What's Required in Milwaukee
- No permit is needed to replace any amount of roof covering on a one- or two-family home if the structure is unaffected.
- Replacing roof decking without modifying framing members needs no permit.
- Repairs or modifications to rafters, trusses or other structural members need full plan submittal and a building permit.
- A roof system that raises the dead load by 5% or more needs plans and a building permit.
- Historic, Neighborhood Conservation and BID architectural review properties need separate approvals regardless of the exemption.
- Asbestos-containing roofing needs an asbestos project permit.
- Hired roofers need a City Home Improvement Contractor License and state Dwelling Contractor credentials.
- Dumpsters or staging in the street, alley or sidewalk need a separate DPW permit.
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Milwaukee?
Usually not. For one- and two-family homes, Milwaukee's code exempts the replacement of unlimited quantities of roof covering (MCO 200-24-1.5-f-5) and the replacement of roof decking without changes to the framing (f-6). The Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS) re-roofing form says the same in plain terms: repair, recover or replacement of any quantity of roof covering on a 1- or 2-family dwelling needs no permit as long as the roof structure is not affected. A full tear-off and new shingles on a house or duplex is therefore permit-free.
Two things change that. First, any modification or repair of the structural system (rafters, trusses, ridge, collar ties), or a new roof system that raises the dead load by 5% or more, requires full plan submittal and a building permit. Second, homes in a local historic district, a Neighborhood Conservation district or a BID architectural review area (for example the Third Ward or East North Avenue) need separate approvals no matter what the permit rules say. DNS's own checklist marks shingle work as Maybe and a new roof with new rafters as Yes, which is consistent with that line.
What does a structural roof permit cost?
Structural roof work is billed as a one- or two-family alteration: 1.6% of the cost of construction, $150 minimum, plus a plan review fee of $0.25 per square foot of the area altered with a $125 minimum. DNS adds a 1.6% training and technology surcharge to both and a $20 processing fee.
- Replacing rafters over 400 sq ft for $8,000: the $150 and $125 minimums apply. $275 plus $4.40 and $20 = $299.40.
- Re-framing 1,000 sq ft of roof for $20,000: $320 + $250 = $570, plus $9.12 and $20 = $599.12.
The fee schedule notes the city assessor bills a service charge on remodeling permits ($250 per dwelling unit for residential alterations under MCO 81-6); ask whether it applies when your fees are assessed. The $250 plan exam and $200 permit fees printed on the re-roofing form are for buildings outside the 1- and 2-family exemption.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Tear-off and new shingles on a house or duplex | No permit | MCO 200-24-1.5-f-5 |
| Laying a new layer over old shingles | No permit if structure unaffected | DNS re-roofing form |
| Replacing roof sheathing, framing untouched | No permit | MCO 200-24-1.5-f-6 |
| Replacing or adding rafters or trusses | Building permit, 1.6% of cost + plan review | Full plan submittal required |
| Heavier roofing adding 5% or more dead load | Building permit with plans | DNS re-roofing form note (a) |
| Historic or conservation district home | Separate approvals first | Exemptions do not apply |
| Dumpster in the street or alley | DPW right-of-way permit | Separate from DNS |
Who can do roof work in Milwaukee?
An owner who lives in the home can do the work, and can pull a permit for structural work, without any license. A roofing contractor working on a one- or two-family home must hold a City of Milwaukee Home Improvement Contractor License, which the city says covers roofing, and the state Dwelling Contractor credentials. Even when no permit is needed, the work must still meet the code, and an asbestos-containing roof requires an asbestos project permit.
How to Get a Roof Replacement Permit in Milwaukee
Define the scope
Decide whether the job is covering and sheathing only, or whether rafters, trusses or roof weight change. Covering-only work on a house or duplex needs no permit.
Check special districts
Look up your address on My Milwaukee Home for historic or conservation status and get HPC approval before any exterior work.
Verify the contractor
Confirm your roofer's City Home Improvement Contractor License and state Dwelling Contractor credentials.
Submit plans for structural work
For structural changes, submit plans through the Land Management System or at the Permit and Development Center, 809 N. Broadway, and pay the plan review fee.
Pay, post and inspect
Pay the permit fee, post the permit at the front of the property, and have an inspection within 180 days.