What's Required in Sacramento
- Every re-roof needs a Re-Roof minor permit; no plans are required.
- The building permit fee is a flat $175 plus technology, General Plan, green building and strong motion fees.
- Contractor permit holders also pay the city business operations tax.
- Replacing more than 50 percent of a home roof surface triggers cool roof requirements unless an exception applies.
- Submit form CF1R-ALT-05-E with the application; the installer completes CF2R-ALT-05-E at final.
- Cool roof products must be tested and labeled by the Cool Roof Rating Council.
- Composition shingle roofs must be replaced with at least dimensional shingle to use the Planning Express form.
- Roof framing changes need a separate permit with plans.
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Sacramento?
Yes. Re-roofing is on the City of Sacramento Building Division’s list of work that needs a permit, and the city has a dedicated Re-Roof permit: a flat-fee minor permit covering removal and replacement, or an overlay, of the roof’s waterproof assembly, including replacement of sheathing where needed. It does not cover structural upgrades or reframing beyond incidental dry-rot repair; that work goes on a remodel permit with plans. Re-roofs are minor permits, so no plans are required and the inspector reviews the work in the field. Homeowners can pull a residential re-roof permit online through the Public Permit Portal for a single-family home or duplex, and licensed contractors can pull it there too.
How much does a roof replacement permit cost in Sacramento?
The building permit fee is a flat $175 on the 2026 residential fee sheet (Table B.1, in effect since July 19, 2025), with no plan review fee. Valuation-based surcharges come on top: technology at 10 percent of the permit fee, the General Plan fee at $2.60 per $1,000 of job value, the green building fee at $1 per $25,000, the strong motion fee at valuation x 0.00013, and the business operations tax at valuation x 0.0004 when a contractor holds the permit.
- $10,000 re-roof, owner-builder: $175 + $17.50 + $26 + $1 + $1.30 = $220.80.
- $25,000 re-roof, contractor: $175 + $17.50 + $65 + $1 + $3.25 + $10 = $271.75.
The city’s own average-cost page lists $225 for a re-roof, which matches a job of about $10,000. If you change roofing material, Planning’s roofing design review exemption form (CDD-0223) adds $132, which takes the second example to about $404.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Tear-off and replace, same material | Re-Roof minor permit, $175 | Planning Express form CDD-0035 for matching materials |
| Overlay over existing roofing | Re-Roof minor permit, $175 | Overlay must follow California Building Code rules |
| Replacing damaged sheathing during the re-roof | Included in the Re-Roof permit | Table B.1 scope includes sheathing |
| Replacing rafters or reframing the roof | Remodel permit with plans | Outside the Re-Roof scope except routine dry rot |
| Changing material, such as tile to composition | Re-Roof permit plus CDD-0223, $132 | 3-tab shingle allowed for repairs only |
| Replacing more than 50 percent of the roof surface | Cool roof compliance | Steep slope: aged reflectance .20 or SRI 16; CF1R-ALT-05-E |
| Historic district or landmark | Preservation form CDD-0030 | Express and CDD-0223 forms cannot be used |
Does a new roof in Sacramento have to be a cool roof?
Often. The city is in climate zone 12, and the Building Division’s cool roof sheet (CDD-0304) says a low-rise residential re-roof that replaces more than 50 percent of the exterior surface must use a cool roof product: on a steep roof (over 2:12) an aged solar reflectance of .20 and thermal emittance of .75, or an SRI of 16; on a low-slope roof .63 and .75, or an SRI of 75. Steep roofs are excused if the home has at least R-38 ceiling insulation, a qualifying radiant barrier, no ducts in the attic, or R-2 insulation above the deck. Submit the CF1R-ALT-05-E form with the application; the installer completes CF2R-ALT-05-E at final, and the product must be CRRC-rated. Outside city limits, Sacramento County issues re-roof permits through its own portal.
How to Get a Roof Replacement Permit in Sacramento
Confirm scope and jurisdiction
Check the lot is in the City and that the job is covering and sheathing only, not reframing.
Check cool roof rules
If more than 50 percent of the surface is replaced, pick a CRRC-rated product or document an exception on CF1R-ALT-05-E.
Handle Planning
Matching materials use the Express form CDD-0035; a material change needs CDD-0223 and its $132 fee; historic properties use CDD-0030.
Pull the permit online
Homeowners and contractors can apply and pay for a residential Re-Roof permit through the Public Permit Portal.
Pass the field inspection
Schedule inspection through the portal; the installer provides CF2R-ALT-05-E at final.