The city of Arnold soon will require residents to get a permit for certain roof repairs.
Arnold staff members presented the plan to the City Council on July 8, which will require residents to pay $50 for a permit when they replace substantial sections of their roof or if they change the roofing materials.
The city already required permits for roof work on commercial buildings.
Once the city implements the new permit process “in the next few months,” residents will need to get one if they must replace plywood sheathing or structural components of a roof. A permit also will be needed if a new feature will be added to a roof, or if the owner is changing the roofing materials, like changing from asphalt shingles to a metal roof.
“If you have an asphalt roof, and you are replacing it with another asphalt roof, there is no permit required,” said David Bookless, director of the city’s Community Development Department. “Also, if you are patching shingles, there is no requirement for a permit. Any time you touch the wood or there is a change of the cover material, that triggers the permit.”
Bookless said city staff must update forms, brochures and the online permitting program before implementing the new permit.
He also said the city will email area contractors about the new permit requirements. The city also will post information about the change on the city’s website and its social media outlets. There also will be an announcement in the city’s newsletter.
“It is the property owner’s responsibility to secure the permit, but most contractors will apply for the permit,” Bookless said.
He said one reason city staff members are recommending the residential roof permit is to help protect residents.
“We get complaints on a regular basis from folks that they had a roof installed and the contractor didn’t fulfill what they thought was their obligation,” Bookless said. “This is a way we can help make sure that it is getting done right through all of the steps. There are a lot of roofers, particularly after storms, who come in from out of state. Once they do their work, they are gone. We want to try to make sure that everything is getting done the right way from the get-go.”
Bookless also said the permit requirement will help the city enforce a recently amended section of its residential building standards.
“One of the requirements had to do with attached housing to make sure the roof material was consistent from one half of the building to the other half,” Bookless said. “This is another step that will assure that happens.”
Arnold residents and builders may apply for the roof permit through the city’s website, arnoldmo.org.