Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Denver?
It depends on the project. Denver exempts some roof replacements from a building permit and requires one for the rest1.
On this page
Depends on size or scope
Denver's rule“Roof repair/replacement - All repairs that are more than 10% of the roof square footage or two roof squares (whichever is smaller) require a roof permit…”1
City and County of Denver, Community Planning and Development, Roofing & Siding > What is allowed
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Roofing permit | New roofs; replacement; repairs over 10% of roof area or two squares; new penetrations | A roof permit is always applied for separately from the general construction permit, even for new construction.1 |
Limits and conditions in Denver's rule
Each limit sits next to the sentence it comes from; the conditions in that sentence are part of the rule.
| Rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Roof area that can be replaced without a permit | 10% of roof square footage or two roof squares, whichever is smaller (buildings under 25,000 sq ft) | If repairs are more than 10% of the roof square footage or two roof squares (whichever is smaller), then the repair needs a permit.2 |
| Roof coatings exempt? | Yes | D. Roof coatings do not require a permit.2 |
| Tear-off required with two layers? | Yes | A. Existing roofs must be removed to deck and replaced where two or more layers of any roof covering exist.2 |
What to submit
- No plan submittal for quick permit; compliance by field inspection3
Who can apply
- Homeowners: no exam for roofing; must email quick permit application4
- Homeowner quick permits processed by email, not online4
Roof permit fees in Denver
Fee lines as Denver's schedule states them. A minimum or base fee is not the whole price when the line says the fee grows with project value.
| Fee | Type | As the schedule states it |
|---|---|---|
| Quick permit: building permit fee from Table No. 1; valuation at least $5.25/sq ft for residential shingle roofs | Based on project valuation | Residential shingle roofs (SF Price) 5.253 |
All of Denver's fee lines are on the Denver permit page.
Inspections
- 201 Roof (Final) required; 205 pre-inspection not required for one- and two-family asphalt shingles5 Not next business day due to volume5
Special areas and extra reviews
- Landmark/historic: Landmark Preservation review of all roof permits1
- Ladder required for roofs above one story6
Who to ask
Community Planning and Development (CPD), Building Permitting and Inspections Services Agency10
Building permits
- Website
- denvergov.org7
- Apply online
- aca-prod.accela.com8
- Phone
- (720) 865-27009
- [email protected]9
- Address
- 201 W. Colfax Ave., Dept. 205, Denver, CO 80202 (Webb Municipal Building, 2nd floor)9
- Hours
- Phone line Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.9
- Inspections
- Online via e-permits (aca-prod.accela.com/DENVER); inspections completed within 2 business days5
Roof permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Denver with 19 other cities on the national roof replacement permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- Quick Permits - City and County of DenverCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Roofing Guide and ChecklistCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentLast updated April 11, 2024Checked November 6, 2026
- Building Permit Policy ADMIN 125 and 138: Building and Related FeesCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentRevised May 21, 2024Checked November 7, 2026
- Applying for Permits as a Homeowner - City and County of DenverCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Building Inspections - City and County of DenverCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Avoiding Reinspection Fees - City and County of DenverCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentChecked November 6, 2026
- Community Planning and Development - City and County of DenverCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentChecked November 7, 2026
- City and County of Denver | ePermit online (Denver's Permitting and Licensing Center)City and County of DenverChecked November 7, 2026
- Contact us - Community Planning and DevelopmentCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentChecked November 7, 2026
- 2025 Denver Building Code (2nd Printing, November 2025)City and County of Denver, Community Planning and DevelopmentPublished November 2025Checked November 7, 2026