When the time comes to have a roof repaired or replaced, you want the best in the business doing the work.
Shoddy roof installation or repair can create a mountain of problems down the line, and a lot of the mistakes made during the labor may not be made obvious until months or even years down the road.
In Lakewood, Colorado, there has been a history of unlicensed, unpermitted ‘roofing contractors’ performing work that does not meet safety and quality standards. As such, the City of Lakewood has acknowledged the need for special permits related to the performance of roof installations and repairs.
What Is the Lakewood Roofing Permit, Exactly?
In September of 2015, the City of Lakewood issued a notice to all roofing contractors in the area, alerting them to this new permitting requirement.
The requirement is stated as follows:
“A building permit is required for re-roof or for roof repair prior to tear-off and installation of the new roof. Repairs of less than 100 square feet of area do not require a permit.”
This building permit issued by the City of Lakewood and must be presented to the home or business owner prior to any work being performed. To obtain a permit, a roofing contractor must go through the process of submitting an application to the city through their website, located at www.lakewood.org.
Thankfully, there is no need to visit a City of Lakewood office in-person to complete this process. The permit can be acquired 100% online, as long as there is sufficient information provided by the roofing contractor.
What Are the Requirements for the Permit?
First of all, it’s important to note that you are not required to be an incorporated roofing contractor in order to obtain the building permit required to do roofing repairs in Lakewood, Colorado. In fact, homeowners themselves can obtain this permit by going through the application process mentioned above.
Generally speaking, this special permit is required so that the roofing work that is done is in compliance with the International Residential Code, or IRC. Current information on the most up-to-date IRC requirements can be found here.
The International Residential Code is a collection of best practices and building standards that address the issues of safety and quality in residential construction. The codes listed within the IRC relate to how plumbing should be installed, what measures should be taken to ensure a safe building frame, etc.
Inspections
Many roof repair jobs in Lakewood, Colorado require an inspection by the city in order to maintain compliance. This is especially the case for tile or metal roof projects. A-to-Z Roofing & Exteriors is an established roofing contractor that is current on all the permitting requirements necessary to perform roof repair for residential and commercial buildings in Lakewood, Colorado.
You have a right to be present during any and all inspections on any roofing project we undertake. If you have any questions about the permitting status of your roof repair or replacement, you can always obtain a copy of the relevant permit for your job by contacting our offices.
What Should You Do if a Roofing Contractor Cannot Produce a Permit?
If roof repair work is allowed to proceed in Lakewood, Colorado, and if there is not a city-issued building permit that is assigned to the job, there could be significant penalties.
The Lakewood, Colorado building permit requirement for roofing contractors is in place to protect homeowners. Poor quality roofing can present serious safety risks, risks which may not present themselves until well after the repair work is completed.
If you live in Lakewood, Colorado and you’re shopping for a high-quality roofing contractor to perform work on your home, don’t forget to always ask for the required permitting documents prior to agreeing to any work.
Not doing so could make you vulnerable to fines and penalties issued by the city.
If you encounter a roofing contractor that tells you they don’t need a permit, always be skeptical. If you need supporting documentation related to this permitting requirement, you can find it here. Feel free to print out this document and hand it to the contractor in question.
Lastly, if you live in Lakewood, Colorado and want to cut through the noise and work with the most qualified, proven roofing contractor in the area (who also has the permits needed to do the work), contact A-to-Z Roofing & Exteriors today, by calling (303) 781-8185. We look forward to working with you!