What's Required in Kansas City
- Replacing light roof covering on a one- or two-family home needs no building permit (KCBRC 18-16(b)(1)k).
- The reroof exemption does not cover replacing roof sheathing or decking or any structural change.
- Replacing less than 32 square feet of roof sheathing on a one- or two-family home is exempt.
- Ice barrier underlayment is required under Kansas City's amended IRC climate table.
- Roof drainage must discharge at least 3 feet from foundation walls or to an approved drainage system.
- Where re-roofing exposes the sheathing of a roof without cavity insulation, insulation must be added.
- Covenants may not ban code-approved shingle types, though they may regulate color and style.
- Exempt reroofing must still meet the Building and Rehabilitation Code.
Do You Need a Permit to Replace a Roof in Kansas City?
Not for the roof covering. Section 18-16(b)(1)k of the Kansas City Building and Rehabilitation Code exempts reroofing, meaning replacement of roof coverings, of one- and two-family residences with light roof covering. A full tear-off and new asphalt shingles on a house or duplex needs no building permit. The exemption stops at the deck: it does not include replacing roof sheathing or decking, or any structural change. A separate item exempts replacing less than 32 square feet of roof sheathing on a one- or two-family home, so swapping a few bad sheets is still permit-free. This page covers Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO). Kansas City, Kansas, across the state line, is a separate city with its own permit office and rules.
Kansas City Roof Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Tear off and replace shingles on a 1-2 family home | None | KCBRC 18-16(b)(1)k |
| Replacing less than 32 sq ft of roof sheathing | None | KCBRC 18-16(b)(1)t |
| Replacing 32 sq ft or more of sheathing or decking | Building permit, no plan review | 18-16(b)(1)k; IB100 |
| Repairing or replacing rafters, trusses or other framing | Building permit | 18-16(b)(1)k; 18-4(b) |
| Patching a leak or replacing a few shingles | None (ordinary repair) | KCBRC 18-4(b) |
| Replacing gutters and downspouts | None | KCBRC 18-16(b)(1)r |
| Reroofing a building other than a 1-2 family home | Ask the Permits Division | KCBRC 18-16(b)(1)k |
What Rules Still Apply Without a Permit?
Exempt work must still meet the building code. Kansas City has adopted the 2018 International Residential Code, and its amended climate table marks ice barrier underlayment as required. Roof drainage must discharge at least 3 feet from the foundation walls or into an approved drainage system. If the sheathing or insulation is exposed on a roof with no cavity insulation, Information Bulletin 172 says insulation must be added above or below the sheathing. The code also bars any covenant that stops the owner of a one- or two-family home from using a type of shingle the code allows; a homes association may regulate only color, style, dimensions and similar appearance. Roofing from June through September is exempt from the special nighttime building permit.
How Much Does a Roof Permit Cost in Kansas City?
Nothing for a covering-only reroof. When the job includes new decking or framing, the permit follows the one- and two-family valuation table in Section 18-20(b)(2), applied to the value of the work on the permit: $58 for the first $2,000 plus $4.33 for each additional $1,000 or fraction. A $12,000 reroof with new decking pays $58 + 10 × $4.33 = $101.30; a $20,000 job pays $58 + 18 × $4.33 = $135.94. IB100 lists roof sheathing and lightweight roof coverings among work that needs no plan review, so a written scope of work in CompassKC is enough. Starting permit work before the permit is issued triples the fee.
Who Can Do the Work?
The city's contractor license classes in Section 18-327 include no roofing class. An owner-occupant of a single-family home who pulls a building permit may hire roofing subcontractors to work under it, per IB146.
How to Get a Roof Replacement Permit in Kansas City
Define the scope
Covering-only work on a 1-2 family home needs no permit; plan for one if you will replace 32 sq ft or more of decking or any framing.
Check the materials
Specify ice barrier underlayment and drainage at least 3 ft from the foundation; HOA rules may limit color and style only.
Apply in CompassKC if needed
For decking or structural work, file a building permit with a written scope of work and the job value.
Pay the valuation fee
The fee is $58 for the first $2,000 plus $4.33 per additional $1,000, about $101 for a $12,000 job.
Inspect and finish
Request inspections through CompassKC or 816-513-1500 when a permit applies, and add insulation if an uninsulated roof deck is exposed.