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Frequently asked questions
Is there a roofing license in Texas?
We found no Texas state roofing license; roofing is not on TDLR's list of regulated industries. Some cities, such as Fort Worth and Plano, require contractor registration.
Can a roofer cover my deductible in Texas?
No. Business and Commerce Code 27.02 makes it an offense to waive, absorb or rebate your deductible without the insurer's consent, and Insurance Code 707 requires you to pay it.
How long does a Texas insurer have to pay a roof claim?
TDI says insurers must acknowledge within 15 days, decide within 15 business days after getting all information (extendable to 45 days), and pay within 5 business days of approval. TDI can add 15 days after a weather catastrophe.
Does a new roof on the Texas coast need a WPI-8?
TWIA lists replacing a roof or repairing a significant portion of one among improvements that need a Certificate of Compliance (WPI-8).
Can an out-of-town roofer ask for money up front after a storm?
Not after a declared disaster, unless the contractor has had a physical business address in your county or a county next to it for at least one year before the contract. Business and Commerce Code Chapter 58 says such a contractor may not require any full or partial payment before work begins, and the contract must be in writing.
How many roofing bids should I get in Texas?
TDI says at least three, on company letterhead with a phone number and address.
Should I fix my roof before the adjuster comes?
TDI says make only temporary repairs, such as a tarp. Your insurer might deny the claim if you make permanent repairs before it sees the damage.
Do I need a permit to reroof in Texas?
It depends on the city. Houston, Plano, Galveston, San Antonio and Arlington (over 10 percent of the roof) require re-roof permits, Austin and Fort Worth exempt shingle work, and El Paso requires one when 25 percent or more is replaced.
How much is a roofing permit in Houston?
Houston lists a $33.56 admin fee plus the city fee schedule for a Residential Roofing Permit.
Who do I report a roofing scam to in Texas?
The Texas Attorney General, at 800-621-0508 or through its consumer complaint form.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Houston?
Houston requires a Residential Roofing Permit for a re-roof or roofing overlay. Roof covering that does not exceed 100 square feet is exempt.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Dallas?
Dallas says minor repairs to roofing or roof vents do not require a permit, and no permit is needed for tarps. Replacing large areas of a roof or an entire roof requires a re-roof permit.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in San Antonio?
San Antonio issues a re-roof permit with no change in pitch over the counter. A re-roof with a change of pitch needs full plan review.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Austin?
Austin exempts asphalt shingles that replace existing asphalt shingles, and any roof covering replacement that does not adversely affect the roof structure, unless the property is in the Wildland-Urban Interface area and 50% or more of the roofing is replaced.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Fort Worth?
Fort Worth says shingle work does not require a permit, but there is a limit on the number of shingle layers allowed. Replacing decking, lathing boards, sheathing boards, rafters or ridge boards requires a building permit.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Plano?
Plano's permit list, revised in 2016, says replacing a roof requires a permit. Building Inspections: 972-941-7140.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in El Paso?
El Paso's permit guide says residential roof covering requires a permit when 25% or more is replaced.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Corpus Christi?
Corpus Christi requires a permit if you are replacing shingles in excess of 100 square feet, changing the slope of the roof, removing and replacing roof decking, or changing the roof material.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Arlington?
Arlington requires a building permit to replace roof covering materials (re-roof), except when the replacement area is 10 percent or less of the roof area.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Galveston?
Galveston's building permit checklist, dated 2011, says replacing a roof, or portions of a roof, needs a permit.
On this site: Do roofers need a license in Texas? · Can a roofer waive or pay my insurance deductible in Texas? · Texas roof insurance claim deadlines · Coastal roofs: TWIA coverage and the WPI-8 · Storm chaser roofers: how to spot a Texas roofing scam · How to hire a roofer in Texas · Hail damaged my roof. What do I do first? · Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Texas? · Texas roofing fees, penalties and numbers · Where to complain about a roofer in Texas · Cities · FAQ · Sources
Sources
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR): Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: Regulated Industries (checked November 1, 2026)
- Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes): Business and Commerce Code Chapter 27 (Section 27.02) (checked November 1, 2026)
- Texas Department of Insurance (TDI): Residential Property Insurance Consumer Bill of Rights (PDF) (checked November 1, 2026)
- Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA): Claims (checked November 1, 2026)
- Texas Department of Insurance (TDI): Roofing and insurance: Know the law (checked November 1, 2026)
- Texas Department of Insurance (TDI): Home Insurance Guide (checked November 1, 2026)
- Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT): RCAT Licensed Roofing Contractor Program (checked November 1, 2026)
- City of Fort Worth Development Services: Contractor Registration (checked November 1, 2026)
- City of Plano Building Inspections: When Is a Permit Required? (PDF, revised 09/28/16) (checked November 1, 2026)
- City of San Antonio Development Services: Residential Permits (checked November 1, 2026)
- Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes): Insurance Code Chapter 707: Payment of Property Insurance Deductibles (checked November 1, 2026)
- Texas Department of Insurance (TDI): New state law cracks down on roof scams (news release, August 7, 2019) (checked November 1, 2026)
- Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA): Windstorm Certification (checked November 1, 2026)
- City of Galveston Building Division: Windstorm (checked November 1, 2026)
- Office of the Texas Attorney General: Disaster Scams (checked November 1, 2026)
- Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes): Business and Commerce Code Chapter 58: Disaster Remediation Contracts (checked November 1, 2026)
- Texas Department of Insurance (TDI): How to avoid contracting scams (checked November 1, 2026)
- Texas Department of Insurance (TDI): Know the signs of a contractor scam (checked November 1, 2026)
- Texas Department of Insurance (TDI): Hail damage to your home or car? What to do next. (checked November 1, 2026)
- City of Dallas Development Services: Storm Damage Repair Information (checked November 1, 2026)
- U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Roof Tarping (Blue Roof) Safety (OSHA 3926, PDF) (checked November 1, 2026)
- City of Houston, Houston Permitting Center: Residential Roofing Permit (HPWCODE1140) (checked November 1, 2026)
- City of Austin Development Services: Work Exempt from Building Permits (checked November 1, 2026)
- City of Fort Worth Development Services: Residential Information (checked November 1, 2026)
- City of El Paso Planning and Inspections: When Do I Need a Permit? (PDF) (checked November 1, 2026)
- City of Corpus Christi Development Services: Homeowner's Guide to Permitting (PDF) (checked November 1, 2026)
- City of Galveston: Building Permit Checklist (2011) (checked November 1, 2026)
- City of Arlington Planning and Development Services: Reroof Permits and Inspections (browser) checked November 1, 2026
- Office of the Texas Attorney General: File a Consumer Complaint (checked November 1, 2026)
- Texas Department of Insurance (TDI): Making repairs after a storm (checked November 1, 2026)
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