a New Roof Require a Permit?

At Divine Roofing, Inc. we know that most people know that you need a government permit in order to build an addition on to your home or even build a new one from the ground up, but many are surprised to learn that they also need to obtain a permit for remodeling work or other construction projects. For example, installing a pool in your yard requires a construction permit, as well as multiple inspections and clearances from local inspectors. Believe it or not, the same is true for your roof—even though you own your home and your roof is an important part of keeping it protected, you are required by law to obtain a construction permit for roof repairs, and then have the repairs inspected once they are complete.

Why Do You Need a Permit?

The simplest answer to why you need a permit is two-fold: construction codes and building safety concerns. When your roof is complete, you’ll need to have your new roof inspected in order to make sure it adheres to building codes, including using acceptable materials and construction techniques which ensure that it’s both strong, long-lasting, and doesn’t present any risk of a structural catastrophe.

When Do You Need a Permit?

The exact rules for when you need a permit vary by where you live, but a good general rule of thumb to remember is that you’ll need a permit whenever you make any sort of structural change to your home. A roof replacement often involves replacing decking and the structure which supports your roof over your home, thus making it a structural change.

If you’re simply replacing a few damaged tiles or fixing some leaks, you won’t need a permit to do so since there’s no structural work being done. However, if you’re changing the material your roof is constructed from, such as making a change from clay to concrete tiles, you may need to change the structure in order to support it, thus necessitating a permit to complete the work. Likewise, even if you’re replacing your roof with one of the exact same material, there’s a strong chance you’ll need a permit still.

Finally, if your roofing work also requires work for a different system in your home, such as installing solar panels or making changes to plumbing that runs through your roof or attic area, you’ll need separate permits for those in addition to a roofing permit. Your chosen electrician/plumber/solar installation company will more than likely be able to help you with this.

Getting a Permit

Does getting a construction permit involve going to your local government office, waiting in an agonizingly long line, and essentially wasting a day just so you can get your roof repaired? Not at all—this isn’t the DMV. In fact, by working with a professional Colorado Springs roofer, you don’t even need to get the permit yourself. Your roofing contractor will take care of the permit work for you.

This is the best possible scenario because a professional roofer will know exactly what type of permits you need, how to apply for them, and how much they’ll cost. Generally, you can expect your permit to cost anywhere from around $100 to several hundred, depending on exactly where you live and local rules that your municipality may have. When you sign the contract for your roof repair, your contractor will go out and get the permit for you, and then include that cost in the final cost of your roof replacement service. You should be able to see the cost of your roofing permit in your initial quote, so you’ll know exactly what you’re paying before getting started.

Conversely, if you try to replace your roof yourself (which we cannot possibly advise doing in the absolute strongest of terms), you are still required to get a permit. The only difference is you’ll have to get it yourself, which means going through the process and paying the fee when you apply.