Home / Roofing Permits / Roof Repair Permit Thresholds — the “1 Square Rule” by Jurisdiction
Roof Repair Permit Thresholds — the “1 Square Rule” by Jurisdiction
At what size does a roof repair need a permit? Most Front Range jurisdictions draw the line at one square (100 sq ft) — the “1 Square Rule” — but the details vary: Johnstown’s threshold is 200 sq ft, Golden’s is 10% of the roof, Denver layers a Green Buildings Ordinance rule on large buildings, Broomfield keys on slopes and valleys rather than area, and a few jurisdictions exempt residential re-roofs from permits entirely. Each card quotes the jurisdiction’s own stated rule.
Adams County - Building Safety Division (Adams County, Colorado (unincorporated))
A repair or replacement of less than one (1) square (100 sq. ft.) on any slope does not require a permit. If repair or replacement is more than one (1) square on any slope, the slope containing the damaged shingles shall be completely replaced.
Arapahoe County - Building Division (Arapahoe County, Colorado (unincorporated))
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.
Boulder County - Community Planning & Permitting (Boulder County, Colorado (unincorporated))
Permit exempt: "Roof covering repair, shingle repair or replacement, not exceeding one square (100 square feet of area) (9.29 m2) of covering per building or structure." (Section 105.2, Work exempt from permit, item 16)
City and County of Broomfield - Building Division (City and County of Broomfield, Colorado)
Permits required for all roof repairs that cover an entire slope or any valley repair, or slope changes/transitions. Permits not required for roof repairs that do not affect valleys/slope changes and do not affect an entire slope (must follow manufacturer instructions).
City and County of Denver - Community Planning and Development (City and County of Denver, Colorado)
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.
City of Arvada - Building Division (City of Arvada, Colorado)
Replacement of roofing material, up to a total of 100 square feet per year, is considered maintenance and does not require a Re-roofing Permit; if any area exceeds 100 square feet (one roofing square), a permit is required.
City of Castle Pines Building Department (City of Castle Pines, Colorado)
A permit shall be required on any re-roofing project or any roof repair that requires more than 100 square feet of the roof to be replaced
City of Centennial - Building Division (City of Centennial, Colorado)
Roof repairs under 100 square feet are a "small repair" and do not require a permit; if the total repair amount on any roof, or combination of slopes, exceeds 100 square feet, it is a "major repair" and a permit is required. Repairs exceeding 25% of total roof area require a complete tear-off and reroof.
City of Commerce City - Building Inspection Division (City of Commerce City, Colorado)
"A building permit is not required for... Residential reroofs [and] Residential roof sheathing replacements of 256 square feet and under (unless required to be fire-retardant)." A permit IS required for residential roof-sheathing (decking) replacement over 256 sq ft, for any fire-retardant-required decking regardless of size, and for reroofs or roof-sheathing replacement in commercial and multi-family buildings ("A building permit is required for... Reroofs in commercial and multi-family buildings [and] Roof sheathing replacements in commercial and multi-family buildings").
City of Englewood - Building Division (City of Englewood, Colorado)
"Repairs or maintenance of existing roofs do not require a permit when the affected area is one square (100 sq. ft.) or less."
City of Federal Heights Building Department (City of Federal Heights, Colorado)
Replacement of less than one square (100 sq. ft.) of roof covering is considered a repair and does not require a permit; more than one square requires a building permit, and each slope containing damaged shingles must be replaced in its entirety.
City of Fort Collins - Building Services (City of Fort Collins, Colorado)
Roofing repair or replacement work not exceeding one square (100 square feet) of covering per building is exempt from permit (2024 IRC Section R105.2, Work exempt from permit, as adopted/amended by the City of Fort Collins).
City of Fort Lupton - Building Department (City of Fort Lupton, Colorado)
Repair or replacement of less than 1 square (100 sq. ft.) of shingles does not require a building permit.
City of Fountain (permits via Pikes Peak Regional Building Department) (City of Fountain, Colorado)
"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) Per PPRBD guidelines, which govern permits for the City of Fountain.
City of Golden - Building Division (City of Golden, Colorado)
"Minor Roof or Siding Repairs or replacement (10% or less)" is listed under Permit Not Required; repairs/replacement exceeding 10% of the roof (or siding) require a permit.
City of Greenwood Village - Community Development (City of Greenwood Village, Colorado)
A building permit is required for the new installation or replacement of 100 square feet or more of roof covering
City of Lafayette - Building Division (City of Lafayette, Colorado)
The City of Lafayette requires a permit for any roof work involving one square (100 sq. ft.) or more of shingles.
City of Lakewood - Building Division (City of Lakewood, Colorado)
Repairs of less than 100 square feet of area do not require a permit.
City of Littleton - Building and Code Compliance Division (City of Littleton, Colorado)
Roof repair (residential or commercial) is defined as removal and/or replacement of one square (100 square feet) or less, aggregate, of existing roof covering; removal/replacement greater than one square (100 sq ft) is deemed a roof replacement for permit purposes.
City of Lone Tree - Building Division (City of Lone Tree, Colorado)
A re-roofing permit is required when replacing more than 1 square (100 square feet) of roofing
City of Longmont - Building Inspection Division (City of Longmont, Colorado)
Repair of less than 10x10 (100 sq. ft.) is okay and no permit needed. The City of Longmont has a "1 square" rule (as of 2012): if more than 100 square feet of roofing requires repair or replacement, then the entire roof must be replaced, not just the affected roof area or plane (Longmont Municipal Code Amendment 16.06.300, IRC Section R908.1).
City of Loveland - Building Division (City of Loveland, Colorado)
Repairs under 100 sq ft do not require a permit. Repairs covering up to 49% of the roof area require a permit and repair (patching) is allowed. Repairs/replacement covering 50% or more of the roof area require a permit and complete removal and replacement of the roof covering.
City of Thornton - Building Inspection Division (City of Thornton, Colorado)
Replacement of one (1) square (100 sq. ft.) or less of roof covering is considered a repair and does not require a permit. Partial replacement of asphalt roof covering on a single slope is not allowed; when more than one square must be replaced, a permit is required and each slope containing damaged shingles shall be replaced in its entirety.
City of Westminster - Community Development (City of Westminster, Colorado)
"When a building of any size is subjected to cumulative roof covering damage exceeding one square (one-hundred square feet), correction of the damage is considered a replacement and the roof covering shall be replaced in its entirety. Re-roof permits are required for full roof replacement."
Douglas County - Building Division (Douglas County, Colorado (unincorporated))
"For minor repairs or replacing less than one (1) roofing square (100 square feet) of the roof, a permit is not required. Each separate structure on a property requires a separate roofing permit if repairs exceeding one roofing square (100 sq ft.) or replacement is required. Exception: One-story detached accessory structures, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet."
Elbert County Building Department (Elbert County, Colorado)
"Please know that permits are required for all roof repairs greater than 1 square (100 square feet) and for roof replacements."
Jefferson County - Building Division (Jefferson County, Colorado (unincorporated))
"Roof repairs less than 25% of the total roof area and not more than 2 squares are exempt from permit (R105.2 – Jefferson County Supplement)." A permit is required once a repair reaches 25% of total roof area or exceeds 2 squares (200 sq ft).
Larimer County - Building Division (Larimer County, Colorado (unincorporated))
"Roof repairs of less than 1 square do not require a permit." (1 square = 100 sq ft.) Also: "Repairs less than 25% and additions less than 500 square feet in footprint are allowed to have a roof covering that matches the existing structure for fire and impact... Repairs to roofs or replacement of 25% or more of the roof's surface area will require the entire roof to be replaced and must be both Class A fire rated and Class 4 impact resistant."
Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (El Paso County region, Colorado (including Colorado Springs and surrounding municipalities))
"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)
Town of Castle Rock - Building Division (Town of Castle Rock, Colorado)
"SHINGLE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT, WORK NOT EXCEEDING ONE SQUARE (100 SQUARE FEET IN AREA) OF COVERING PER BUILDING" is exempt from permit requirements (CRMC 15.06.030, IRC Section R105.2 as locally amended by Ordinance No. 2026-017) - i.e., a permit is required above that threshold.
Town of Erie - Building Division (Town of Erie, Colorado)
"A permit is required when more than one square of roof covering is to be replaced over the aggregate area of the roof... (Section R908)."
Town of Firestone - Building Division (Town of Firestone, Colorado)
"R105.2.11 Work exempt from permit. Repair of less than 10x10 (100 sq. ft.) No permit is required."
Town of Frederick - Building Department (Town of Frederick, Colorado)
"Any roof repair over 100 sf will require a complete re-roof of the structure. Roofs that do not exhibit immediate life, health, and safety concerns under the Town of Frederick Building Code and policies of the Town may be repairs without a permit, with like material, up to a total area of 100 square feet, at the discretion of the Town Building Official."
Town of Johnstown - Building Department (Town of Johnstown, Colorado)
"Replacing a roof covering over 200 square feet of a residential building" is the town's definition of a permit-required roofing job (Roofing/reroof or Siding/residing, if over 200 square feet, is listed under "Permit Required" on the Building Permits page); no explicit dollar/sq-ft "repair" exemption language distinct from this threshold was found.
Town of Monument (permits via Pikes Peak Regional Building Department) (Town of Monument, Colorado)
"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." (2023 PPRBC Section 105.2.1, Item 14)
Town of Parker - Building Division (Town of Parker, Colorado)
A Permit is not required for minor repairs or replacing less than one (1) square (100 square feet) of the roof. Partial replacements must include the entire plane and all components; mid-roof inspections may be required.
Town of Superior - Planning and Building Department (Town of Superior, Colorado)
No permit is required for a repair under 100 square feet.
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