The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / City of Alexandria - Department of Code Administration

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Alexandria, VA?

Adopted code

City of Alexandria - Department of Code Administration

The City of Alexandria Department of Code Administration enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code in the City and issues building and trade permits through the Alexandria Multi-Agency Permit Center and the City's APEX online permitting system. Alexandria is an independent city and is not part of Fairfax County or Arlington County; neighbouring county permits are not issued here.

Roof code checklist: Alexandria, VA

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofNot published
Repair permit thresholdPublishedlibrary.municode.com2026-09-26
Layer limit / roof-overNot published
Deck & sheathingPublishedR803law.lis.virginia.gov2026-09-26
Drip edgeNot published
Ice & water shieldNot published
Mid-roof inspectionNot published
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNolaw.lis.virginia.gov2026-09-26
Wind design criteriaPublishedclimatic_design_criteria_2021.pdf2026-09-26
Adopted codePublishedSec. 310.8law.lis.virginia.gov2026-09-26
Contractor license / registrationYeslaw.lis.virginia.gov2026-09-26
Sales & use taxPublishedtax.virginia.gov2026-09-26

Each row comes from the sourced record on this page; full wording is in the table below. "Not published" means no official source for that item was found when the record was last verified.

Jurisdiction
City of Alexandria, Virginia
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
4850 Mark Center Drive, Suite 2013, Alexandria, VA 22311
Contact
  • url: https://www.alexandriava.gov/PermitCenter
  • phone: 703-746-4200
  • email: [email protected]
Permit portal
Permit portal
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
  • state_level: Virginia licenses contractors through the Board for Contractors (DPOR). Va. Code 54.1-1100, as amended in 2025: "'Class C contractors' perform or manage construction, removal, repair, or improvements when (i) the total value referred to in a single contract or project is over $1,000 but less than $30,000, or (ii) the total value of all such construction, removal, repair, or improvements undertaken by such person within any 12-month period is less than $250,000." Larger jobs require a Class B or Class A licence. Roofing is covered by the Board's Roofing Contractor (ROC) specialty or by the Home Improvement, Residential Building or Commercial Building classifications (18VAC50-22-30). Va. Code 54.1-1101 A 7 exempts "Any person who performs or supervises the construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by him and for his own use during any 24-month period"; the record does not decide whether a given reader is inside that exemption. Some City pages still reproduce older state figures (a DPOR consumer sheet dated 2006 on the City's Hiring a Contractor page gives $7,500 and $120,000 class limits); the statute above is current.
  • city_level: The City of Alexandria sets no contractor licence of its own for roofing. Its Permit Requirements page asks applicants to "Provide Contractor's information (as applicable - state license number, City of Alexandria business license number and contact information). If no contractor will be conducting the work, then a Property Owner's Affidavit must be submitted." The City business licence is a general business licence, not a trade credential. The Department's owner's written statement has the owner certify that he or she "is not subject to licensure or certification as a contractor or subcontractor pursuant to Chapter 11 of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia" and that the permits "will be in my name and that I am acting as contractor for this project", and its notice states: "When contractors apply for permits, the city will verify that he/she is properly licensed by the State and City to perform the intended work."
Permit process note
Historic districts first: Alexandria's City Code Section 8-1-22 provides that "In accordance with the provisions authorized by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, a permit and inspections are required for the installation of replacement windows and over 100 square feet of replacement siding or roofing in buildings located within historic districts or in buildings over 100 years old and designated by the City of Alexandria as such." In those buildings the City's residential checklist adds: "If the property is located within a Historic District or listed as 100-Year-Old Building, the applicant MUST obtain Board of Architectural Review approval for the work prior to applying for ANY permit." The fee schedule effective July 1, 2025 (City Council Resolution 3287) charges the Minimum Permit Fee for "Residential roofing, siding, or window replacements in designated Historic Districts". Outside those buildings the state rule is Virginia Construction Code 108.2: "Notwithstanding the requirements of Section 108.1, application for a permit and any related inspections shall not be required for the following ... In addition, when an owner or an owner’s agent requests that a permit be issued for any of the following, then a permit shall be issued and any related inspections shall be required." Item 14.5: "Replacement of an unlimited amount of roof covering or siding in Group R-3, R-4 or R-5 provided the building or structure is not in an area where the nominal design wind speed is greater than 100 miles per hour (44.7 meters per second) and replacement of 100 square feet (9.29 m2) or less of roof covering in all groups and all wind zones." Item 14.6: "Replacement of 256 square feet (23.78 m2) or less of roof decking in Group R-3, R-4 or R-5 unless the decking to be replaced was required at the time or original construction to be fire-retardant-treated or protected in some other way to form a fire-rated wall termination." Exceptions: "1. Application for a permit may be required by the building official for the installation of replacement siding, roofing and windows in buildings within a historic district designated by a locality pursuant to Section 15.2-2306 of the Code of Virginia." "2. Application for a permit may be required by the building official for any items exempted in this section which are located in a special flood hazard area." The City's current Residential Design Criteria give a wind speed of 115 mph without saying whether that is an ultimate or a nominal design wind speed, and no current City page states in its own words whether a reroof outside the historic districts needs a permit; this record does not decide it. The Department's own written policy on permit exemptions (PP 2012-01, April 12, 2012, written under the 2009 code) listed roof covering replacement among exempt work with the note "Application for a permit is required for the installation of replacement siding, roofing and windows in buildings within a historic district designated by a locality pursuant to Section 15.2-2306 of the Code of Virginia. This includes the Parker Gray and Old Town Districts." Call the Permit Center at 703-746-4200 before tear-off to confirm, and in a historic district contact Historic Preservation at 703-746-3833 first. Where a permit is needed, apply in APEX; the Department says it is "asking for customers to only submit applications electronically through APEX", and plans must list the contractor's state licence number and City business licence number, or be accompanied by an owner's statement where no contractor will do the work.
Adopted code
The 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC, 13VAC5-63) applies statewide, and for detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses its residential part is the 2021 Virginia Residential Code (the 2021 International Residential Code as amended by Virginia Construction Code Section 310.8); the 2021 USBC took effect January 18, 2024. Work on an existing house also falls under the 2021 Virginia Existing Building Code (Part II of the USBC). A city cannot amend it: Va. Code 36-98 provides that the USBC "shall supersede the building codes and regulations of the counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions and state agencies." Alexandria City Code Section 8-1-2: "The city enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, 2006 edition, including the Virginia Maintenance Code, ("VUSBC") and such future editions thereof as are then in force in the Commonwealth of Virginia." Title 8, Chapter 1 (Building Code), read in full, contains no technical roofing provision; its only roofing section is the historic-district permit rule in Section 8-1-22. The Department of Code Administration's page states: "The 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) is effective January 18, 2024."
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither Virginia's amendments to the residential code (13VAC5-63, Virginia Construction Code Section 310.8) nor Alexandria's City Code Title 8, Chapter 1 (Building Code) and the City's Residential Design Criteria impose an impact-rating requirement on roof coverings; no UL 2218 or Class 4 impact requirement appears in the code in force in Alexandria, and under Va. Code 36-98 the City cannot add one.
Repair permit threshold
City Code Section 8-1-22: "In accordance with the provisions authorized by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, a permit and inspections are required for the installation of replacement windows and over 100 square feet of replacement siding or roofing in buildings located within historic districts or in buildings over 100 years old and designated by the City of Alexandria as such." It rests on Virginia Construction Code 108.2, whose item 14.5 exempts from a permit "Replacement of an unlimited amount of roof covering or siding in Group R-3, R-4 or R-5 provided the building or structure is not in an area where the nominal design wind speed is greater than 100 miles per hour (44.7 meters per second) and replacement of 100 square feet (9.29 m2) or less of roof covering in all groups and all wind zones." and whose item 14.6 exempts "Replacement of 256 square feet (23.78 m2) or less of roof decking in Group R-3, R-4 or R-5 unless the decking to be replaced was required at the time or original construction to be fire-retardant-treated or protected in some other way to form a fire-rated wall termination." Exceptions: "1. Application for a permit may be required by the building official for the installation of replacement siding, roofing and windows in buildings within a historic district designated by a locality pursuant to Section 15.2-2306 of the Code of Virginia." "2. Application for a permit may be required by the building official for any items exempted in this section which are located in a special flood hazard area." An owner may still ask for one: "when an owner or an owner’s agent requests that a permit be issued for any of the following, then a permit shall be issued and any related inspections shall be required." Replacement of more than 256 square feet of roof decking is outside item 14.6. The City's Residential Design Criteria list a wind speed of 115 mph without stating whether it is the nominal design wind speed that item 14.5 turns on, so whether a whole-roof replacement on a house outside the historic districts is exempt is not settled by the City's published documents; this record does not decide it. The fee schedule effective July 1, 2025 prices "Residential roofing, siding, or window replacements in designated Historic Districts" at the Minimum Permit Fee and "Non-Residential re-roofing projects" at "$0.22 per square foot of roof area or the minimum permit fee, whichever is higher"; residential alterations and repairs otherwise are "$0.30 per square foot of gross floor area; $18.00 per $1,000 of the total construction cost; or minimum permit fee; whichever is greater". Historic districts also carry a separate Board of Architectural Review step: the Old and Historic Alexandria District guidelines (amended July 16, 2025) put "Repair or in-kind replacement of roofing material less than 25 square feet in area" at no BAR review and "Repair or appropriate replacement of roofing material greater than or equal to 25 square feet in area" at administrative (staff) review, and the Parker-Gray District guidelines put "Repair or appropriate replacement of roofing material (greater than or equal to 100 square feet)" at staff review and state "A building permit is required from Code Administration for the replacement of over 100 square feet of roofing material in the historic districts."
Wind design criteria
City of Alexandria Department of Code Administration, Residential Design Criteria: Ground Snow Load 25 #/ft2; Wind Speed 115 mph; Seismic Design Category B; Weathering (for Concrete) Severe; Frost-line Depth 24"; Termite Moderate to Heavy; Winter Design Temperature 17°; Ice Barrier Underlayment required Yes; Flood Hazard FIRM 4/30/1982; Air Freezing Index <1500; Mean Annual Temperature 56°. The Commercial Design Criteria on the same sheet give "Wind Speed Risk Cat. II" 115 mph, with the note "For all other risk categories see Figures 1609.3(2) through 1609.3(4) in the 2021 VCC." The residential column does not say whether its 115 mph is an ultimate or a nominal design wind speed. An older City sheet (Design Criteria 2022) still posted in the City's document library shows 110 MPH and "No" under Ice Barrier Underlayment required. The two sheets disagree, and this record does not decide which governs.
Deck & sheathing requirements
Virginia's amendments to the residential code (Virginia Construction Code Section 310.8) touch roofing only at the special-wind-region rule in Section R301.2.1 and the deletion of Section R905.2.8.5; none reaches roof sheathing. Alexandria's City Code Title 8, Chapter 1 (Building Code), read in full, contains no sheathing provision, and under Va. Code 36-98 the City cannot add one. The roof-sheathing provisions of the Virginia Residential Code (Section R803) therefore apply without state or city change.
Sales & use tax
6% general sales and use tax in the City of Alexandria: Virginia Tax's locality rate workbook (title "Sales Tax Rates by Locality"), sheet "Jan 2026 - Present" ("From January 1, 2026 to Present"), row Alexandria, code 51510, General Sales 0.06. Most localities in the same sheet show 5.3%; Alexandria's 6% carries the additional regional state tax levied in Northern Virginia. A roofer pays this tax on materials rather than charging it to the homeowner: under 23VAC10-210-410, "the law treats every contractor as the user or consumer of all tangible personal property furnished to the contractor or by the contractor in connection with real property construction, reconstruction, installation, repair, and similar contracts", and "A contractor, whether the contractor be a prime contractor or subcontractor, does not pass the sales or use tax on to anyone else as a tax." The regulation draws no distinction between repair and replacement contracts.

Local roofing hub

Roofing in Alexandria, VirginiaCity hub

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Hail reports near Alexandria, VA

Reports, last 24 months
1
Largest, last 24 months
1.25 in May 16, 2025
Most recent
May 16, 2025 1.25 in
Reports, last 5 years
13
5 most recent reports, last 5 years
DateHail sizeDistance
May 16, 20251.25 in3 mi NW
Apr 15, 20241.50 in5 mi NW
Apr 15, 20241.25 in6 mi NW
Apr 15, 20241.25 in6 mi NW
Apr 15, 20241.00 in7 mi NW

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database and daily storm reports (reports since the start of the current year are preliminary), within 10 miles of Alexandria, VA (Census point). Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.

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Sources

Roofing questions: Alexandria, VA

When does a roof repair need a permit in Alexandria, VA?

City Code Section 8-1-22: "In accordance with the provisions authorized by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, a permit and inspections are required for the installation of replacement windows and over 100 square feet of replacement siding or roofing in buildings located within historic districts or in buildings over 100 years old and designated by the City of Alexandria as such." It rests on Virginia Construction Code 108.2, whose item 14.5 exempts from a permit "Replacement of an unlimited amount of roof covering or siding in Group R-3, R-4 or R-5 provided the building or structure is not in an area where the nominal design wind speed is greater than 100 miles per hour (44.7 meters per second) and replacement of 100 square feet (9.29 m2) or less of roof covering in all groups and all wind zones." and whose item 14.6 exempts "Replacement of 256 square feet (23.78 m2) or less of roof decking in Group R-3, R-4 or R-5 unless the decking to be replaced was required at the time or original construction to be fire-retardant-treated or protected in some other way to form a fire-rated wall termination." Exceptions: "1. Application for a permit may be required by the building official for the installation of replacement siding, roofing and windows in buildings within a historic district designated by a locality pursuant to Section 15.2-2306 of the Code of Virginia." "2. Application for a permit may be required by the building official for any items exempted in this section which are located in a special flood hazard area." An owner may still ask for one: "when an owner or an owner’s agent requests that a permit be issued for any of the following, then a permit shall be issued and any related inspections shall be required." Replacement of more than 256 square feet of roof decking is outside item 14.6. The City's Residential Design Criteria list a wind speed of 115 mph without stating whether it is the nominal design wind speed that item 14.5 turns on, so whether a whole-roof replacement on a house outside the historic districts is exempt is not settled by the City's published documents; this record does not decide it. The fee schedule effective July 1, 2025 prices "Residential roofing, siding, or window replacements in designated Historic Districts" at the Minimum Permit Fee and "Non-Residential re-roofing projects" at "$0.22 per square foot of roof area or the minimum permit fee, whichever is higher"; residential alterations and repairs otherwise are "$0.30 per square foot of gross floor area; $18.00 per $1,000 of the total construction cost; or minimum permit fee; whichever is greater". Historic districts also carry a separate Board of Architectural Review step: the Old and Historic Alexandria District guidelines (amended July 16, 2025) put "Repair or in-kind replacement of roofing material less than 25 square feet in area" at no BAR review and "Repair or appropriate replacement of roofing material greater than or equal to 25 square feet in area" at administrative (staff) review, and the Parker-Gray District guidelines put "Repair or appropriate replacement of roofing material (greater than or equal to 100 square feet)" at staff review and state "A building permit is required from Code Administration for the replacement of over 100 square feet of roofing material in the historic districts."

Do roofing contractors need a license or registration in Alexandria, VA?

Yes.

What building code does Alexandria, VA use?

The 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC, 13VAC5-63) applies statewide, and for detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses its residential part is the 2021 Virginia Residential Code (the 2021 International Residential Code as amended by Virginia Construction Code Section 310.8); the 2021 USBC took effect January 18, 2024. Work on an existing house also falls under the 2021 Virginia Existing Building Code (Part II of the USBC). A city cannot amend it: Va. Code 36-98 provides that the USBC "shall supersede the building codes and regulations of the counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions and state agencies." Alexandria City Code Section 8-1-2: "The city enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, 2006 edition, including the Virginia Maintenance Code, ("VUSBC") and such future editions thereof as are then in force in the Commonwealth of Virginia." Title 8, Chapter 1 (Building Code), read in full, contains no technical roofing provision; its only roofing section is the historic-district permit rule in Section 8-1-22. The Department of Code Administration's page states: "The 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) is effective January 18, 2024."