Roof Replacement Permit in Kansas City, Missouri

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a roof replacement permit in Kansas City?

Kansas City does not require a permit for the ordinary residential reroof. Sec. 18-16(b)(1)k exempts reroofing of one- and two-family residences with a light roof covering, and exempts reroofing of other structures done in accordance with the code's materials and installation requirements. The exemption stops at the deck: the same item says exempted reroofing work does not include replacement of roof sheathing or deck, or structural modifications or alterations to the building or structure, so the moment a tear-off turns up rotten decking that has to come off, the job needs a permit. A related item, Sec. 18-16(b)(1)t, separately exempts replacement of soffits and of wall or roof sheathing of less than 32 square feet on a one- or two-family dwelling, which is what keeps a small patch of bad decking out of the permit system. The code does not define "light roof covering," and the term matters because a switch to slate, clay or concrete tile is not a light covering, so confirm the material with the Code Questions line at 816-513-1511 before assuming the exemption applies. Do not read this exemption as a Missouri rule. Missouri has no statewide residential building code; the reroofing exemption exists only because Kansas City wrote it into Chapter 18 of its own ordinances, and a suburb or an unincorporated parcel a mile away may require a permit for the same job or have no code at all. Information Bulletin IB100 separately excuses installation of roof sheathing and lightweight roof coverings from plan review, so where a permit is needed it is issued on a written scope of work rather than a plan set. Always confirm with the Kansas City, Missouri City Planning and Development Department, Development Management Division (construction permits are issued by the department's Permits Division on the 5th floor of City Hall) before starting.

How much does a roof replacement permit cost in Kansas City?

An exempt reroof costs nothing. A reroof that loses the exemption, most often because sheathing or structure is being replaced, is a building permit priced from the one- and two-family valuation table in Sec. 18-20(b)(2): $52.00 up to $1,000.00 of valuation, $58.00 from $1,001.00 to $2,000.00, then $58.00 for the first $2,000.00 plus $4.33 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof to and including $100,000.00. Sec. 18-20 was last amended by Ord. No. 220612, Sec. 1, 10-27-22. Sec. 18-20(e)(2) triples the fee if the work starts before the permit issues, with a carve-out where the work is done at a one-family dwelling by the person who owns and occupies it and the permit is applied for before the end of the workday following notification. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.

Where do you apply for a roof replacement permit in Kansas City?

You can apply through the Kansas City permit portal or contact the Kansas City, Missouri City Planning and Development Department, Development Management Division (construction permits are issued by the department's Permits Division on the 5th floor of City Hall) directly. The links are listed on this page.

Can a homeowner pull a roof replacement permit themselves in Kansas City?

Under Missouri law (RSMo 701.055.1 and 701.055.2; RSMo 327.101.2(5)(a); RSMo 327.191.2(5)(a); RSMo 700.656.5): Missouri does not license general contractors at the state level and has no statewide owner-builder permit statute, disclosure affidavit, or resale restriction comparable to Florida's one year rule. Whether a homeowner may pull the permit and do the work is decided by the city or county that issues the permit. Where state law does speak, it is permissive: RSMo 327.101.2(5)(a) and RSMo 327.191.2(5)(a) let an unlicensed person render architectural and engineering services for the construction, remodeling or repair of a privately owned dwelling house, provided the drawings say the person is not licensed, so plans for a house do not have to be sealed by an architect or engineer. RSMo 701.055.1 expressly preserves a property owner's right to install, modify or repair their own on-site sewage disposal system as long as the state standard is met, and RSMo 701.055.2 adds that no permit or contractor registration is required simply to clean it. RSMo 700.656.5 exempts a person who installs a manufactured home on his or her own property for his or her own occupancy from the otherwise mandatory state installer license. None of these exemptions excuses a local permit where the local jurisdiction requires one. Confirm how Kansas City applies this before you apply.