Roof Replacement Permit in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Before tearing off or overlaying a residential roof, before roof repair work, and before any exterior repair in a heritage preservation district regardless of value.
Issued byCity of Saint Paul Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI)
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Roofing is permitted work in Saint Paul: Sec. 33.03(a) requires a building permit to repair or alter any building or structure, and DSI's Contractor Express Building Permit expressly covers re-roof and roof repair, shingle with tear off, shingle with overlay, flat with tear off, flat with overlay, slate, and tile. Licensed contractors file the fast track Residential Contractor Express Roofing Permit in PAULIE, which skips plan review and can be issued online; homeowners may not use the express route and must file a General Building Permit Application instead. The city administers the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code for roofing on one and two family dwellings and requires shingles to be fastened to solidly sheathed decks or one inch nominal wood boards, following the manufacturer's installation specifications. Notify the area building inspector before roofing starts, preferably the day before and no later than 9:00 am on the start day.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before tearing off or overlaying a residential roof, before roof repair work, and before any exterior repair in a heritage preservation district regardless of value.
What a roof replacement permit costs in Saint Paul
How to apply in Saint Paul
In Saint Paul, a residential reroof permit application is lighter than for structural work: you state whether the scope is a full tear-off (roof replacement) or an overlay (roof recover), describe the covering material and its manufacturer instructions, and note the condition of the existing deck, since those facts determine which code path applies.
What most roof replacement permit applications include:
- State on the application whether the job is a roof replacement, which strips all existing layers down to the bare deck, or a roof recover, which leaves the old covering in place under specific conditions, since the two scopes are governed differently (IRC R908.3).
- For Saint Paul, a recover is only an option where the new covering follows the roof covering manufacturer's approved instructions or is a self-supporting system, such as standing-seam metal, that does not rely on the existing roof for support (IRC R908.3.1).
- Full tear-off must be scoped on the application instead of a recover when the existing roof is water soaked or deteriorated, is slate, clay, cement, or asbestos-cement tile, or already carries two or more layers of roof covering (IRC R908.3.1.1).
- For Saint Paul, the materials and installation methods described on the application must comply with the reroofing requirements of the roof-assemblies chapter (IRC R908.1).
- If the scope reuses existing slate, clay, or cement tile, damaged or broken pieces cannot be listed for reinstallation, and any rusted or deteriorated flashings, edgings, outlets, or vents uncovered during tear-off must be scoped for replacement (IRC R908.5).
General submittal guidance from IRC Section R908 Reroofing (text as adopted in the 2020 Residential Code of New York State, based on the 2018 IRC). Source. City of Saint Paul Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) sets the exact checklist for Saint Paul.
Where to apply in Saint Paul:
City of Saint Paul Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI)
- Department of Safety and Inspections, 375 Jackson Street, Suite 220, Saint Paul, MN 55101-1806
- Phone: 651-266-8989
- Email: DSI-BuildingPlanReview@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Roof Replacement Permit in Saint Paul compared with nearby Minnesota localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Minnesota schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Paul | Permit required | Any size | A reroof is a general building permit priced on valuation under Sec. 33.04(a), published... | |
| Minneapolis | Permit required | Any size | Billed as a standard building permit valued by cost of work, minimum $84.20 plus 65%... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Saint Paul, most residential reroofs get two to three field inspections keyed to the scope of work: a deck or nailing check when sheathing is exposed or replaced, a final on the completed covering and flashings, and in some high-wind regions a dedicated check of mitigation measures added during tear-off.
- In Saint Paul: where the covering is fully removed and the sheathing is exposed, replaced, or added, inspectors check the deck and its nailing before any new roofing goes down, since the structural framework must be able to carry the new covering's loads (IRC R908.2).
- In Saint Paul: an overlay is only approved where it meets one of the code's listed recover conditions, such as installation in accordance with the covering manufacturer's approved instructions (IRC R908.3.1).
- In Saint Paul: flashings disturbed or replaced during the job are checked against the approved manufacturer's installation instructions, and metal flashing that will receive bituminous material must be primed before installation (IRC R908.6).
- In Saint Paul: a final inspection confirms the completed roof covering and its fasteners were installed as required for that material and per manufacturer instructions before the permit is closed (IRC R905).
- In Saint Paul: in some regions with strengthened wind provisions, reroofing an older single-family home also triggers inspection of supplemental deck-nailing and a secondary water barrier added during tear-off, on top of the base reroofing requirements (Florida Building Code, Residential R908.7 Mitigation).
- In Saint Paul: reinstalled existing slate, clay, or cement tile is checked against reuse limits at inspection, and any rusted, damaged, or deteriorated flashings, edgings, outlets, or vents found during tear-off must be replaced rather than reinstalled (IRC R908.5).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Saint Paul permit portal or by phone at 651-266-8989.
Inspection sequence from IRC Section R908 Reroofing and Section R905 Roof Coverings (2021 International Residential Code). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Roof Replacement Permit checklist for Saint Paul
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before tearing off or overlaying a residential roof, before roof repair work, and before any exterior repair in a heritage preservation district regardless of value.
- Budget the fee. A reroof is a general building permit priced on valuation under Sec. 33.04(a), published as DSI's Building Permit Fee Schedule (Section 33.04 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code, Effective: 2/25/2023). Sample rows from the schedule: valuation 9,001 to 10,000 = $274, 11,001 to 12,000 = $316, 19,001 to 20,000 = $484. Above $100,000 the fee is $1,499 for the first $100,000 plus $8 for each additional $1,000. The Minnesota state surcharge is $0.50 for jobs valued $1.00 to $1,000, otherwise 0.0005 times job value. DSI notes that Contractor Express items, which include re-roof and roof repair, do not require plan review and can be issued online. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Saint Paul, a residential reroof permit application is lighter than for structural work: you state whether the scope is a full tear-off (roof replacement) or an overlay (roof recover), describe the covering material and its manufacturer instructions, and note the condition of the existing deck, since those facts determine which code path applies. Start at the Saint Paul permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. City of Saint Paul Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI). Phone: 651-266-8989. Address: Department of Safety and Inspections, 375 Jackson Street, Suite 220, Saint Paul, MN 55101-1806.
- Plan for inspections. In Saint Paul, most residential reroofs get two to three field inspections keyed to the scope of work: a deck or nailing check when sheathing is exposed or replaced, a final on the completed covering and flashings, and in some high-wind regions a dedicated check of mitigation measures added during tear-off.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a roof replacement permit in Saint Paul?
- Roofing is permitted work in Saint Paul: Sec. 33.03(a) requires a building permit to repair or alter any building or structure, and DSI's Contractor Express Building Permit expressly covers re-roof and roof repair, shingle with tear off, shingle with overlay, flat with tear off, flat with overlay, slate, and tile. Licensed contractors file the fast track Residential Contractor Express Roofing Permit in PAULIE, which skips plan review and can be issued online; homeowners may not use the express route and must file a General Building Permit Application instead. The city administers the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code for roofing on one and two family dwellings and requires shingles to be fastened to solidly sheathed decks or one inch nominal wood boards, following the manufacturer's installation specifications. Notify the area building inspector before roofing starts, preferably the day before and no later than 9:00 am on the start day. Always confirm with the City of Saint Paul Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) before starting.
- How much does a roof replacement permit cost in Saint Paul?
- A reroof is a general building permit priced on valuation under Sec. 33.04(a), published as DSI's Building Permit Fee Schedule (Section 33.04 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code, Effective: 2/25/2023). Sample rows from the schedule: valuation 9,001 to 10,000 = $274, 11,001 to 12,000 = $316, 19,001 to 20,000 = $484. Above $100,000 the fee is $1,499 for the first $100,000 plus $8 for each additional $1,000. The Minnesota state surcharge is $0.50 for jobs valued $1.00 to $1,000, otherwise 0.0005 times job value. DSI notes that Contractor Express items, which include re-roof and roof repair, do not require plan review and can be issued online. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a roof replacement permit in Saint Paul?
- You can apply through the Saint Paul permit portal or contact the City of Saint Paul Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a roof replacement permit themselves in Saint Paul?
- Under Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. 326B.805, subd. 6, clause (3)): Minnesota requires a license to work as a residential building contractor, remodeler, or roofer, but it exempts an owner who builds or improves their own residential real estate if the owner occupies it, or will occupy it, for residential purposes, or keeps it as a rental once the work is done. That exemption lets a homeowner act as their own contractor and pull permits without holding a contractor's license. The exemption does not apply to an owner building or improving property for resale or speculation, and the law presumes speculation if the owner builds or improves more than one property within any 24-month period, unless each property is retained for rental. This is a licensing exemption only; it does not remove the separate requirement to obtain a building permit for the work itself. Confirm how Saint Paul applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Saint Paul
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | height of a deck or platform above grade, where it is also not attached to a structure with frost footings and does not act as a landing outside an exterior door | ...(Section 33.04 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code, Effective: 2/25/2023): $36.00... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Any size | Sec. 33.04(g)(4) sets a minimum permit fee of $85.00 for one-family dwelling electrical... |
| Fence Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...33.04(g)(17), line item "Fences permit/plan review": "Forty-five dollars ($45.00)... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...Inspections and Fees page: "For each warm air heating system, the permit fee is $85... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Before roofing, enclosing or building over a patio, before any patio work in a heritage... | ...a general building permit priced from the valuation table in Sec. 33.04(a) ($36.00... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...Fees page (last edited March 3, 2026) and Sec. 33.04(g)(7): initial permit fee $92... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | water capacity of an in-ground or above ground swimming pool; the prefabricated pool exemption additionally requires the pool to be no more than 24 inches deep and installed entirely above ground | The pool building permit is priced from the valuation table in Sec. 33.04(a), published... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar use | ...33.04 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code, Effective: 2/25/2023): "Up to $2,000.00... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | Electrical, Sec. 33.04(g)(4)k "Renewable energy (solar, wind, etc.)": $151.00 for 0 to... |
Roof Replacement Permit in other Minnesota localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Saint Paul documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this roof replacement permit page for Saint Paul was verified. 2 official sources: stpaul.gov, library.municode.com; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with City of Saint Paul Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI). Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Roof Replacement Permit requirements across Minnesota localities