Permitting Authorities / City and County of Denver - Community Planning and Development
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in City and County of Denver, CO?
Adopted codeCity and County of Denver - Community Planning and Development
Yes — a permit is required to replace a roof in City and County of Denver, CO, issued by City and County of Denver - Community Planning and Development. Reroofing requires a building permit obtained through Denver's online permitting system, and contractors must be licensed with the city. Colorado has no statewide roofing license, so registration is handled at the municipal level.
Jurisdiction
City and County of Denver, Colorado
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
Denver, CO
Contact
- url: https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Community-Planning-and-Development
Permit portal
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
- license: City contractor license/registration required to perform roofing work in Denver
- insurance: proof of general liability insurance required
Permit process note
Reroofing requires a building permit obtained through Denver's online permitting system, and contractors must be licensed with the city. Colorado has no statewide roofing license, so registration is handled at the municipal level.
Adopted code
Denver Building and Fire Code (based on the 2021 International Codes with local amendments); verify the current edition with the city.
Drip edge
Required — Drip edge shall be provided at eaves and rake edges: installed with a minimum of 2" overlap for segments, extending a minimum of 1/4" below the roof sheathing and a minimum of 2" onto the roof deck, mechanically fastened at a minimum of 12" o.c.; underlayment shall be installed over the drip edge along eaves and under the drip edge along rakes (IRC R905.2.8.5 / IBC 1507.2.8.3, current 2021 IRC / 2022 DBC column of the Denver Roofing Guide and Checklist). About drip edge
Ice & water shield
Not required — Table R301.2 Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria in Denver's Roofing Guide and Checklist lists "Ice Barrier Underlayment Required: No"; the guide states "Self-adhering bitumen installed at the eaves and rakes to two feet inside the exterior wall is NOT required." About ice & water barrier
Mid-roof inspection
Required — Mandatory for Tile/Metal roofs: "A mid-roof inspection shall be made to inspect underlayment, battens and flashings. No more than 30% of the tile system may be completed before requesting the inspection." (DBC 140.5(8)). For One- and Two-Family Asphalt Shingle and Low-slope roofs, the "206" mid-roof inspection is listed as "If Needed" only, triggered when the "205" pre-inspection identifies items that will not be visible at the final inspection.
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — The City and County of Denver's Roofing Guide and Checklist (Community Planning and Development, updated April 11, 2024) and Denver Residential Code Chapter 9, Roof Assemblies, were reviewed in full; Denver's only amendment at IRC R905.2.4 addresses wind resistance (ASTM D7158/D3161), not impact resistance, and no UL 2218 or Class 4 impact-resistance requirement exists for asphalt shingle roofing in Denver.
Repair permit threshold
For buildings under 25,000 sq ft, repairs exceeding 10% of the roof square footage or two roof squares (whichever is smaller) require a permit; for buildings 25,000 sq ft or more (per Denver's Green Buildings Ordinance), the threshold is 5% of the roof square footage or two roof squares, whichever is smaller.
Wind design criteria
Table R301.2 Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria lists Wind Design Speed (MPH) as "115/125/140," Topographic Effects "No," Special Wind Region "Yes," Windborne Debris Zone "No," and Seismic Design Category "B." The guide separately details "Wind Speed Zones for Denver (per IBC Section 1609)": areas east of Federal Blvd. -- 115 mph min. rating; Federal Blvd. to Sheridan Blvd. -- 125 mph min. rating; Sheridan Blvd. to Kipling St. -- 140 mph min. rating (Denver Roofing Guide and Checklist, Table R301.2, updated 4/11/2024).
Roof layer limit / recover
"Existing roofs must be removed to deck and replaced where two or more layers of any roof covering exist" (Roofing Guide Sec. 3.A). The companion Roofing Checklist item #3 (IRC R908.3.1.1(3)/R908.3, IBC 1511.3.1.1/1512.2) states: "Existing roof covering must be removed down to deck unless re-covering a single layer" -- a roof recover is permitted only over one existing layer; two or more layers force full tear-off.
Deck & sheathing requirements
"Asphalt shingles shall be fastened to solidly sheathed decks" (Roofing Checklist item #20, IRC R905.2.1, IBC 1507.2.1 -- printed unamended, with no DBCA marker, across the 2015/2018/2021 code columns). Per Roofing Guide Sec. 3.B-C: "No continuous opening between boards can be greater than 1/2" regardless of manufacturer's recommendations. If manufacturer requires a smaller gap, then the manufacturer's requirement prevails." For asphalt shingles on 1X decking, "no opening greater than 6 square inches" is allowed regardless of manufacturer's recommendation; "openings smaller than this dimension can be covered with 26-gauge metal."
Sales & use tax
9.15% combined (state 2.9% + RTD 1.0% + SCFD/CD 0.1% + Denver 5.15%); Denver is home-rule self-collected. Denver imposes a 5.15% consumer use tax on construction materials and supplies, but does NOT collect it at building-permit issuance — contractors pay it to suppliers at purchase or remit it directly on a consumer use tax return.
The permitting authority for the consolidated City and County of Denver. Community Planning and Development issues building permits, including residential and commercial reroofing permits, and licenses contractors.
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Sources
- denvergov.org verified 2026-08-10
- denvergov.org verified 2026-07-18
- denvergov.org verified 2026-07-11