Ohio / Cleveland

Roof Replacement Permit in Cleveland, Ohio

It depends

Sometimes, depending on the project

Before reroofing, and before any shingle replacement that goes past 10 percent of the roof or changes the roofing material. Patching a leaking roof covering stays a minor repair.

Confirmed on official page Verified City of Cleveland Department of Building and Housing, Division of Construction Permitting

By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources

Quick answer

The Building and Housing FAQ says plainly that a permit is required to reroof. The carve out is Cleveland's minor repairs rule: patching a leaking roof covering and replacing shingles is minor repair only where the replacement is of the same material and the scope is limited to 10 percent of the roof. The Division of Construction Permitting states the same cutoff on its Permits page, listing shingle replacement in the same material at 10 percent of roof area or less among the minor repairs that do not need a building permit, while listing replacement of a roof among the projects that do. Minor repairs may be made without application or notice to the Building Department, so no notification step applies below the cutoff.

Typical threshold: share of the roof whose shingles are replaced, where the replacement is in the same material.

Who is pulling this permit?

Apply yourself

Apply on the Cleveland permit portal

Hire it out

Before you sign, ask the contractor:

  • Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
  • Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
  • Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?

When a permit is usually needed

Before reroofing, and before any shingle replacement that goes past 10 percent of the roof or changes the roofing material. Patching a leaking roof covering stays a minor repair.

What a roof replacement permit costs in Cleveland

Line item
roof replacement permitBy formulaThe General Fee Schedule effective January 2, 2014 has no roofing line item. A reroof on a one, two or three family dwelling house is charged under section A(2) "Alterations or repairs: $5.00 per $1,000 or fraction of estimated cost" with a $30.00 minimum. The plan examination fee is the $20.00 minimum, because the schedule charges that minimum to "Projects such as parking lots, signs, roofs or fences which have no floor area". Add the $20.00 residential zoning fee and the 1 percent State of Ohio surcharge.
Fee schedule in forceOfficial scheduleRead . Fees are the jurisdiction’s; we do not mark them up or estimate them.

How Cleveland compares in Ohio

JurisdictionPermit needed?Threshold
CincinnatiIt dependsnumber of roof coverings remaining in place after the work on a one-, two- or three-family dwelling
Clevelandthis pageIt dependsshare of the roof whose shingles are replaced, where the replacement is in the same material
ColumbusPermit requiredNot specified
Franklin CountyPermit requiredNot specified

Closest roof replacement permit thresholds outside Ohio

Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Cleveland's 10 percent of roof area.

How to apply in Cleveland

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).
  • 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).
  • 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 Cleveland Department of Building and Housing, Division of Construction Permitting sets the exact checklist for Cleveland.

Where to apply in Cleveland:

City of Cleveland Department of Building and Housing, Division of Construction Permitting

  • Department of Building and Housing, Division of Construction Permitting, Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Ave., Room 505, Cleveland, OH 44114
  • Phone: 216.664.2910
  • Email: BHpermits@clevelandohio.gov

Inspections and closing out your permit

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.

  1. 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).
  2. 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).
  3. 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).
  4. 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).
  5. 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).
  6. 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 Cleveland permit portal or by phone at 216.664.2910.

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.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a roof replacement permit in Cleveland?
The Building and Housing FAQ says plainly that a permit is required to reroof. The carve out is Cleveland's minor repairs rule: patching a leaking roof covering and replacing shingles is minor repair only where the replacement is of the same material and the scope is limited to 10 percent of the roof. The Division of Construction Permitting states the same cutoff on its Permits page, listing shingle replacement in the same material at 10 percent of roof area or less among the minor repairs that do not need a building permit, while listing replacement of a roof among the projects that do. Minor repairs may be made without application or notice to the Building Department, so no notification step applies below the cutoff. Share of the roof whose shingles are replaced, where the replacement is in the same material. Always confirm with the office before starting.
How much does a roof replacement permit cost in Cleveland?
The General Fee Schedule effective January 2, 2014 has no roofing line item. A reroof on a one, two or three family dwelling house is charged under section A(2) "Alterations or repairs: $5.00 per $1,000 or fraction of estimated cost" with a $30.00 minimum. The plan examination fee is the $20.00 minimum, because the schedule charges that minimum to "Projects such as parking lots, signs, roofs or fences which have no floor area". Add the $20.00 residential zoning fee and the 1 percent State of Ohio surcharge. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
How long does a roof replacement permit take in Cleveland?
In Cleveland, a roof replacement permit typically takes 3 to 5 working days. Times can vary by workload and project scope, so confirm with the office.
Where do you apply for a roof replacement permit in Cleveland?
You can apply through the Cleveland permit portal or contact the City of Cleveland Department of Building and Housing, Division of Construction Permitting directly. The links are listed on this page.
Can a homeowner pull a roof replacement permit themselves in Cleveland?
Under Ohio law (OAC 4101:8-1-01 Section 105.1; R.C. 3791.04(A)(1)(b); R.C. Chapter 4740): Ohio has no statewide general contractor license, so the Residential Code of Ohio names the property owner directly as an authorized permit applicant: an owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, alter, repair, or change the occupancy of a residential building must first make application to the local certified building department and obtain approval, meaning a homeowner may pull their own permit and act as their own contractor. Certain specialty trades, HVAC, refrigeration, and hydronics contractors, are separately licensed statewide under R.C. Chapter 4740, and no homeowner exemption from that licensing requirement could be found in the chapter's text. In a county, township, or municipality with no residential building department certified by the state Board of Building Standards, R.C. 3791.04(A)(1)(b) and the Residential Code of Ohio's administrative rule both say the owner is not required to submit construction documents, seek approval, request inspections, or obtain a certificate of occupancy at all, which removes the state permitting framework, and with it the owner-builder question, in those jurisdictions. Confirm how Cleveland applies this before you apply.

From the Library

What else needs a permit in Cleveland

Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.

ProjectPermit needed?ThresholdTypical fee
Deck PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedThe General Fee Schedule effective January 2, 2014 has no deck line item.
Electrical PermitIt dependsNot specifiedElectrical Wiring and Equipment fee schedule effective January 2, 2014: "the minimum fee...
Fence PermitIt dependsshare of an existing fence repaired or replaced within any twelve month period, where foundations and footers are unchangedGeneral Fee Schedule effective January 2, 2014, item C(2) "Fences, guardrails, or...
HVAC PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedHVAC permit fee schedule effective January 2, 2014: "One, two and three family...
Plumbing PermitIt dependsNot specifiedPlumbing Fixtures, Appliance and Piping fee schedule effective January 2, 2014: "The...
Pool PermitIt dependswater capacity of a private swimming pool; a depth of more than two feet also triggers the permitGeneral Fee Schedule effective January 2, 2014, item C(4) "Swimming pools...
Shed PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedGeneral Fee Schedule effective January 2, 2014, item C(1) "Private garages, tool sheds...
Solar PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedCleveland's Solar Panel Guide publishes a residential table: residential building permit...

Roof Replacement Permit in other Ohio localities

Everything above, sourced

clevelandohio.gov: permitsread
clevelandohio.gov: permitreqread

Code references

National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Cleveland documents; the office above sets the local rules.

Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with City of Cleveland Department of Building and Housing, Division of Construction Permitting. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.

Last checked: Report an error on this page

Compare Roof Replacement Permit requirements across Ohio localities

It depends
Get quotes