Permitting Authorities / Adams County - Building Safety Division
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Unincorporated Adams County, CO?
Adopted code
Adams County - Building Safety Division
Yes — a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated Adams County, CO, issued by Adams County - Building Safety Division. Reroofing in unincorporated Adams County requires a building permit from the Building Safety Division. Incorporated cities within the county permit separately. Colorado has no statewide roofing contractor license.
Jurisdiction
Adams County, Colorado (unincorporated)
Contact
- url: https://adamscountyco.gov/our-county/community-economic-development/building-safety/
Roofing permit required
Required
Permit process note
Reroofing in unincorporated Adams County requires a building permit from the Building Safety Division. Incorporated cities within the county permit separately. Colorado has no statewide roofing contractor license.
Adopted code
2024 International Codes with Adams County amendments — adopted by the Board of County Commissioners April 21, 2026, effective July 1, 2026. (The county’s July 2026 roofing handout still cites 2018 IRC in a few bullets — stale boilerplate from the changeover; the 2024 adoption controls.)
Drip edge
Required — Drip edge flashing is required at eaves and along the rake of the roof; must extend over the roof sheathing at the fascia; minimum drip edge size is 2 inches.
About drip edgeIce & water shield
Not required — "Installation of ice and water shield is not required in Adams County. If installed, it must meet the installation requirements set forth in the 2024 International Residential Code and the manufacturer's installation instructions."
About ice & water barrierMid-roof inspection
Not required — The county's dated re-roof requirements list only two required inspections: a Sheathing Inspection (all new roof sheathing must be inspected prior to installation of roofing materials) and a Final Inspection. No mid-roof inspection is listed for standard asphalt shingle re-roofs. (An older, undated Colorado Chapter ICC "Building Guide" also hosted by the county notes a mid-roof inspection "may be required" for tile/metal/special roofs only.)
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Adams County's Ordinance No. 12 - the ordinance under which the Board of County Commissioners adopted the 2024 International Residential Code on April 21, 2026 (effective July 1, 2026) - was reviewed in full, including its Section 5 amendment list. Its only amendment to IRC R905.2.4 (Asphalt shingles) requires compliance with ASTM D3462 and a manufacturer's national wind warranty for the applicable design wind speed; it contains no impact-resistance, UL 2218, or Class 4 roofing requirement.
Repair permit threshold
A repair or replacement of less than one (1) square (100 sq. ft.) on any slope does not require a permit. If repair or replacement is more than one (1) square on any slope, the slope containing the damaged shingles shall be completely replaced.
Roof layer limit / recover
"The maximum number of layers of roofing permitted is one (1), per Ordinance No. 12 and amendment to R908.3 of the 2024 IRC." "The maximum number of layers on a flat roof is one (1)."
Deck & sheathing requirements
Per Adams County's Residential Roofing Requirements handout: "Asphalt shingles must be installed over solidly sheathed decks. Any spacing in plank decking that exceeds the manufactures allowance must be re-sheeted in accordance with the 2018 International Residential Code, and or the shingle manufacturers' installation instructions. All joints and seams of the new decking must break over the trusses or rafters and be secured using fasteners permitted by Table R602.3.1 of the 2018 International Residential Code." (The handout cites the 2018 IRC here even though the 2024 IRC became the controlling code on 2026-07-01 -- stale boilerplate left over from the changeover; the 2024 adoption controls.)
Sales & use tax
Unincorporated Adams County combined rate is 4.75% west of Box Elder Creek (state 2.9% + county 0.75% + RTD 1.0% + SCFD/CD 0.1%) or 3.75% east of Box Elder Creek, near DIA, where RTD/CD does not apply (state 2.9% + county 0.75%). Adams County is state-collected (not home-rule).
The building permit authority for unincorporated Adams County. Issues reroofing permits and conducts inspections outside incorporated cities such as Thornton, Westminster, and Brighton.
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