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Permitting Authorities / City of Odessa - Building Inspection Division

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Odessa, TX?

Adopted code

City of Odessa - Building Inspection Division

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Odessa, TX, issued by City of Odessa - Building Inspection Division. Odessa's published permit materials do not address reroofing by name, either to require or to exempt it; no roof work is listed among the City's permit exemptions, so treat a reroof as permit work and confirm with the Building Inspection Division (432-335-3214) before starting. The City's amended IRC Section R105.2 (Work exempt from permit) lists a small accessory structure (roof area not over 100 square feet), certain fences and a sidewalk and driveway item, and names no roof work; the City did not amend IRC Section R105.2.2 (Repairs); and the City's permit fee schedule (City Code Sec. 3-1-1) has no roofing line. The Division's General Contractor Registration form states: "City permits are required at anytime the owner or his agent intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any building component, electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing system or other work the installation of which is regulated by the building codes and ordinances adopted by the City of Odessa or Industrial Districts regulated by the City of Odessa." Cost of starting without one, under the City's amended Section R108.6: "Any person who commences any work on a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permits shall be subject to a double permit fees and/or a citation for violation of City Ordinance." Contractors must be registered with the Building Inspection Division before a permit is issued (Section R105.1.1). Apply online at www.mgoconnect.org (MGO Connect) or in person at the Building Inspection Division, 411 W. 8th Street; permit fees are invoiced only after the permit is approved.

Roof code checklist: Odessa, TX

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYesOD6428-003d IRC 2018 Amendments.pdf2026-09-26
Repair permit thresholdPublishedR105.2OD6428-003d IRC 2018 Amendments.pdf2026-09-26
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedR908.3.1.1OD6428-003d IRC 2018 Amendments.pdf2026-09-26
Deck & sheathingPublishedR905.2.1OD6428-003d IRC 2018 Amendments.pdf2026-09-26
Drip edgeYesR905.2.8.5OD6428-003d IRC 2018 Amendments.pdf2026-09-26
Ice & water shieldNoOD6428-003d IRC 2018 Amendments.pdf2026-09-26
Mid-roof inspectionNot published
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNoOD6428-003d IRC 2018 Amendments.pdf2026-09-26
Wind design criteriaPublishedOD6428-003d IRC 2018 Amendments.pdf2026-09-26
Adopted codePublishedSec. 214.212(a)ecode360.com2026-09-26
Contractor license / registrationYesOD6428-003d IRC 2018 Amendments.pdf2026-09-26
Sales & use taxPublishedcomptroller.texas.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 Odessa, Texas
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
411 W. 8th Street, Odessa, TX 79761
Contact
  • url: https://www.odessa-tx.gov/1222/Building-Inspection-Permits
  • phone: 432-335-3214
  • email: [email protected]
Permit portal
Permit portal
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
  • state_level: Texas issues no state roofing contractor licence; the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation's program list has no roofing program.
  • city_level: Odessa's amendment to the 2018 IRC adds Section R105.1.1, Contractor registration required: "Any person, firm or company in the business of offering services as a general contractor or offering to perform services for alterations, repairs, constructing, demolition, or moving any structure, any portion of a structure that are regulated by the codes and ordinances this adopted by the City of Odessa in the city shall first register with the building official in the Building Inspection Office." Exception: "Homeowners acting as their own contractor on the home in which they currently live and occupy as a legal homestead." The Building Inspection Division's Contractor Registration packet states "Licensed contractors must register with the City of Odessa before a permit can be issued," lists General Contractor among the registration types, and requires a valid driver's license for a General Contractor, adding "There is no insurance or bond requirements" and "There is no fee for this application." The City's General Contractor Registration form is "Valid for 2 years from application date," lists the company agents authorized to obtain permits, and has the registrant certify knowledge of the City's codes and ordinances. Registration is in person at the Building Inspection Division or online at www.mgoconnect.org.
Permit process note
Odessa's published permit materials do not address reroofing by name, either to require or to exempt it; no roof work is listed among the City's permit exemptions, so treat a reroof as permit work and confirm with the Building Inspection Division (432-335-3214) before starting. The City's amended IRC Section R105.2 (Work exempt from permit) lists a small accessory structure (roof area not over 100 square feet), certain fences and a sidewalk and driveway item, and names no roof work; the City did not amend IRC Section R105.2.2 (Repairs); and the City's permit fee schedule (City Code Sec. 3-1-1) has no roofing line. The Division's General Contractor Registration form states: "City permits are required at anytime the owner or his agent intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any building component, electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing system or other work the installation of which is regulated by the building codes and ordinances adopted by the City of Odessa or Industrial Districts regulated by the City of Odessa." Cost of starting without one, under the City's amended Section R108.6: "Any person who commences any work on a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permits shall be subject to a double permit fees and/or a citation for violation of City Ordinance." Contractors must be registered with the Building Inspection Division before a permit is issued (Section R105.1.1). Apply online at www.mgoconnect.org (MGO Connect) or in person at the Building Inspection Division, 411 W. 8th Street; permit fees are invoiced only after the permit is approved.
Inspection requirements
From the City's amendments to the 2018 IRC: "City issued permit cards must be on public display on the front of the structure in full unobstructed view to the public until the final inspections have been completed" (R105.7). "Reinspection fees due must be paid at the building inspection office prior to each reinspection" (R109.6), and "No work may be altered after it has been inspected without a reinspection to certify the work is in compliance with city codes and ordinances" (R109.7). Tear-off debris falls under the City's added Section R115.1: "It shall be a violation of this code to allow construction generated spoils, debris or trash to become windblown," and debris must be gathered from the property and from neighboring properties, streets and right-of-way on a daily basis and contained in an approved containment device with a covering. Reinspection fees under City Code Sec. 3-1-1 are $50.00 for the first and second, $75.00 for the third and fourth, and $100.00 for the fifth and above.
Adopted code
2018 International Residential Code, adopted by Odessa City Code Sec. 3-5-1 ("The 2018 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings along with all appendices, as amended by subsequent provisions of this chapter and the 2018 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings Supplements, is hereby adopted by the city"; Ordinance 2017-57, adopted 12/12/17), with the City's local amendments at Sec. 3-5-2. The Building Inspection Division's page states: "The City of Odessa has adopted the 2018 ICC codes, which will go into effect July 1, 2018." The City's current residential permit packet lists the codes plans must meet as the 2018 International Residential Code, 2018 International Mechanical Code, 2018 International Plumbing Code, 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, 2021 International Fire Code and 2017 National Electric Code. The City also adopts the 2018 International Building Code (Sec. 3-2-1) and the 2018 International Existing Building Code (Sec. 3-18-1). Read as codified through Ordinance No. 2026-22 (adopted August 11, 2026); the published list of adopted ordinances not yet codified, read September 26, 2026, names none affecting Chapter 3 (Building Regulations). State context: Texas Local Government Code Section 214.212(a) provides that "the International Residential Code, as it existed on May 1, 2012, is adopted as a municipal residential building code in this state," and Section 214.212(c) and (e) let a city add, modify or remove requirements by ordinance after a public hearing; Odessa's own adoption above is the code the city enforces.
Drip edge
Required — Drip edge is required at eaves and rake edges of shingle roofs (2018 IRC Section R905.2.8.5, Drip edge). The City adopted the 2018 International Residential Code by City Code Sec. 3-5-1; its amendments at Sec. 3-5-2, read in full, do not amend Chapter 9, so the code's drip-edge requirement stands as enacted local law. About drip edge
Ice & water shield
Not required — Table R301.2(1), Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria, as amended by the City of Odessa (City Code Sec. 3-5-2, amendments to the 2018 IRC), lists "ICE BARRIER UNDERLAYMENT REQUIRED: NO" for Odessa. About ice & water barrier
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither Odessa's amendments to the 2018 International Residential Code (City Code Sec. 3-5-2) nor its amendments to the 2018 International Building Code (Sec. 3-2-2) or the 2018 International Existing Building Code (Sec. 3-18-2) amend Chapter 9's roof-covering provisions; no UL 2218 or Class 4 impact requirement appears in the City's adopted code amendments.
Repair permit threshold
No roof-specific threshold is set. Odessa's enacted code names no roof work either way: the City's amended IRC Section R105.2 (Work exempt from permit) lists no roof work, the City did not amend IRC Section R105.2.2 (Repairs), and the City's permit fee schedule (City Code Sec. 3-1-1) has no roofing line or square-count limit. The Building Inspection Division has published no statement on roof repairs or reroofing; its General Contractor Registration form states that "City permits are required at anytime the owner or his agent intends to ... erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any building component ... the installation of which is regulated by the building codes and ordinances adopted by the City of Odessa." Ask the Division (432-335-3214) before treating any roof repair as permit-free; work begun without a required permit is subject to "a double permit fees and/or a citation" under the City's amended Section R108.6.
Wind design criteria
Table R301.2(1), Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria, as amended by the City of Odessa (City Code Sec. 3-5-2, amendments to the 2018 IRC): Ground snow load 5 psf; Wind speed 115 mph; Seismic design category B; Weathering moderate; Frost line depth 12 inches; Termite moderate to heavy; Winter design temperature 20-32; Ice barrier underlayment required No; Flood hazards Yes; Air freezing index 250; Mean annual temperature 64 degrees F. The City's table as printed gives no entries for topographic effects, special wind region or windborne debris zone.
Roof layer limit / recover
One overlay, then tear off, under the adopted code's own rule. Odessa adopts the 2018 International Residential Code (City Code Sec. 3-5-1), and neither its IRC amendments (Sec. 3-5-2) nor its 2018 International Existing Building Code amendments (Sec. 3-18-2), each read in full, make any change to reroofing, so the 2018 IRC's reroofing section applies unmodified. In the 2018 edition that is Section R908.3.1.1 (Roof recover not allowed), which bars a recover "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 requires tear-off. The same section also bars a recover where the existing roof or roof covering is water soaked or has deteriorated to the point that it is not adequate as a base for additional roofing, or where the existing roof covering is slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile.
Deck & sheathing requirements
Not set by the City. Odessa adopts the 2018 International Residential Code (City Code Sec. 3-5-1), and its amendments (Sec. 3-5-2), read in full, make no change to Chapter 8 (roof-ceiling construction) or Chapter 9 (roof assemblies), so the adopted code's own sheathing provisions, including Section R905.2.1 (Sheathing requirements) for asphalt shingles, apply unmodified. The ICC text is not restated here; a roofer needing the exact wording should read it in the code itself or ask the Building Inspection Division.
Sales & use tax
8.25% combined, the Texas local-rate cap, in both parts of the city (Comptroller local rate file, July 2026 quarter). Ector County portion: 6.25% state + 1.25% City of Odessa + 0.75% Ector County Hospital District. Midland County portion: 6.25% state + 1.25% City of Odessa + 0.50% Midland County + 0.25% Midland County Hospital District. Under Comptroller guidance for real property repair and remodeling, "Labor to repair, remodel, or restore residential real property is not taxable"; on the lump-sum contract typical of residential re-roofing, "you pay tax on all your supplies, materials, equipment, and taxable services when you buy them. You don't charge your customer tax" (Comptroller Pub. 94-116, Real Property Repair and Remodeling, comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/94-116.php), so the combined rate above is the roofer's own cost basis on materials purchased, not a rate charged to the homeowner.

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The permitting authority for the City of Odessa, Texas. The Building Inspection Division reviews plans, issues building and trade permits, registers contractors, and inspects construction for compliance with the city's adopted codes.

Hail reports near Odessa, TX

Reports, last 24 months
17
Largest, last 24 months
1.50 in Jun 9, 2025
Most recent
Jun 9, 2025 1.50 in
Reports, last 5 years
42
5 most recent reports, last 5 years
DateHail sizeDistance
Jun 9, 20251.50 in6 mi WNW
Jun 9, 20251.25 in3 mi SW
Jun 9, 20251.25 in2 mi WNW
Jun 9, 20251.25 in5 mi SW
Jun 9, 20251.00 in5 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 Odessa, TX (Census point). Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.

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Sources

Roofing questions: Odessa, TX

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Odessa, TX?

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Odessa, TX. No roof-specific threshold is set. Odessa's enacted code names no roof work either way: the City's amended IRC Section R105.2 (Work exempt from permit) lists no roof work, the City did not amend IRC Section R105.2.2 (Repairs), and the City's permit fee schedule (City Code Sec. 3-1-1) has no roofing line or square-count limit. The Building Inspection Division has published no statement on roof repairs or reroofing; its General Contractor Registration form states that "City permits are required at anytime the owner or his agent intends to ... erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any building component ... the installation of which is regulated by the building codes and ordinances adopted by the City of Odessa." Ask the Division (432-335-3214) before treating any roof repair as permit-free; work begun without a required permit is subject to "a double permit fees and/or a citation" under the City's amended Section R108.6.

Is ice & water shield required in Odessa, TX?

No. Table R301.2(1), Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria, as amended by the City of Odessa (City Code Sec. 3-5-2, amendments to the 2018 IRC), lists "ICE BARRIER UNDERLAYMENT REQUIRED: NO" for Odessa.

Is drip edge required in Odessa, TX?

Yes. Drip edge is required at eaves and rake edges of shingle roofs (2018 IRC Section R905.2.8.5, Drip edge). The City adopted the 2018 International Residential Code by City Code Sec. 3-5-1; its amendments at Sec. 3-5-2, read in full, do not amend Chapter 9, so the code's drip-edge requirement stands as enacted local law.

Can you roof over an existing roof in Odessa, TX?

One overlay, then tear off, under the adopted code's own rule. Odessa adopts the 2018 International Residential Code (City Code Sec. 3-5-1), and neither its IRC amendments (Sec. 3-5-2) nor its 2018 International Existing Building Code amendments (Sec. 3-18-2), each read in full, make any change to reroofing, so the 2018 IRC's reroofing section applies unmodified. In the 2018 edition that is Section R908.3.1.1 (Roof recover not allowed), which bars a recover "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 requires tear-off. The same section also bars a recover where the existing roof or roof covering is water soaked or has deteriorated to the point that it is not adequate as a base for additional roofing, or where the existing roof covering is slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile.

Do roofing contractors need a license or registration in Odessa, TX?

Yes.

What building code does Odessa, TX use?

2018 International Residential Code, adopted by Odessa City Code Sec. 3-5-1 ("The 2018 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings along with all appendices, as amended by subsequent provisions of this chapter and the 2018 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings Supplements, is hereby adopted by the city"; Ordinance 2017-57, adopted 12/12/17), with the City's local amendments at Sec. 3-5-2. The Building Inspection Division's page states: "The City of Odessa has adopted the 2018 ICC codes, which will go into effect July 1, 2018." The City's current residential permit packet lists the codes plans must meet as the 2018 International Residential Code, 2018 International Mechanical Code, 2018 International Plumbing Code, 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, 2021 International Fire Code and 2017 National Electric Code. The City also adopts the 2018 International Building Code (Sec. 3-2-1) and the 2018 International Existing Building Code (Sec. 3-18-1). Read as codified through Ordinance No. 2026-22 (adopted August 11, 2026); the published list of adopted ordinances not yet codified, read September 26, 2026, names none affecting Chapter 3 (Building Regulations). State context: Texas Local Government Code Section 214.212(a) provides that "the International Residential Code, as it existed on May 1, 2012, is adopted as a municipal residential building code in this state," and Section 214.212(c) and (e) let a city add, modify or remove requirements by ordinance after a public hearing; Odessa's own adoption above is the code the city enforces.