Pikes Peak Regional Building Department

El Paso County region, Colorado (including Colorado Springs and surrounding municipalities)

district

Colorado Springs, CO

Required

Required

A roofing permit is required, and roofing materials may not be stocked on the driveway or roof before the permit is issued (stocking early results in a triple permit fee and stop-work order). PPRBD serves El Paso County and its municipalities including Colorado Springs.

Typical asphalt roofing and direct-to-deck metal shingles on residential homes do not require a mid-roof inspection. Properties above 7,000 ft elevation require an ice barrier of two cemented layers of underlayment or a self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen sheet from the eave edge to at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line.

International Codes with Pikes Peak regional amendments; verify the current adopted edition with the department.

Required — "Drip edge shall be provided at eaves and rakes edges of shingle roofs." (See 2021 IRC Section 905.2.8.5) About drip edge

Required — Conditional on elevation, not universal: "Properties that are above 7,000 ft. elevation require an ice barrier to be installed. This barrier shall consist of not fewer than two layers of underlayment cemented together, or a self-adhering, polymer-modified bitumen sheet, and shall extend from the eave's edge to a point of at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line of the building." Elevation is listed on the permit receipt. (See 2023 PPRBC section RBC303.4.2 Table R301.2 footnote D and 2021 IRC section 905.1.2 for application) Below 7,000 ft, no ice barrier is called out for typical reroofs in this handout. About ice & water barrier

Required — Tile roofs only. "Typical asphalt roofing materials and Direct-To-Deck metal shingles on residential homes do not require a mid-roof inspection." Tile: "A roof dry-in inspection is required (Tile Roof) (BTR). After all underlayment, batten strips and sub-flashing are in place. Before any tile is stocked or installed on roof." Required inspections list confirms: re-roof (asphalt) = B=R (Building Roofing Final) only; re-roof (tile) = BTR (Building Tile Roof) + B=R.

Not required — The 2023 Pikes Peak Regional Building Code, 2nd Printing, the code in force across the Pikes Peak region effective June 30, 2026, which adopts the 2021 International Residential Code by reference, was reviewed in full, including its complete residential amendment list and every member jurisdiction's adopting ordinance in Appendices C through K. No provision requires impact-resistant (UL 2218 Class 4) roof covering, and the code contains no amendment to IRC Section R905.2.4. The Class A and Class B roof-covering minimums the City of Colorado Springs adds in its appendix are fire classifications tested to ASTM E108 or UL 790, not impact ratings.

"It is violation of Code for any person to contract or perform reroofs (for repairs more than 100 square feet) without a license unless you own the residential property AND it is your primary residence. Any repair or replacement work done over 100 sq. ft requires a permit whether a licensed contractor or homeowner is performing the work." (See 2023 PPRBC Section 105.2.1, Item 14)

130 mph ultimate design wind speed (Vult), minimum Exposure Category C, topographic effects No, special wind region Yes, windborne debris zone No, Seismic Design Category B (Table R301.2(1) as amended by Section RBC303.4.2 of the 2023 Pikes Peak Regional Building Code, which adopts the 2021 IRC by reference).

"Section R908.3.1 Roof-recover. Delete." (RBC303.4.73) -- the IRC's roof-recover allowance is removed from the adopted code, so full tear-off of existing roof coverings is required for asphalt shingle re-roofs. Two exceptions added to R908.3 Roof Replacement (RBC303.4.72): complete/separate roofing systems such as standing-seam metal that transmit roof loads directly to the structure without relying on the existing roof for support do not require removal of existing coverings; and metal panel, metal shingle, or concrete/clay tile coverings may be installed over existing wood shake roofs per Section 908.4.

"Asphalt shingles shall be fastened to solidly sheathed decks" (IRC Section R905.2.1 / IBC Section 1507.2.1). PPRBD's official interpretation defines "solidly sheathed" as a maximum joint width not to exceed 1/4 inch (0.25 inch) between wood structural panels -- since the referenced code sections do not address maximum joint width, PPRBD adopted the 1/4" cap to account for shrinkage and construction tolerances while maintaining the intent of the code. Interpretation effective 12/16/2011, updated 5/31/2023 for the 2023 PPRBC and 4/12/2024.

8.20% combined within Colorado Springs city limits (state 2.9% + El Paso County 1.23% + Pikes Peak RTA 1% + city 3.07%). KEY PERMIT NUANCE: PPRBD's prepaid building-permit use tax covers ONLY the 1.23% El Paso County portion; it does not include or prepay the 3.07% City of Colorado Springs use/sales tax. Contractors working within Colorado Springs city limits must separately pay or self-remit that 3.07% (e.g., by presenting the permit to a Colorado Springs supplier for a county-tax credit, or filing a monthly city use-tax return) -- a PPRBD permit alone does not resolve city tax liability for Colorado Springs jobs.