What's Required in Indianapolis
- No structural permit for replacement of an existing roof by a listed contractor or the owner-occupant (Sec. 536-201(b)(2), effective January 1, 2026)
- Permit required if the job changes the roof configuration, increases dead load (e.g., tile over shingles), replaces a rafter or more than 128 ft of decking, or uses heat-applied roofing
- Reroofs on rental property by the owner or an unlisted worker need a structural permit; any hired roofer must be a listed Marion County contractor (Sec. 875-101)
- Fee when required: $290 (Misc. Residential: $40 + $100 + $150) or $390 (remodel/repair: $40 + $150 + $200) up to 1,000 sq ft; non-refundable application and review fees
- Improvement Location Permit ($140) only if the roof's height, size or bulk changes
- Certificate of appropriateness required in IHPC historic districts and the Meridian Street district even for exempt work
- Plan review to the 2020 Indiana Residential Code; ice-barrier underlayment required per the city's climate table
- Permitted work: framing inspection before covering replaced structure; Completion Card within 14 days to close
Do You Need a Permit to Replace a Roof in Indianapolis?
Usually not, as of January 1, 2026. Sec. 536-201(b)(2) of the Building Standards and Procedures, as amended by G.O. 38, 2025, exempts replacement of an existing roof if performed by a listed contractor or a person who owns or is purchasing the home with the intention to occupy it, so long as the work does not involve any of four things: a change in roof configuration; a change in type of roof covering that would increase the dead load (the code's example is tile replacing asphalt shingles); replacement of basic structural members (a rafter, or more than 128 feet of decking); or heat-applied roofing material. The same ordinance repealed Sec. 536-216, the old rule that made a contractor post a notification form at the site and file it with the city before an exempt reroof, so nothing is filed at all. A plain tear-off and re-shingle, or a metal roof that does not add load, is permit-free; so are gutters, chimney repairs above the roof line, and insulation.
Be aware that the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (DBNS) Homeowner's Guide, last updated in 2021, still says re-roofing requires a Structural Renovation Permit. That reflected the earlier code, under which only contractors who posted the notification form were exempt. The ordinance text on the city's code site controls, and the 2021 guide's rule that an owner could add one layer over a single existing layer without a permit is now moot because any like-for-like replacement is exempt.
Indianapolis Reroof Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Tear-off and new asphalt shingles, same pitch and layout, by a listed roofer or the owner-occupant | None | Sec. 536-201(b)(2), G.O. 38, 2025 |
| Replacing more than 128 ft of decking or any rafter | Structural permit ($290–$390) | Sec. 536-201(b)(2)c |
| Switching from shingles to tile or slate (heavier covering) | Structural permit; plans showing the framing | Sec. 536-201(b)(2)b, increased dead load |
| Torch-down or other heat-applied membrane on a flat roof | Structural permit | Sec. 536-201(b)(2)d |
| Changing the roof shape, raising a ridge, adding dormers | Structural permit + ILP ($140) | Configuration change; ILP for increased height or bulk |
| Reroof by an unlisted handyman on a house you rent out | Structural permit | Exemption covers only listed contractors and owner-occupants |
| Any reroof in an IHPC historic district | Certificate of appropriateness (fee by project cost) | Sec. 536-201(d); IHPC fee schedule |
How Much Does a Roof Permit Cost in Indianapolis?
Zero for the exempt case. When a permit is needed, the January 5, 2026 fee schedule has no reroof line, so the cost depends on the subtype DBNS assigns: the miscellaneous residential permit is a $40 application fee, $100 plan review and $150 issuance, $290; remodeling, alteration or repair of a Class 2 structure is $40 + $150 + $200, $390, for a house up to 1,000 square feet with $50 more per 500 square feet of issuance and $25 of review. The structural application form still carries a "Renovation" permit type, and the Homeowner's Guide says a renovation permit with no structural change needs no plans. Application and plan review fees are due at submittal and are not refunded. An Improvement Location Permit ($140) is only added when the roof's height, size or bulk changes; repairs that do not are exempt from the ILP.
Who Can Do the Work?
The exemption is tied to who holds the hammer. A listed contractor means a general contractor listed with DBNS under Chapter 875, and Sec. 875-101 requires anyone contracting to do construction on someone else's property to be listed, so an unlisted roofer is both outside the exemption and working illegally. The owner-occupant exemption covers a person who owns or is buying the home on contract and intends to live in it; a landlord re-roofing a rental is not covered and needs the permit. Check the roofer on the city's licensed-contractor list, which is updated monthly, before signing. In the excluded cities of Lawrence, Beech Grove, Speedway and Southport, ask that city.
What If a Permit Is Needed?
Apply in the Accela Citizens Access portal as a Class 2 structural permit (owner-builders attach a Statement of Intent). Where decking or rafters are replaced, the inspector will want to see the framing before it is covered, and the city's plan review uses the 2020 Indiana Residential Code; the Homeowner's Guide's climate table calls for ice-barrier underlayment and a 20 psf ground snow load. Close the permit by returning the Completion Card within 14 days of finishing; the permit lapses if work has not started within 365 days.
How to Get a Roof Replacement Permit in Indianapolis
Check the four triggers
Same configuration, same or lighter covering, no rafters and 128 ft or less of decking, no heat-applied material: no permit.
Check who is doing it
A listed contractor or the owner-occupant keeps the exemption. Verify the roofer on the city's licensed-contractor list; rentals need a permit unless a listed contractor does the work.
Check for a historic district
Apply to the IHPC for a certificate of appropriateness before work starts; fee by project cost.
If a permit is needed, apply in Accela Citizens Access
Class 2 structural permit with a description of the structural work or new covering; attach framing details if decking or rafters change and a Statement of Intent if you are the builder.
Inspect and close
Request the framing inspection before covering replaced structure, then submit the Completion Card for the final within 14 days of finishing.