What's Required in Pittsburgh
- Removing and replacing a roof covering needs a permit; the EZ roofing permit covers it without plans or plan review.
- EZ roofing may include flashing, underlayment, drip edge, exposed insulation and up to 10% replacement sheathing.
- More than 10% sheathing, structural roof repairs, slope or opening changes and roof decks need a standard BDA.
- Projects in historic districts or floodplains are not EZ eligible.
- The residential base fee is $6 per $1,000 of value with a $130 minimum, plus $4.50 SETF, $5 digital retention and a $2 to $5 technology fee.
- Work may be done by the homeowner at a primary residence, a licensed city contractor or a registered PA Home Improvement Contractor.
- City-licensed contractors need current insurance and a tax compliance letter on file before the permit issues.
- EZ permits authorize only the one scope selected; work beyond it can bring a stop-work order or revocation.
Do You Need a Permit to Replace a Roof in Pittsburgh?
Yes. Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code leaves many residential repairs to local ordinance, and Pittsburgh's building code replaces the state's list of exempt work with its own, which does not include reroofing. PLI's permitting page says a permit is required to repair or alter a building, and its EZ Permit pilot lists Roofing as an eligible scope: remove and replace an existing roof covering, replace the flashing, underlayment, drip edge and insulation the work exposes, and replace damaged sheathing discovered during the job up to 10% of the roof area. An EZ permit needs no plans or plan review, and eligible applications are issued within one business day after the license information is verified.
The EZ route ends where structure begins. Replacing more than 10% of the sheathing, repairing or replacing rafters, trusses or joists, changing the slope, drainage, parapets or skylights, or building a roof deck all need a standard Building and Development Application (BDA), which PLI says takes 15 to 30 business days. Projects in a historic district or a floodplain are not EZ eligible at all, and any exterior work in a historic district goes to zoning review. Ordinary repairs, such as replacing a few shingles, do not need a permit.
Pittsburgh Roof Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Patching a leak or replacing a few shingles | None (ordinary repair) | PLI exempt list, ordinary repairs |
| Tear-off and new shingles, same roof | EZ roofing permit, no plans | PLI EZ Permits, residential roofing |
| Reroof with up to 10% new sheathing | EZ roofing permit | PLI EZ Permits, residential roofing |
| More than 10% sheathing or any rafter or truss work | Standard BDA with review | PLI EZ page, not EZ eligible |
| New skylight, slope change or roof deck | Standard BDA with review | PLI EZ page, not EZ eligible |
| Reroof in a historic district | Standard BDA with zoning review | PLI EZ page; zoning-review-only list |
| Roof-mounted solar on the new roof | Separate electrical permit | PLI EZ electrical, roof mounted solar |
How Much Does a Roof Permit Cost in Pittsburgh?
An EZ permit costs the same as a standard permit of its type; PLI says there is no additional fee. The 2026 residential base fee is $6.00 per $1,000 of construction value, minimum $130, plus a $4.50 state training fund fee, a $5.00 digital record retention fee and a technology fee of $2 when the base fee is $200 or less ($5 up to $1,000). A $15,000 reroof: $90 calculated, so the minimum applies, $130 + $2 + $4.50 + $5 = $141.50. A $35,000 tear-off on a large house: $210 + $5 + $4.50 + $5 = $224.50. PLI's fee calculator adds a zoning review fee ($1.00 per $1,000, $50 minimum) when exterior work is checked; if the portal applies it to your roofing permit, that job reaches $274.50. EZ fees are non-refundable. Those are PLI's residential rates; its permitting page puts attached single- and two-family dwellings in the commercial category, where the minimum base fee is $605, so confirm which category the portal assigns your house.
Who Can Pull a Roofing Permit?
The homeowner, for a primary residence; a licensed City of Pittsburgh contractor; or a registered Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor. Application technicians verify that the license, insurance and tax documents are current before issuing an EZ permit, and you can request the inspection, including a virtual inspection for roofing, through OneStopPGH.
How to Get a Roof Replacement Permit in Pittsburgh
Confirm the scope fits EZ
Same roof, covering and up to 10% sheathing only, and the house is not in a historic district or floodplain.
Apply online in OneStopPGH
Choose the EZ building permit, select Roofing, and enter the value of construction, location and full scope.
Name who does the work
Select homeowner at primary residence, a licensed city contractor or a PA HIC; the contractor confirms their association with the project.
Attest and pay
Accept the attestations and pay the permit fee, typically $141.50; technicians verify the license information within one business day.
Reroof and request inspection
Do the work as permitted and request an in-person or virtual inspection through OneStopPGH.