Roof Replacement Permit Rules in 10 US Cities

Cities Where a Re-Roof Usually Needs a Permit

Chicago handles roof repair, recovering and replacement through its Express Permit Program, and the work must be done by an Illinois-licensed roofing contractor. Los Angeles issues re-roofs as Express Permits without plan check, and replacing more than half of a roof triggers the city's cool-roof requirement. Philadelphia requires a building permit for roof covering replacement, issued as an EZ permit with no plans. Orlando requires a building permit for residential re-roofs, with a dry-in inspection before the final.

Nashville requires a permit to add roofing or replace more than one-third of a roof; repairs up to 33% of the roof area are treated as normal maintenance.

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: Usually Yes

Roof repair (up to 25% of the roof), re-covering over one existing layer and replacement without structural work all go through Chicago's Express Permit Program, and the work must be done by an Illinois-licensed roofing contractor.

• Roof repair, recover and replacement without structural changes are eligible for an Express Permit.
• An Illinois-licensed roofing contractor must be named on the permit.
• Chicago charges roof work per area of up to 5,000 sq ft (see the fee table).
• 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 Express Permit Program: Reroofing

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

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

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)

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 · Full details: New Orleans Roofing Permits

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

Cities Where a Like-For-Like Re-Roof Is Often Exempt

Austin exempts asphalt shingles replacing asphalt shingles, but a permit is required to replace more than 128 sq ft of roof decking, or when 50% or more of a roof in the Wildland-Urban Interface is replaced. Seattle needs no permit for detached one- and two-family homes when the re-roof does not change the building envelope. Baltimore lists replacing roof shingles on one- and two-family homes as work exempt from permit. Raleigh follows North Carolina law, which exempts roofing replacement on a project costing $40,000 or less. In New York City, replacing roof coverings above the roof deck can be an ordinary repair, but replacing the deck or sheathing requires a permit.

The Common Trigger: Structure, Not Shingles

Across the ten cities compared here the pattern is the same: work on the covering is treated lightly, while work on the roof deck, rafters or the building envelope brings a permit. If your roofer finds rotten sheathing halfway through the job, the permit question can change. Ask before work starts who will pull a permit if decking has to be replaced.

What to Ask Your Roofer

• Will this job replace any roof decking, and how much?
• Who pulls the permit, and is the permit fee in the quote?
• Does my city require a licensed roofer for this work?

Roof Permit Pages by City

Each city page shows the official rule, the source, and how many roof permits the city issued in the last 12 months: Chicago Roofing Permits, Austin Roofing Permits, Orlando Roofing Permits and Philadelphia Roofing Permits. For every city in one place, see Roofing Permits by City.

Before You Sign a Roofing Contract

Roofing is the trade where the permit question most often comes up mid-job, because rotten decking is only found once the old covering is off. Agree in writing what happens if decking must be replaced: who decides, how it is priced, and who applies for any permit that becomes necessary. In Orlando a Notice of Commencement is also required for jobs over $5,000; Orlando Roof Permit Process: Notice of Commencement and Owner-Builder Steps walks through the paperwork. If you are unsure whether the work is permitted, look the address up afterwards; How to Look Up Building Permits for a House shows how.

Frequently Asked Questions