In many cities and counties, yes—you may need a permit for a roof replacement, roof tear-off, structural repairs, or certain material changes. The rules depend on your local building department, the scope of work, and sometimes your HOA. Our recommend is to treat permits as a normal part of doing the job correctly: they protect you, your home, and your resale value.As for “will you handle pulling it?”—with reputable contractors like All Seasons Roofing, our recommend is that the contractor typically coordinates the permitting process (where allowed), because it ties directly to the project scope, inspections, and code compliance.
Why Roofing Permits Exist (And Why They Matter)
A permit isn’t just paperwork—it’s the city or county’s way of ensuring the work meets safety and building code standards. In roofing, that can include:
- Proper underlayment and flashing
- Ventilation requirements
- Ice-and-water protection (where required)
- Decking condition and fastening
- Wind uplift standards
- Fire ratings and material compliance
Our recommend is to see permits as a homeowner protection tool. A permitted job can reduce risk of future disputes, failed inspections during a sale, or insurance headaches after storm damage.
When You Usually Need a Permit for Roofing
Permitting rules vary, but these are common triggers that often require a permit:
- Full Roof Replacement / Re-roofing
- Removing old shingles and installing a new system typically needs a permit in many jurisdictions.
- Our recommend: assume a replacement may require a permit unless your local authority states otherwise.
- Tear-Offs and Deck Repairs
- If the project involves exposing the roof deck or replacing sections of plywood/OSB, many building departments require a permit and inspection.
- Our recommend: any decking work should be documented and done to code.
- Structural Changes
- Modifying rafters, trusses, slope, or adding features like skylights can escalate the scope.
- Our recommend: treat structural work as permit-required unless confirmed.
- Switching Roofing Materials
- Changing from shingles to metal, tile, or another system may require engineering review or additional approvals due to weight, fastening, and fire rating.
- Our recommend: always verify with the building department before material changes.
- Commercial Roofing and Multi-Family Buildings
- These often have stricter requirements and more inspections.
- Our recommend: plan permitting into your timeline from day one.
When You Might Not Need a Permit
Some areas allow minor repairs without a permit, such as:
- Replacing a small number of shingles after wind damage
- Minor flashing repairs
- Small, isolated leak fixes
But definitions of “minor repair” vary widely. Our recommend is not to rely on assumptions—call your local permitting office or ask All Seasons Roofing to help clarify based on your address and scope.
Who Is Responsible for Pulling the Permit?
This is one of the most important homeowner questions.
- In many places, the licensed roofing contractor is expected to pull the permit because they’re responsible for performing code-compliant work.
- Some jurisdictions allow the homeowner to pull a permit, but doing so can shift responsibility and liability to the homeowner.
Our recommend: choose a contractor (like All Seasons Roofing) who is comfortable working with local inspectors and who can coordinate permitting and inspections as part of a professional process—subject to your local rules.
Will All Seasons Roofing Handle Pulling the Permit?
In general industry practice, a professional roofing company can often handle the permit application process—including submitting documentation, scheduling inspections, and responding to inspector requirements—when the jurisdiction allows contractors to do so.Our recommend is to confirm these details during your estimate:
- Is a permit required for my project address and scope?
- Who pulls it—contractor or homeowner?
- Is the permit fee included or listed separately?
- Will there be one inspection or multiple (in-progress and final)?
- What happens if the inspector requests corrections?
If any contractor discourages permits when they’re required, our recommend is to treat that as a red flag.
What the Permitting Process Typically Looks Like
While every city/county differs, a common flow is:
- Scope is defined
- Roof size, material type, tear-off vs overlay, ventilation plan, decking contingencies.
- Permit application is submitted
- May include product specs, manufacturer documentation, and basic project details.
- Permit is issued
- Timeline can range from same-day to a few weeks depending on location and season.
- Work begins
- The permit is posted as required.
- Inspections occur (if required)
- Some areas inspect after tear-off/decking; others only do a final inspection.
- Final approval / close-out
- You receive sign-off that the project meets code.
Our recommend: ask for a copy/photo of the permit and the final inspection record for your homeowner file.
How Much Do Roofing Permits Cost?
Permit fees vary dramatically by location and project type. They can be based on:
- Project valuation
- Roof square footage
- Material type
- Number of inspections
Our recommend: treat permit fees as a normal project line item, not a “hidden cost.” Transparent contractors will explain whether fees are included in the quote or separated.
Permits, Insurance Claims, and Storm Damage
If you’re replacing your roof due to hail or wind damage, you may be navigating an insurance claim. Many insurers still expect work to be code-compliant, and in some cases code upgrades can be relevant.Our recommend: keep everything documented—estimate, scope, permit, inspection results, photos, and invoices. Clean documentation helps support your claim and future resale.
HOA Rules and Neighborhood Requirements
Even if the city doesn’t require a permit for a limited scope, your HOA may require:
- Pre-approval for color/material changes
- Noise and work-hour compliance
- Dumpster placement rules
Our recommend: handle HOA approvals early so they don’t delay ordering materials or scheduling.
Common Homeowner Mistakes (And Our Recommend to Avoid Them)
- Skipping the permit to “save time”
Our recommend: don’t risk future fines, rework, or sale delays. - Pulling the permit as a homeowner without understanding liability
Our recommend: discuss responsibility clearly—especially for inspections and corrections. - Not confirming the job scope on the permit
Our recommend: make sure the permit matches the real work (tear-off vs overlay, material type, etc.). - Losing paperwork
Our recommend: save permit + final inspection results in your home records.
Bottom Line: The Best Way to Handle Roofing Permits
A permit may or may not be required—but you should never guess. Our recommend is to work with a professional roofer who treats permitting as part of doing the job right, not as an afterthought.If you’re planning a repair or replacement, All Seasons Roofing can help you understand whether your project typically requires a permit, what your local jurisdiction may expect, and how the permitting process is handled for your specific scope.
Next Step
If you tell me your city/state (or just the general area) and whether this is a repair vs full replacement, I can tailor a permit checklist you can use with All Seasons Roofing—including the exact questions our recommend you ask during the estimate.