Roof/ReRoofing Permits – Georgetown Building Inspections

A permit is required for a new roof within the City Limits of Georgetown. A new roof covering shall not be installed without first removing existing roof coverings when any of the following conditions occur:

When the existing roof or roof covering is water soaked or deteriorated to the point of being unacceptable as a base for additional roofing
When the existing roof covering is wood shake, slate, clay, or cement tile. When the existing roof has two or more layers of any type of roofing
In some cases, the roof framing and supporting of loading may need to be examined prior to re-roofing
When the roof is completed request a final inspection online at www.mygovernmentonline.org.

References are located in the 2015 International Residential Building Code Chapter 9 Roof Assemblies

Permitting process

Contractors must register with the City of Georgetown. Click here to register
A contractor must create an account at mygovernmentonline.org
Apply online for a re-roof permit at mygovernmentonline.org. All permit applications must be done online.
Once the application is accepted and processed, a notification is sent to the applicant to pay online at mygovernmentonline.org. The permit cost is $46.
Once the roof is installed, request a roof final inspection online at mygovernmentonline.org

Please note

The estimated time to process a roofing permit is seven business days due to volume of permit applications being submitted.
Find a list of registered roofing contractors here

mygovernmentonline.org directions

Avoiding scams

The Texas Department of Insurance has these tips to help residents avoid roofing scams:

Get written estimates on company letterhead with clear contact information.
Get more than one bid to gauge which ones are too high or too good to be true.
Check references and phone numbers.
Beware of those who only have out-of-town references or solicit door to door.
Don’t pay in full upfront and don’t make a final payment until the job is done.
Never sign a contract with blanks on it.
Never sign anything before allowing a contractor on your roof to estimate repairs.
Do not sign a contract that says, “Homeowner agrees to the listed repairs for the value of the insurance proceeds.” This means that you’ve agreed to give the contractor every penny you get from the insurance company.
Make sure to get a list of the types of materials that will be used, and check as work is done to make sure the materials and quality are what you expect.
Beware of contractors who offer to waive or absorb the homeowner’s deductible. It is illegal for contractors or roofers to offer to waive a deductible or promise a rebate for all or part of a deductible. Under House Bill 2102 effective Sept. 1, violators could get up to a $2,000 fine and up to six months in jail. If a contractor offers to waive a deductible, report it to the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-621-0508.

Additional information

Frequently asked questions

Are ice barriers required?

No.

Is drip edge required?

Yes, per section R905.2.8.5 of 2015 IRC.

Are metal roofs allowed?

As long as they are installed per 2015 IRC ***or 2015 IBC for Commercial

Are Roofing Company Signs allowed to be placed in the yard?

One 2 foot by 2 foot sign is allowed to be placed in the front yard during construction. The sign must be located on private property and out of the Right of Way. A rule of thumb: At least ten feet from the curb. The sign must be removed immediately after construction.

How can I tell if an an address is inside the city limits?

Click here to go to the address checker tool

Can you please tell me what underlayment requirements you are enforcing in roof valleys (i.e. rolled 3-foot wide or ice and water shield material) in Georgetown for re-roofing? Also are you enforcing starter row shingles on eave and rake like drip or just eave?

The City of Georgetown has adopted the 2015 IRC and all installations must be in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. All roof installations must be to the 2015 IRC.

Per Section R905.2.5.2 : Valley linings shall be installed in accordance with the manufactures instructions. See code for the following types permitted.

Per section R905.2.8.5 Drip Edge shall be provided at eaves and rake edge of shingle roofs.

***If your address is in the Old Town Overlay or Downtown Overlay, you may need a Certificate of Appropriateness if you are changing materials.***

How long does it take to get a Re-Roofing Permit?

Due to an influx of re-roofing permit requests, re-roofing permits may take up to seven business days or longer to process.

Does the City require a Solicitor's Permit?

Yes. Solicitors Permits are issued by the Police Department. Please click here to contact the Police Department.

Who is responsible for getting an inspection of permitted work?

The contractor shall coordinate work and inspections and is responsible for fulfilling the requirements of his contractor’s license when involved in any building construction work.

However, the current property owner (and future owner) is ultimately responsible to ensure that the permitting and inspections were completed on his/her property. Even if a permitted project is abandoned by a contractor or the contractor is terminated by the property owner, the property owner remains the responsible party in meeting the requirements of receiving final approval.

What are the requirements for commercial building roof replacements?

Please see 2015 IBC