What's Required in Fort Worth
- Shingle-only replacement on a house or its accessory buildings needs no permit.
- Replacing any decking, lathing or sheathing boards requires a reroof permit.
- Replacing rafters or ridge boards requires a building permit.
- Changing the roof pitch requires construction plans and elevation drawings.
- Crickets and drip edges are required when reroofing.
- New decking may not be installed over an existing layer of decking.
- Underlayment must meet the manufacturer's instructions or IRC Section R905, whichever is more restrictive.
- The permit holder must be a registered building contractor or an owner-occupant with a homestead permit.
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Fort Worth?
Only if you replace the decking. This is one of the most misunderstood rules in Fort Worth. For a house, a shingle-only reroof needs no building permit. The Development Services roofing FAQ asks whether a permit is required for a replacement roof on a single-family or two-family dwelling when only the shingles are replaced and no decking is replaced. The answer is no. If any decking is replaced, a permit is required.
The code says the same. Section 105.2 of the Fort Worth Administrative Code exempts roof repairs on Group R-3 houses and their accessory structures. It defines those repairs as repairing and replacing the material above the decking, lathing or sheathing boards, but not those boards themselves. The residential permitting page adds rafters and ridge boards to the list of work that needs a permit. A full tear-off down to sound decking, with new underlayment and shingles, stays exempt. Once a sheet of decking comes off and a new one goes on, you need the permit.
How much does a reroof permit cost in Fort Worth?
The city's permit guide lists a Residential Remodel Reroof Permit, described as the permit to re-roof and replace decking. Its fees are an application fee, a technology fee and a building fee. Under Fee Ordinance 26-28781, effective October 1, 2026, a one-trade residential remodel is $119.00. The application fee is $33.08 and the technology fee is $16.87. A reroof with decking replacement therefore comes to $168.95. That is a flat amount, because Texas Local Government Code 214.907 bars value-based residential fees. A 20-square roof and a 40-square roof pay the same.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Tear-off and new shingles, decking left in place | No permit | Work above the decking is exempt at a house |
| Patching a leak or replacing a few shingles | No permit | Roof repair above the decking |
| Reroof with some decking sheets replaced | Reroof permit, $168.95 | Any decking replacement requires a permit |
| Replacing rafters or ridge boards | Building permit | Structural roof members need a permit |
| Changing the roof pitch | Building permit with plans | Construction plans and elevation drawings required |
| Detached garage or shed reroof, shingles only | No permit | The exemption covers accessory structures too |
| Reroof in a historic district | Design approval may be required | Some districts regulate roofing materials |
What the city checks on a reroof
The roofing FAQ answers the questions inspectors and insurers raise most often. Existing sheathing in good condition does not have to be replaced to meet current code. A new layer of decking may not be laid over an existing layer. Fort Worth's amendments do not require an ice-barrier underlayment. Crickets and drip edges are required when reroofing, even if the old roof had none. The Residential Code amendments also require existing roof drains to be kept clear. They also require old tar, asphalt or insulation to be removed when a new roof over an old one creates an attic space. The city limits how many shingle layers a roof may carry, so ask before you overlay a roof that already has more than one layer.
Who can pull a reroof permit?
A building contractor registered with the city can pull it ($178 a year), or an owner-occupant with a homestead permit. Apply in Accela Citizen Access, where the Permit Assist tool now feeds the application. If you replace decking without a permit, the investigation fee equals the permit fee.
How to Get a Roof Replacement Permit in Fort Worth
Inspect the decking
Have your roofer confirm whether any decking, sheathing or rafters need replacing. If not, no permit is needed.
Apply for a reroof permit if decking is replaced
A registered contractor or homestead owner applies for a Residential Remodel Reroof Permit in Accela Citizen Access with a detailed scope of work.
Pay the $168.95
Pay the one-trade fee plus the application and technology fees in Accela before work starts.
Reroof to code
Install crickets and drip edges, and keep roof drains clear. Do not lay new decking over old.
Call for inspection
Schedule the inspection in Accela. A permit expires after 180 days without an approved inspection.