The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / Colorado / Arapahoe County - Building Division

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Unincorporated Arapahoe County, CO?

Adopted code

Arapahoe County - Building Division

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated Arapahoe County, CO, issued by Arapahoe County - Building Division. Reroofing in unincorporated Arapahoe County requires a building permit from the county Building Division. Incorporated cities within the county (for example Aurora and Centennial) permit separately. Colorado has no statewide roofing contractor license.

Roof code checklist: Unincorporated Arapahoe County, CO

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYesarapahoeco.gov2026-07-11
Repair permit thresholdPublishedResidential - ReroofingGuide2024.pdf2026-07-18
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedResidential - ReroofingGuide2024.pdf2026-07-19
Deck & sheathingPublishedR905.2.1Residential - ReroofingGuide2024.pdf2026-07-19
Drip edgeYesResidential - ReroofingGuide2024.pdf2026-07-18
Ice & water shieldNoAdopted Building Codes and Amendm...2026-07-18
Mid-roof inspectionYesResidential - ReroofingGuide2024.pdf2026-07-18
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNoAdopted Building Codes and Amendm...2026-08-10
Wind design criteriaPublishedAdopted Building Codes and Amendm...2026-07-19
Adopted codePublishedarapahoeco.gov2026-07-11
Contractor license / registrationNot published
Sales & use taxNot published

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
Arapahoe County, Colorado (unincorporated)
Jurisdiction type
county
Address
Littleton, CO
Contact
  • url: https://www.arapahoeco.gov/your_county/county_departments/public_works_and_development/divisions/building/index.php
Permit portal
Permit portal
Roofing permit required
Required
Permit process note
Reroofing in unincorporated Arapahoe County requires a building permit from the county Building Division. Incorporated cities within the county (for example Aurora and Centennial) permit separately. Colorado has no statewide roofing contractor license.
Adopted code
International Residential Code and International Building Code with local amendments; verify the current adopted edition with the county.
Drip edge
Required — Amended R903.2.1 Locations: "Flashings shall be installed at wall and roof intersections, wherever there is a change in roof slope or direction and around roof openings, and shall include drip edge at all eaves, rakes and soffit locations." About drip edge
Ice & water shield
Not required — The county's own adopted climate-design-criteria table (Table R301.2(A), part of the 2021 IRC amendments in Resolution 21-394) lists "Ice Barrier Underlayment required: NO" for unincorporated Arapahoe County. Neither this table nor the county's 2024 Residential Re-roofing Guide amend or otherwise require an ice barrier. About ice & water barrier
Mid-roof inspection
Required — "A mid-roof inspection is required for any batten type roofing application (tile, coated metal, etc) prior to concealment of battens." No tile/coated-metal roofing may be loaded onto the roof before the mid-roof inspection. Where new decking is installed, a separate roof decking inspection is also required prior to the mid-roof inspection. Not triggered by a standard asphalt-shingle re-roof.
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Arapahoe County's Resolution No. 21-394 (adopted November 23, 2021; effective April 1, 2022), which adopts the 2021 IRC/IBC with local amendments for unincorporated Arapahoe County, was reviewed in full, including its complete IRC amendment list; it contains no impact-resistance or UL 2218 requirement for roof coverings. Its only Chapter 9 amendment (R903.2.1) addresses flashing, not roof-covering material class.
Repair permit threshold
Re-roof permits are required for full roof replacement or for repairs/replacements when the total repair area on any roof, or combination of slopes, exceeds one hundred (100) square feet of surface area. If repair of damaged area or replacement of existing roofing exceeds 25% of the total roof surface area, the entire roof is to be replaced.
Wind design criteria
115 mph Ultimate Design Speed (3-second gust); Topographic Effects: NO; Special Wind Region: NO; Windborne debris: NO (Table R301.2(A), part of the county's 2021 IRC amendments adopted by Resolution No. 21-394, adopted November 23, 2021, effective April 1, 2022). The same Resolution separately amends IBC Section 1609.3 Ultimate design wind speed for commercial/IBC risk categories: "Figure 1609.3(1) equals 115 miles per hour, Figure 1609.3(2) equals 120 miles per hour, Figure 1609.3(3) equals 115 miles per hour."
Roof layer limit / recover
"The installation of a new roof covering over an existing layer shall be permitted per the limitations of IRC Section R908.3.1. As per IRC Section 908.3.1.1, a roof re-cover shall not be permitted where the existing roof has two or more applications of any roof covering, or where the existing layers must be removed prior to new roof installation. Any water damaged or rotted decking must be replaced and inspected prior to concealment."
Deck & sheathing requirements
"R905.2.1 Sheathing requirements. Asphalt shingles shall be fastened to solidly sheathed decks." Re-roofing over gapped decking may require additional sheathing to be installed and inspected prior to concealment; where new decking is required and/or provided, a roof decking inspection is required prior to installation of any roof coverings, i.e. prior to a mid-roof inspection.

Roof permits nearby: Arapahoe County

Aurora, CORoof permit Bow Mar, CORoof permit Centennial, CORoof permit Cherry Hills Village, CORoof permit Columbine Valley, CORoof permit Deer Trail, CORoof permit Englewood, CORoof permit Foxfield, CORoof permit Roofing in ColoradoState hub

Related guides

Denver-Metro Roofing Permits Filing a Hail Insurance Claim Colorado Hail Season Prep Hiring a Contractor Hail-Belt Rules by State

The building permit authority for unincorporated Arapahoe County. Issues reroofing permits and conducts inspections in areas outside incorporated cities such as Aurora, Centennial, and Littleton.

Hail reports near the center of Arapahoe County, CO

Reports, last 24 months
6
Largest, last 24 months
2.00 in Jun 1, 2026
Most recent
Jun 1, 2026 2.00 in
Reports, last 5 years
18
5 most recent reports, last 5 years
DateHail sizeDistance
Jun 1, 20262.00 in8 mi NNW
Jun 1, 20261.75 in8 mi NNW
Jun 1, 20261.50 in8 mi NNW
Jun 1, 20261.50 in9 mi N
Jun 1, 20261.25 in9 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 the center of Arapahoe County, CO. Data through Oct 7, 2026, not updated since. A report is an observation, not a damage record.

Working an insurance claim in Unincorporated Arapahoe County, CO? Everything on this page (drip edge, ice & water shield, inspections, Class 4 rules) formatted as a claim-ready evidence pack: verbatim ordinance quotes, code section cites, verification dates, and official source links, ready to attach to a supplement. See a real sample pack (PDF, 4 pages, free).

Code items like drip edge and ice & water shield are what adjusters ask you to document.

Buy this jurisdiction's pack: $12 Delivered by email within minutes. Digital download: all sales are final once delivered, except for a failed delivery, a defective file, a duplicate purchase, or a pack materially different from its description. See Section 6 of our Terms of Use.

Questions about the Unincorporated Arapahoe County, CO pack?

Not ready to buy, or need a different jurisdiction? Tell us and we’ll reply directly.

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Sources

Free instant roof estimate — Unincorporated Arapahoe County, CO

Ballpark your replacement in 20 seconds. No phone call required to see the number.

Roofing questions: Unincorporated Arapahoe County, CO

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Unincorporated Arapahoe County, CO?

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Unincorporated Arapahoe County, CO. Re-roof permits are required for full roof replacement or for repairs/replacements when the total repair area on any roof, or combination of slopes, exceeds one hundred (100) square feet of surface area. If repair of damaged area or replacement of existing roofing exceeds 25% of the total roof surface area, the entire roof is to be replaced.

Is ice & water shield required in Unincorporated Arapahoe County, CO?

No. The county's own adopted climate-design-criteria table (Table R301.2(A), part of the 2021 IRC amendments in Resolution 21-394) lists "Ice Barrier Underlayment required: NO" for unincorporated Arapahoe County. Neither this table nor the county's 2024 Residential Re-roofing Guide amend or otherwise require an ice barrier.

Is drip edge required in Unincorporated Arapahoe County, CO?

Yes. Amended R903.2.1 Locations: "Flashings shall be installed at wall and roof intersections, wherever there is a change in roof slope or direction and around roof openings, and shall include drip edge at all eaves, rakes and soffit locations."

Can you roof over an existing roof in Unincorporated Arapahoe County, CO?

"The installation of a new roof covering over an existing layer shall be permitted per the limitations of IRC Section R908.3.1. As per IRC Section 908.3.1.1, a roof re-cover shall not be permitted where the existing roof has two or more applications of any roof covering, or where the existing layers must be removed prior to new roof installation. Any water damaged or rotted decking must be replaced and inspected prior to concealment."

What building code does Unincorporated Arapahoe County, CO use?

International Residential Code and International Building Code with local amendments; verify the current adopted edition with the county.

Is a mid-roof inspection required in Unincorporated Arapahoe County, CO?

Yes. "A mid-roof inspection is required for any batten type roofing application (tile, coated metal, etc) prior to concealment of battens." No tile/coated-metal roofing may be loaded onto the roof before the mid-roof inspection. Where new decking is installed, a separate roof decking inspection is also required prior to the mid-roof inspection. Not triggered by a standard asphalt-shingle re-roof.