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Permitting Authorities / City of Columbia Building and Site Development Division

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Columbia, MO?

Adopted code

City of Columbia Building and Site Development Division

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Columbia, MO, issued by City of Columbia Building and Site Development Division.

Roof code checklist: Columbia, MO

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYesPermitting-Process-Help-Document-...2026-10-02
Repair permit thresholdPublishedR105.2Permitting-Process-Help-Document-...2026-10-02
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedR908.3.1.1library.municode.com2026-10-02
Deck & sheathingPublishedR803library.municode.com2026-10-02
Drip edgeYesR905.2.8.5library.municode.com2026-10-02
Ice & water shieldNolibrary.municode.com2026-10-02
Mid-roof inspectionNot published
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNolibrary.municode.com2026-10-02
Wind design criteriaPublishedlibrary.municode.com2026-10-02
Adopted codePublishedlibrary.municode.com2026-10-02
Contractor license / registrationNot published
Sales & use taxPublisheddor.mo.gov2026-10-02

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 Columbia, Missouri
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
701 E Broadway, Columbia, MO 65201
Contact
  • url: https://www.como.gov/community-development/building-site-development/
  • phone: 573-874-7474
Roofing permit required
Required
Registration details
  • city_level: A CITY CONTRACTOR LICENSE THROUGH THE BUSINESS LICENSE OFFICE BEFORE A BUILDING PERMIT ISSUES. The City's Permitting Process Help Document (September 2023) states: "Permit applicants must obtain a City of Columbia Contractor License prior to issuance of a building permit. Please contact the City of Columbia Business License office at 573-874-7378." Trade permits (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) additionally need a City master trade license; no separate roofing trade license is named. A homeowner "may obtain a permit for work on their own home if the requirements of the Owner Affidavit are fulfilled," and the Residential Alteration Permit may be obtained by "a homeowner who intends to live in the residence for at least 1 year." This record describes the license as the City publishes it and does not classify it as a roofing-specific credential.
Adopted code
THE 2018 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE, ADOPTED BY CITY CODE CHAPTER 6, ARTICLE VI WITH A WRITTEN, SECTION-NUMBERED AMENDMENT LIST. Sec. 6-65: "The 2018 Edition of the International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, published by the International Code Council, Inc., including Appendices A, B, C, E, F, G, H, K, N, Q, R, S and U ... is hereby adopted by reference and made a part of the Code of Ordinances, City of Columbia, Missouri" (Ord. No. 22828, 6-6-16; Ord. No. 22920, 9-6-16; Ord. No. 24001, 9-3-19). The amendment list in Sec. 6-66 was read in full as codified through Ordinance No. 26252 (March 16, 2026): it revises administrative sections (enforcement by the director of community development, trade licensing, appeals, penalties), inserts the City's Table R301.2(1) values, deletes the fire sprinkler mandates in favor of a purchaser option, and amends smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, foundation, stud, rafter-tie, uplift-strap, mechanical, fuel gas, plumbing, electrical and radon provisions. IT DOES NOT TOUCH THE IRC'S ROOF-COVERING OR REROOFING SECTIONS. A 2024 code update is proposed and pending: the City's 2024 Code Adoption Project page, read October 2, 2026, says the City "is actively collecting public feedback on the proposed changes" before City Council adoption, refers to "the 2018 standards the City currently uses," and lists the residential document as "Proposed Amendments." As of that read the 2024 codes were at the public comment step, before City Council adoption, so the proposed amendments are not current law.
Drip edge
Required — THE BASE 2018 IRC PROVISION APPLIES UNMODIFIED. Columbia adopts the 2018 International Residential Code by City Code Chapter 6, Article VI (Sec. 6-65), and its amendment section, Sec. 6-66, read in full, does not touch the IRC's roof-covering sections. So the base 2018 IRC drip edge provision for asphalt shingles (Section R905.2.8.5) applies in Columbia unmodified. This record points to that section rather than restating its text. About drip edge
Ice & water shield
Not required — NOT REQUIRED, PER THE CITY'S OWN INSERTED CLIMATIC TABLE, IN PLAIN WORDS. City Code Sec. 6-66 inserts the City's values into Table R301.2(1) of the adopted 2018 IRC, including "Ice Barrier Underlayment Required - No," alongside a ground snow load of 20 and a wind speed of 115 mph. That is a jurisdiction-specific answer written into the enacted code, not an inference from a regional default. About ice & water barrier
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — NOT REQUIRED BY THE CITY'S ADOPTED RESIDENTIAL CODE OR ITS AMENDMENTS. City Code Chapter 6, Article VI adopts the 2018 IRC (Sec. 6-65), and its amendment section, Sec. 6-66, read in full from R101.1 through the Appendix F radon amendments, does not amend Chapter 9's impact-rating provisions; no UL 2218 or Class 4 impact requirement appears in the city's adopted residential code or its amendments. An insurer's premium discount for an impact-rated shingle is not a code mandate.
Repair permit threshold
NO DOLLAR OR SQUARE-FOOTAGE THRESHOLD IS PUBLISHED, AND THE CITY NAMES RE-ROOFING AS PERMIT WORK. The City's Permitting Process Help Document (September 2023) says, under Residential Alteration Permit: "Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy of a building or structure must obtain a permit. The permit may be obtained by a licensed contractor or a homeowner who intends to live in the residence for at least 1 year," and "Typical uses of this permit are remodeling, finishing basements, re-roofing, additions, decks, etc." The same document's list of thirteen Permit Exceptions (sheds, fences, retaining walls, painting and finish work, and similar items) names no roof work. The City's enacted amendments to the 2018 IRC (City Code Sec. 6-66) do not amend the base code's R105.2 work-exempt-from-permit section. For alterations and repairs the fee is the project valuation (materials and labor) multiplied by the permit fee multiplier of .0025, rounded to the nearest dollar.
Wind design criteria
ESTABLISHED FROM COLUMBIA'S OWN INSERTED CLIMATIC TABLE. City Code Sec. 6-66 inserts these values into Table R301.2(1) of the adopted 2018 IRC: Ground Snow Load 20; Wind Speed (mph) 115; Topographic Effects No; Special Wind Region No; Windborne Debris Zone No; Seismic Design Category B; Weathering Yes Severe; Frost Line Depth 30 inches; Termite Moderate to Heavy; Winter Design Temperature +4 degrees Fahrenheit; Ice Barrier Underlayment Required No. These are first-party figures printed in the enacted amendment, not a regional estimate.
Roof layer limit / recover
TWO LAYERS MAXIMUM, ON THE UNAMENDED BASE 2018 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE. Columbia adopts the 2018 IRC by City Code Chapter 6, Article VI (Sec. 6-65); its amendment section, Sec. 6-66, was read in full and names no R908 section and no reroofing or recover provision, and the City has neither deleted nor excepted that section. So the base 2018 IRC reroofing rule applies: "R908.3.1.1 Roof recover not allowed. A roof recover shall not be permitted where any of the following conditions occur: ... 3. Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering." One existing layer may be recovered; a second existing layer means a full tear-off before a new covering goes on.
Deck & sheathing requirements
NO LOCAL RULE ON ROOF SHEATHING; THE BASE 2018 IRC APPLIES UNMODIFIED. Columbia adopts the 2018 International Residential Code by City Code Chapter 6, Article VI (Sec. 6-65). Its amendment section, Sec. 6-66, was read in full and names no R803 section and no roof-sheathing provision, so the base 2018 IRC roof sheathing provisions (Section R803) apply unmodified. This record points to that section rather than restating its figures. Two enacted Columbia amendments sit next to it in the roof-framing section: R802.5.2.2 adds "Rafter ties shall be spaced not more than four (4) feet (1219 mm) on center," and R802.11.1.3 provides "Where energy bands are used and the sheathing does not extend to the nailer above the energy band, an uplift connection strap shall be placed every four (4) feet."
Sales & use tax
7.975% COMBINED STATE AND LOCAL SALES TAX, AND 7.975% USE TAX, FOR COLUMBIA (BOONE COUNTY, jurisdiction code 15670-019-000), per the Missouri Department of Revenue's Sales and Use Tax Rate Tables for July, August and September 2026 (updated 5/22/2026). Locations inside one of the City's transportation development districts carry a higher sales tax rate in the same table (for example 8.975% in the Blue Ridge Town Centre TDD and 8.475% in the Broadway-Fairview TDD). For a roofer, the Department's Contractors Tax Matrix (effective 10-24-2022) defines a contractor as "Any person entering into an agreement to improve, repair, replace, erect or alter real property" and lists "Purchases of parts, materials, supplies, and chemicals purchased by contractors" and "Tangible personal property to be sold as an attachment to real property" as Taxable, so the tax is normally paid on the contractor's material purchases rather than charged to the homeowner on the installed job, unless title passes before attachment or a project exemption certificate applies.

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The building permitting authority for the City of Columbia, Missouri. The City's Building & Site Development division "reviews construction plans, issues permits, performs inspections, and enforces ordinances that ensure safe buildings and a healthy environment." Columbia adopts the 2018 International Residential Code by City Code Chapter 6, Article VI (Sec. 6-65), with its own amendments in Sec. 6-66. That amendment section was read in full and touches nothing in the IRC's roof-assemblies chapter, so several fields below rest on the unamended base 2018 IRC. The same section inserts the City's own Table R301.2(1) climatic and geographic design criteria, the primary source for wind speed, snow load and the ice-barrier answer below. A 2024 code update is proposed and still pending; it is not yet law.

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Sources

Roofing questions: Columbia, MO

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Columbia, MO?

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Columbia, MO. NO DOLLAR OR SQUARE-FOOTAGE THRESHOLD IS PUBLISHED, AND THE CITY NAMES RE-ROOFING AS PERMIT WORK. The City's Permitting Process Help Document (September 2023) says, under Residential Alteration Permit: "Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy of a building or structure must obtain a permit. The permit may be obtained by a licensed contractor or a homeowner who intends to live in the residence for at least 1 year," and "Typical uses of this permit are remodeling, finishing basements, re-roofing, additions, decks, etc." The same document's list of thirteen Permit Exceptions (sheds, fences, retaining walls, painting and finish work, and similar items) names no roof work. The City's enacted amendments to the 2018 IRC (City Code Sec. 6-66) do not amend the base code's R105.2 work-exempt-from-permit section. For alterations and repairs the fee is the project valuation (materials and labor) multiplied by the permit fee multiplier of .0025, rounded to the nearest dollar.

Is ice & water shield required in Columbia, MO?

No. NOT REQUIRED, PER THE CITY'S OWN INSERTED CLIMATIC TABLE, IN PLAIN WORDS. City Code Sec. 6-66 inserts the City's values into Table R301.2(1) of the adopted 2018 IRC, including "Ice Barrier Underlayment Required - No," alongside a ground snow load of 20 and a wind speed of 115 mph. That is a jurisdiction-specific answer written into the enacted code, not an inference from a regional default.

Is drip edge required in Columbia, MO?

Yes. THE BASE 2018 IRC PROVISION APPLIES UNMODIFIED. Columbia adopts the 2018 International Residential Code by City Code Chapter 6, Article VI (Sec. 6-65), and its amendment section, Sec. 6-66, read in full, does not touch the IRC's roof-covering sections. So the base 2018 IRC drip edge provision for asphalt shingles (Section R905.2.8.5) applies in Columbia unmodified. This record points to that section rather than restating its text.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Columbia, MO?

TWO LAYERS MAXIMUM, ON THE UNAMENDED BASE 2018 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE. Columbia adopts the 2018 IRC by City Code Chapter 6, Article VI (Sec. 6-65); its amendment section, Sec. 6-66, was read in full and names no R908 section and no reroofing or recover provision, and the City has neither deleted nor excepted that section. So the base 2018 IRC reroofing rule applies: "R908.3.1.1 Roof recover not allowed. A roof recover shall not be permitted where any of the following conditions occur: ... 3. Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering." One existing layer may be recovered; a second existing layer means a full tear-off before a new covering goes on.

What building code does Columbia, MO use?

THE 2018 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE, ADOPTED BY CITY CODE CHAPTER 6, ARTICLE VI WITH A WRITTEN, SECTION-NUMBERED AMENDMENT LIST. Sec. 6-65: "The 2018 Edition of the International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, published by the International Code Council, Inc., including Appendices A, B, C, E, F, G, H, K, N, Q, R, S and U ... is hereby adopted by reference and made a part of the Code of Ordinances, City of Columbia, Missouri" (Ord. No. 22828, 6-6-16; Ord. No. 22920, 9-6-16; Ord. No. 24001, 9-3-19). The amendment list in Sec. 6-66 was read in full as codified through Ordinance No. 26252 (March 16, 2026): it revises administrative sections (enforcement by the director of community development, trade licensing, appeals, penalties), inserts the City's Table R301.2(1) values, deletes the fire sprinkler mandates in favor of a purchaser option, and amends smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, foundation, stud, rafter-tie, uplift-strap, mechanical, fuel gas, plumbing, electrical and radon provisions. IT DOES NOT TOUCH THE IRC'S ROOF-COVERING OR REROOFING SECTIONS. A 2024 code update is proposed and pending: the City's 2024 Code Adoption Project page, read October 2, 2026, says the City "is actively collecting public feedback on the proposed changes" before City Council adoption, refers to "the 2018 standards the City currently uses," and lists the residential document as "Proposed Amendments." As of that read the 2024 codes were at the public comment step, before City Council adoption, so the proposed amendments are not current law.