Roof Replacement Permit in Arlington, Texas
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before replacing roof covering materials on more than 10 percent of the roof area. Reroof permits have been required in Arlington since November 1, 2011.
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Arlington requires a building permit to replace roof covering materials except when the replacement area is 10 percent or less of the roof area. The city notes that this requirement dates to November 1, 2011, when building permits also became required for structural repairs to foundations. Reroof applications go through ArlingtonPermits.com and need an application, a site plan and a re-roof worksheet, and the permit must be issued and posted at the job site before work starts. All contractors must be registered to perform work in the City of Arlington. Applying roof coverings with an open flame additionally requires an Operational Permit from the Fire Department.
Typical threshold: area of roof covering material being replaced.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
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 replacing roof covering materials on more than 10 percent of the roof area. Reroof permits have been required in Arlington since November 1, 2011.
What a roof replacement permit costs in Arlington
How Arlington compares in Texas
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Arlingtonthis page | It depends | area of roof covering material being replaced |
| Austin | It depends | asphalt shingle re-roofing is generally exempt unless property is in the Wildland-Urban Interface area and 50% or more of the roofing is being replaced |
| Corpus Christi | It depends | The 100 square feet measures the area of shingles replaced. A re-roof permit is triggered by replacing shingles in excess of 100 square feet, by changing the slope of the roof, by removing and replacing roof decking, or by changing the roof material; any one trigger alone requires the permit. |
| Dallas | It depends | re-roofing of single-family or duplex valued at $500 or less does not require a permit; re-roofing valued over $500 or full replacement requires a permit |
| El Paso | It depends | The 25 percent is a share of the residential roof covering being replaced, measured across the roof rather than as an area in square feet or a count of squares. |
| Fort Worth | It depends | whether any decking, sheathing, lathing boards, rafters, or ridge boards are replaced |
| Plano | It depends | share of the roof being re-roofed |
Closest roof replacement permit thresholds outside Texas
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Arlington's 10 percent of roof area.
- Cleveland, Ohio, share of the roof whose shingles are replaced, where the replacement is in the same material
How to apply in Arlington
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 Arlington Planning and Development Services Department, Building Inspections Division sets the exact checklist for Arlington.
Where to apply in Arlington:
City of Arlington Planning and Development Services Department, Building Inspections Division
- City Hall, 101 W. Abram St., 2nd Floor, Arlington, TX 76010
- Phone: 817-459-6502
- Email: planningdevelopment@arlingtontx.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.
- 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).
- 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).
- 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).
- 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 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).
- 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 Arlington permit portal or by phone at 817-459-6502.
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 Arlington
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: area of roof covering material being replaced. Usually needed: Before replacing roof covering materials on more than 10 percent of the roof area. Reroof permits have been required in Arlington since November 1, 2011.
- Budget the fee. Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule, Effective June 1, 2026, Resolution No. 26 - 151, Residential Construction: "Reroof* $325.00". Commercial reroofs on the same schedule are "Based on Valuation - Table 1". The asterisk marks permits that also carry the non-refundable plan review fee of 35% of the building permit fee, due at submittal. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. 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 Arlington permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. City of Arlington Planning and Development Services Department, Building Inspections Division. Phone: 817-459-6502. Address: City Hall, 101 W. Abram St., 2nd Floor, Arlington, TX 76010.
- Plan for inspections. 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 Arlington?
- Arlington requires a building permit to replace roof covering materials except when the replacement area is 10 percent or less of the roof area. The city notes that this requirement dates to November 1, 2011, when building permits also became required for structural repairs to foundations. Reroof applications go through ArlingtonPermits.com and need an application, a site plan and a re-roof worksheet, and the permit must be issued and posted at the job site before work starts. All contractors must be registered to perform work in the City of Arlington. Applying roof coverings with an open flame additionally requires an Operational Permit from the Fire Department. Area of roof covering material being replaced. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a roof replacement permit cost in Arlington?
- Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule, Effective June 1, 2026, Resolution No. 26 - 151, Residential Construction: "Reroof* $325.00". Commercial reroofs on the same schedule are "Based on Valuation - Table 1". The asterisk marks permits that also carry the non-refundable plan review fee of 35% of the building permit fee, due at submittal. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a roof replacement permit in Arlington?
- You can apply through the Arlington permit portal or contact the City of Arlington Planning and Development Services Department, Building Inspections Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a roof replacement permit themselves in Arlington?
- Under Texas law (Tex. Occupations Code 1305.003(a)(6), 1301.051; Tex. Local Government Code 233.157(c)): Texas licenses individual construction trades rather than general contractors, so no state statute requires a license to act as your own general contractor on your own house. For electrical work, the state licensing law does not apply to work performed in or on a dwelling by a person who owns and resides in it, but only where no municipal ordinance specifically regulates that work, so city electrical licensing and permit rules still control inside city limits (Occupations Code 1305.003(a)(6)). For plumbing, a property owner does not need a state license to perform plumbing in the owner's homestead (Occupations Code 1301.051). In opt-in counties' unincorporated areas, an individual who builds their own house or acts as their own contractor is exempt from the Class C misdemeanor penalty for inspection notice failures if they intend to use the home as their primary residence (Local Government Code 233.157(c)). None of these exemptions waive local permit or inspection requirements where they apply. Confirm how Arlington applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Arlington
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule, Effective June 1, 2026, Resolution No, for every permit type below. The fee column shows what differs by project.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | height of an uncovered deck above grade at any point | 26 - 151, Residential Construction: "Patio Cover, Screened Porch, Gazebo & Decks*... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | 26 - 151, Building Permit for Electrical: "Per Trade - Commercial and Residential New... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | share of one side of an existing fence being repaired or replaced | 26 - 151, Residential Construction: "Fence, Residential Lot $50.00 each" |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | 26 - 151, Mechanical: "Per Trade - Commercial and Residential New Construction Permits... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | height of an uncovered patio above grade at any point | 26 - 151, Residential Construction: "Patio Cover, Screened Porch, Gazebo & Decks*... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | 26 - 151, Plumbing Permits: "Per Trade - Commercial and Residential New Construction... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | depth of a prefabricated inflatable swimming pool | 26 - 151, Residential Construction: "Swimming Pool - In-ground (1 & 2 Family) (Spa... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | floor area of a one-story detached tool or storage shed | 26 - 151, Residential Construction: "Portable Storage/Accessory Building 320 sq.ft. |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | 26 - 151, Residential Construction: "Solar Panel* $325.00" and "Home Backup Power... |
Roof Replacement Permit in other Texas localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Arlington documents; the office above sets the local rules.
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with City of Arlington Planning and Development Services Department, Building Inspections Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Roof Replacement Permit requirements across Texas localities
Permit office
City of Arlington Planning and Development Services Department, Building Inspections Division
817-459-6502Permit portal