Roof Replacement Permit Rules in 13 US Cities

Quick Facts

From our city pages and each city's open permit data (refreshed October 30, 2026).

Three Rules That Decide Most Cases

Across the 13 cities, the same three questions decide whether a re-roof needs a permit:

1. How much of the roof? Nashville treats repairs up to one-third of the roof as maintenance; New Orleans exempts replacement of less than 50%; San Francisco exempts reroofing that covers no more than 25% of the roof in 12 months and doesn't touch sheathing.
2. Is it only the covering? Austin exempts asphalt shingles replacing asphalt shingles and any covering that does not affect the roof structure, but requires a permit above 128 sq ft of roof decking (and in the Wildland-Urban Interface when 50% or more is replaced). North Carolina's exemption reaches only about 15% of roof deck replacement.
3. What kind of roof? Chicago's exemption applies only to roofs with a pitch of at least 2:12 on residential buildings up to 4 stories. Low-slope (flat) roofs, common on Chicago two-flats, still need a permit.

City-By-City Roofing Permit Rules

These summaries come from the same official sources as our city pages and were last checked October 30, 2026. Permit counts are the city's own open-data records for the last 12 months.

Chicago: Depends on Slope

On a house or other residential building up to 4 stories, repairing, recovering or replacing a roof with a pitch of at least 2:12 needs no building permit. Low-slope (flat) roofs and any structural repair need a permit, usually an Express Permit, with an Illinois-licensed roofing contractor doing the work.

• No permit: repair, recover or replacement of a roof pitched 2:12 or steeper on a residential building up to 4 stories (Municipal Code 14A-4-402).
• Permit needed: any work on a low-slope roof and any structural repair.
• Express reroofing permits require an Illinois roofing contractor license; a recover over 2 or more existing layers needs structural calculations.
• Landmark properties and landmark districts may not qualify for the exemption.
• Official fees: Roof recover (no tear-off) or roof repair: $185 per area up to 5,000 sq ft; Roof replacement: $475 per area up to 5,000 sq ft.
• Chicago issued 2,791 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 2 days from application to issue.

Source: Chicago DOB: Roofing Work (work not requiring a permit)

New York: Sometimes

Under 1 RCNY §101-14, replacing roof coverings, membrane and insulation above the roof deck can be an ordinary repair that is exempt from a DOB permit, as long as the Energy Conservation Code does not require added insulation. Replacing the roof deck or sheathing requires a permit.

• Roof covering replacement above the deck may be exempt (1 RCNY §101-14).
• Replacing roof deck or sheathing requires a permit.
• Landmarked buildings still need Landmarks Preservation Commission approval.
• New York issued 6,622 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 268 days from application to issue.

Source: 1 RCNY §101-14: Work that may or may not require a permit · Full details: New York Roofing Permits

Los Angeles: Yes

LADBS issues re-roofs as Express Permits with no plan check, for Class A or B coverings under 6 lb/sq ft. Class A roofing is required in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, and replacing more than 50% of the roof triggers the cool-roof requirement.

• Re-roof is an Express Permit (no plan check) for Class A/B coverings under 6 lb/sq ft.
• Class A is required in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
• Replacing more than 50% of the roof requires a CRRC-rated cool-roof product.
• Los Angeles issued 14,845 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 49 days from application to issue.

Source: LADBS Information Bulletin P/GI 2020-003: Express Permits · Full details: Los Angeles Roofing Permits

Austin: Often No

Austin exempts asphalt shingles that replace asphalt shingles, and any roof covering that does not affect the roof structure. You do need a permit (normally an Express permit) to replace more than 128 sq ft of roof decking, or if the home is in the Wildland-Urban Interface and 50% or more of the roof is replaced.

• Exempt: like-for-like asphalt shingle replacement outside the WUI.
• Permit required: more than 128 sq ft of roof decking.
• Permit required in the WUI when 50% or more of the roofing is replaced.
• Official fees: Express Residential Plan Review (FY2026): $136.45; Residential Express Permit (FY2026): $87.49.
• Austin issued 1,081 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 28 days from application to issue.

Source: Austin DSD: Work Exempt from Building Permits · Full details: Austin Roofing Permits

Seattle: Often No

For detached one- and two-family homes, re-roofing and replacing sheathing needs no permit when the building envelope does not change and the work is equal to or better than what exists. You need a construction permit if the re-roof alters the envelope beyond adding or replacing insulation.

• No permit for 1–2 family re-roofs with no envelope change.
• Construction permit if the re-roof alters the building envelope.
• Energy code may require added insulation.
• Seattle issued 455 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 40 days from application to issue.

Source: Seattle SDCI: Re-Roof Permit · Full details: Seattle Roofing Permits

Orlando: Yes

Replacing or repairing a roof on a home in Orlando needs a building permit. The City requires a dry-in/in-progress inspection and an affidavit at final verifying deck nailing and the secondary water barrier.

• Building permit required for residential re-roofs.
• Dry-in inspection (code 125) plus final with affidavit.
• Notice of Commencement if the work exceeds $5,000.
• Orlando issued 3,008 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 1 days from application to issue.

Source: City of Orlando: Apply for a Residential Roof Permit · Full details: Orlando Roofing Permits

Philadelphia: Yes

Roof covering replacement needs a building permit in Philadelphia, but it is an EZ permit with no plans required. No zoning permit is needed if the work is limited to the covering.

• Roof covering replacement: building permit via the EZ (no plans) route.
• No zoning permit if the work is limited to the covering.
• Historic-registry properties have extra requirements.
• Philadelphia issued 2,588 matching permits in the last 12 months.

Source: Philadelphia L&I: Get permits without plans (EZ permits) · Full details: Philadelphia Roofing Permits

Baltimore: Often No

Baltimore's list of work exempt from permit for one- and two-family homes includes replacing roof shingles and replacing roof tarring. Structural roof work, such as replacing rafters or decking, is an alteration and needs a permit.

• Exempt for 1–2 family homes: replacing roof shingles.
• Exempt: replacing roof tarring.
• Structural alterations require a building permit.
• Baltimore issued 2,090 matching permits in the last 12 months.

Source: Baltimore DHCD: Work Exempt from Permit · Full details: Baltimore Roofing Permits

Nashville: Usually Yes

Nashville requires a building permit to install roofing, or to replace more than one-third of the roof. Repairs to an existing roof up to 33% of the roof area count as normal maintenance.

• Permit: new roof layer or replacing more than 1/3 of the roof.
• Exempt: repairs up to 33% of the roof area.
• Replacing more than 64 sq ft of roof decking needs a permit.
• Nashville issued 1,158 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 27 days from application to issue.

Source: Metro Nashville Codes: Residential Building Permit Procedures · Full details: Nashville Roofing Permits

Raleigh: Often No

North Carolina law exempts replacing roofing on a house when the project costs $40,000 or less, and the state fire marshal reads it as covering replacement of up to 15% of the roof deck. Adding a new roof layer is not exempt.

• Exempt: roofing replacement costing $40,000 or less (G.S. 160D-1110(c)).
• Covers replacement of up to 15% of the roof deck.
• Adding roofing (not replacing) needs a permit.
• Raleigh issued 200 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 26 days from application to issue.

Source: N.C. General Statute 160D-1110 · Full details: Raleigh Roofing Permits

San Francisco: Usually Yes

San Francisco requires a permit before installing, repairing or removing roofing material. The only exemption is reroofing that doesn't touch roof sheathing and covers no more than 25% of the roof in any 12-month period. Licensed C-39 roofing contractors can apply online when no plans or structural work are needed.

• Exempt: reroofing up to 25% of the roof area in 12 months without sheathing work.
• Online reroofing permits are only for licensed C-39 contractors, with no plans and no structural replacement.
• Work that needs plans or replaces decking/sheathing goes through an over-the-counter building permit.
• San Francisco issued 3,201 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 0 days from application to issue.

Source: SF.gov: Apply for a reroofing permit · Full details: San Francisco Roofing Permits

New Orleans: Yes (50%+)

For one- and two-family homes, Ordinance 30,235 MCS requires a separate residential re-roofing permit when 50% or more of the roof is replaced. Replacing less than 50% is exempt unless other criteria require a permit. Historic districts (HDLC and VCC) need extra review.

• Required for replacing 50% or more of the roof on one- and two-family homes.
• Geotagged photos of each installation stage must be uploaded to the permit.
• Buildings with 3+ units and commercial roofs need a structural or non-structural renovation permit instead.
• Official fees: Residential re-roofing base fee: $60; Historic districts (HDLC and VCC): +$30.
• New Orleans issued 1,553 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 11 days from application to issue.

Source: City of New Orleans: Re-Roofing Permit

Pittsburgh: Often Yes

Pittsburgh PLI lists roofing as a Minor Alterations work scope of the residential building permit, and roofing in a historic district also needs Zoning Development Review. Ordinary repairs that don't cut structural members or change systems don't need a permit.

• Roofing is a Minor Alterations work scope on PLI building permits.
• In a historic district, roofing also needs a Zoning Development Review.
• Ordinary repairs are exempt unless they cut structural beams or load-bearing supports.
• Pittsburgh issued 277 matching permits in the last 12 months.

Source: Pittsburgh PLI Bulletin: Standard Permit Application Requirements · Full details: Pittsburgh Roofing Permits

Step-by-Step: What to Do

1. Find your city in the table below and read its official rule.
2. Measure what you are replacing: the share of the roof, and any decking or rafters.
3. Check whether the home is in a historic district, landmark or fire zone.
4. Ask your roofer to confirm in writing who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
5. Keep the permit and final inspection record; insurers and buyers may ask for them.

Correction: Chicago Pitched Roofs Need No Permit

Earlier versions of this guide said Chicago re-roofs go through the Express Permit Program. The Department of Buildings' list of work that does not need a permit (Municipal Code 14A-4-402) says otherwise for most houses: repair, recover or replacement of a roof pitched 2:12 or steeper on a residential building up to 4 stories needs no building permit. Structural repairs and all low-slope roof work still need one, and landmark properties may not qualify. That explains why Chicago still issues thousands of roofing permits a year: many are flat roofs.

Historic Districts and Special Zones

Several cities layer extra review on roofs. New Orleans adds a $30 fee on top of its $60 base re-roofing fee in HDLC and VCC historic districts, and its re-roofing application uses geotagged photos. Pittsburgh requires Zoning Development Review for roofing in a historic district. Chicago warns that its exemption may not apply to landmarks. Los Angeles requires Class A roofing in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, and replacing more than half a roof triggers its cool-roof rule.

Permit Pages and Related Guides

Each city page has the full rule, official fees and recent permits: start with Chicago Roofing Permits or New Orleans Roofing Permits, or compare every city on Roofing Permits by City. If your roofer offers to skip the permit, read What Happens If You Build Without a Permit? first.

Frequently Asked Questions