Roofing Permits by City
Whether roof replacement needs a permit depends on your city. Here is the official answer for each city we cover, ranked by how many roofing permits the city issued in the last 12 months.
| City | Permit needed? | Permits (12 mo) |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Roofing Permits | Yes LADBS issues re-roofs as Express Permits with no plan check, for Class A or B coverings under 6 lb/sq ft. | 14,845 |
| New York Roofing Permits | 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. | 6,622 |
| Orlando Roofing Permits | Yes Replacing or repairing a roof on a home in Orlando needs a building permit. | 3,008 |
| Chicago Roofing Permits | 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.. | 2,791 |
| Philadelphia Roofing Permits | Yes Roof covering replacement needs a building permit in Philadelphia, but it is an EZ permit with no plans required. | 2,577 |
| Baltimore Roofing Permits | Often no Baltimore's list of work exempt from permit for one- and two-family homes includes replacing roof shingles and replacing roof tarring. | 2,090 |
| Nashville Roofing Permits | Usually yes Nashville requires a building permit to install roofing, or to replace more than one-third of the roof. | 1,158 |
| Austin Roofing Permits | Often no Austin exempts asphalt shingles that replace asphalt shingles, and any roof covering that does not affect the roof structure. | 1,081 |
| Seattle Roofing Permits | 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. | 455 |
| Raleigh Roofing Permits | 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. | 200 |
Go Deeper
For the patterns behind these rules, read Roof Replacement Permit Rules in 10 US Cities.
Sources
Official sources checked on . Rules change; confirm with the department before you start work.
- LADBS Information Bulletin P/GI 2020-003: Express Permits (dbs.lacity.gov)
- LADBS Cool Roof Fact Sheet and FAQ (ladbs.org)
- 1 RCNY §101-14: Work that may or may not require a permit (codelibrary.amlegal.com)
- NYC DOB: Do I Need a Permit? (nyc.gov)
- City of Orlando: Apply for a Residential Roof Permit (orlando.gov)
- Chicago DOB Express Permit Program: Reroofing (chicago.gov)
- Chicago DOB Building Permit Fee Tables (2026) (chicago.gov)
- Philadelphia L&I: Get permits without plans (EZ permits) (phila.gov)
- Philadelphia L&I: Start Right guide (June 2026) (phila.gov)
- Baltimore DHCD: Work Exempt from Permit (baltimorecity.gov)
- Baltimore Building Code §105 (Permits) (codes.baltimorecity.gov)
- Metro Nashville Codes: Residential Building Permit Procedures (nashville.gov)
- Metro Nashville Codes: Projects That May or May Not Require a Permit (filetransfer.nashville.gov)
- Austin DSD: Work Exempt from Building Permits (austintexas.gov)
- City of Austin Budget Q&A: Homeowner Permitting Fees (FY2026) (services.austintexas.gov)
- Seattle SDCI: Re-Roof Permit (seattle.gov)
- Seattle SDCI: Do You Need a Permit? (seattle.gov)
- N.C. General Statute 160D-1110 (ncleg.gov)
- NC OSFM guidance on G.S. 160D-1110(c) (ncosfm.gov)