Do I need a permit to replace my roof?
Under the model IRC, usually yes: reroofing isn't on the R105.2 exempt list. Some cities exempt it. Birmingham, AL does for houses outside historic and design review districts.
Section R105.1 of the 2021 IRC requires a permit to construct, alter or repair a building. The exemptions in R105.2 cover items such as fences up to 7 feet and painting, tiling and similar finish work, not roofing. R105.2.2 lets ordinary repairs to structures go ahead without a permit, but your building official decides what counts as an ordinary repair.
With or without a permit, the reroofing rules still apply. Under 2021 IRC R908.3.1.1, you can't lay a new roof over the old one if the existing roof is water-soaked or too deteriorated to be a base, if it's slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile, or if it already has two or more layers of roof covering.
Birmingham, AL example: the city's 2024 Technical Code doesn't require a permit to repair or replace roof shingles or other roof covering, gutters and downspouts on one- and two-family homes and townhouses (Section 103.1.1, exception 9). Homes in historic or design review districts still need a building permit. Reroofing still has to comply with IRC Section R908 (Section 101.6.1).
Ask your building department before work starts, and keep the answer in writing for your insurer and any future buyer.
Related answers
- What building code does Birmingham, AL use for houses? — IRC §R101.2
- Do I need a permit to replace a water heater? — IRC §R105.1
- Can I replace my own electrical outlet? — IRC §R105.2
- Do I need a permit to build a fence? — IRC §R105.2
- What is the minimum roof slope for asphalt shingles? — IRC §R905.2.2
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Ask Donnie →General information based on the International Residential Code (a model code). This is AI assistance to verify — not legal advice. Confirm the adopted edition and any local amendments with your local building department (AHJ) and a licensed professional before you build.