Short answer: Scottsdale, Phoenix and Chandler publish rules that exempt a re-roof using the same type of roofing material from a building permit, and Mesa’s official FAQ says you can replace a roof with the same material type or better. Switching materials, adding weight, or repairing roof sheathing or framing is where permits come into play. For Tempe, Gilbert, Glendale and Peoria, we could not find a roof-specific rule on the city’s website, so check with the city’s building department before work starts. Either way, your licensed roofing contractor normally handles the paperwork.
Our earlier article, Does Arizona Require a Roof Permit?, explains why permit rules change from one Arizona city to the next. This 2026 update goes a level deeper: it points you to the exact page or document each of eight Valley cities publishes, summarizes what that source actually says, and is upfront about where a city simply does not spell out a roofing rule online.
How We Built This City-by-City Guide
Every rule below comes from a city government website: a published code amendment, a homeowner permit manual, or an official FAQ page. We did not rely on contractor blogs or third-party permit sites, and we left out permit fees entirely because they depend on project valuation and change with each fee schedule. Codes get amended, so treat this as a starting point and confirm your specific address and scope with the city before a crew shows up.
Roof Permit Rules for Eight Phoenix-Area Cities
Scottsdale
The City of Scottsdale’s Home Improvement page lists re-roofing with the same roofing material among the types of work that do not require a permit. The city’s Citizen’s Guide to Re-Roofing Your Home adds an important limit: a building permit is required when any part of the roof sheathing or structural framing is repaired or replaced. That handout also explains that a reroof permit can be obtained by either the homeowner or a licensed contractor, but the property owner is ultimately responsible for making sure it is issued. It lists sheathing, flashing and underlayment, and final inspections as the typical sequence. Because the handout cites an older code edition, ask Scottsdale’s One Stop Shop to confirm current requirements for your project.
Phoenix
Phoenix adopted its 2024 Building Construction Code through Ordinance G-7397, effective August 1, 2025. The city’s 2024 IBC Chapter 1 amendments (PDF) list roof covering replacement or a roof recover using the same type of material as the original roofing as work exempt from permit, and Phoenix’s residential code amendments point back to those same administrative provisions. Changing the material type is not covered by that exemption. Phoenix now takes single-family residential applications through its SHAPE PHX portal, which is linked from the city’s Help with My Home Project page.
Mesa
The City of Mesa’s Residential Construction FAQ says homeowners can replace a roof with the same roof material type or a better one, provided the manufacturer’s installation instructions are followed. The same answer notes that homes designated as historic need Planning approval. The FAQ does not address structural repairs or a switch to heavier materials, so check with Mesa’s Development Services before any project that involves decking, framing or a material change.
Tempe
We could not find a roofing-specific permit rule published on the City of Tempe website. Tempe states that remodels and similar projects need plan approval before permits are issued, but it does not say how a re-roof is treated. Check with the city’s building department, Tempe Building Safety, for your address and scope before work begins.
Chandler
Chandler is one of the clearest cities on this list. Its 2024 code amendments, adopted as Ordinance No. 5108 (PDF), exempt replacement of a roof cover on a single-family home when the new covering’s classification is equal to or better than the existing one and the replacement does not increase the load on the structural frame. The city’s Homeowner’s Building Permit Manual (PDF) lists two situations that do need a re-roof permit: changing to a different material such as concrete tile, which requires an engineering analysis of whether the roof can carry the added weight, and replacing like material on a roof that already has more than two layers. Permit services are listed on Chandler’s Building Safety page.
Gilbert
The Town of Gilbert’s Permits, Applications & Checklists page lists residential checklists but does not publish a roofing-specific rule that we could verify. Check with Gilbert’s building department through the Development Services One Stop Shop at (480) 503-6700 before scheduling a re-roof.
Glendale
Glendale’s Building Permits Q&A confirms that property owners, licensed contractors or authorized agents may apply for a building permit, and that contractors must be licensed by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors and provide their license number. The city’s Q&A does not address re-roofing directly, so check with Glendale’s building department to confirm whether your roof project needs a permit.
Peoria
The City of Peoria’s Plan Review and Building Permits page states that once plans are approved, permits must be obtained before work begins, but we did not find a roofing-specific exemption or requirement published there. Check with Peoria’s building department before starting a re-roof.
Repair vs. Re-Roof: What Moves a Job Into Permit Territory
The four cities that do publish roofing rules share a pattern. Here is what the official sources above have in common:
- Same material, no structural work. Scottsdale, Phoenix and Chandler list like-for-like roof covering replacement as exempt from permit, within their stated conditions, and Mesa’s FAQ allows replacement with the same material type or better.
- Different or heavier material. Phoenix’s exemption is limited to the same type of material, and Chandler specifically calls out switching to concrete tile as permit work requiring an engineering analysis.
- Sheathing or framing repairs. Scottsdale’s handout requires a permit whenever roof sheathing or structural framing is repaired or replaced.
- Too many layers. Chandler requires a permit when like material goes on a roof that already exceeds two layers.
- Historic homes. Mesa requires Planning approval for roof replacement on historic homes.
This matters for everyday roof repair too. A leak fix that starts as a few cracked tiles can turn into deck replacement once the old underlayment comes off. A good contractor stops, explains the change in scope, and confirms with the city before continuing.
Who Actually Pulls the Permit?
In practice, the licensed roofing contractor applies for the permit, schedules the inspections, and meets the inspector on site, because the contractor controls the installation details the city reviews. Scottsdale and Glendale both allow a homeowner to apply as well, but Scottsdale’s handout makes clear that responsibility for having the permit in place stays with the property owner. That is why it pays to ask your contractor, in writing, whether your job needs a permit and who is pulling it.
When you compare bids, ask each roofer three things: whether the scope is like-for-like, what happens if they find damaged decking, and which city inspections they expect. For a full tear-off, our page on roof replacement in Scottsdale walks through what a complete project includes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to replace my shingle roof with new shingles in Phoenix?
Under Phoenix’s 2024 code amendments, replacing a roof covering with the same type of material is listed as work exempt from permit. If the job also involves structural repairs or a change in material, confirm with Phoenix Planning and Development first.
Does switching from shingles to tile need a permit?
In Chandler, yes: the city’s homeowner manual requires a permit and an engineering analysis for a switch to a heavier material such as concrete tile. Phoenix’s exemption only covers the same type of material. In other cities, check with the city’s building department.
Can I pull a roofing permit myself as the homeowner?
Scottsdale and Glendale both say property owners may apply. Most homeowners let their licensed contractor handle it, since the contractor manages the inspections. For other cities, ask the building department.
What if my city is not on this list?
Rules vary by jurisdiction across Arizona. Call the city or county building department with your address and a short description of the work, or ask your roofer to confirm it for you.
Talk to a Licensed Roofer Who Handles the Permit Side
Tip Top Roofing Service is a licensed Arizona roofing contractor (ROC #355034), GAF certified, with a BBB A rating and more than 130 Google reviews. We confirm permit requirements with your city, pull the permit when one is needed, and coordinate every inspection. Call Tip Top Roofing Service at (480) 877-1643 or stop by our office at 6830 E 5th Ave in Old Town Scottsdale to schedule your free estimate.
