Roofing permit leads: how to use re-roof permits
Updated · Rotomal
A re-roof permit tells you that a specific address is replacing its roof now, who the contractor of record is, and often the declared job value. Roofers use these permits mainly as competitor and neighborhood intelligence (which ZIPs are replacing roofs and which roofers are winning them), while gutter, solar, insulation and skylight contractors use them as direct leads, because a new roof is when those add-ons get decided.
What a re-roof permit record shows
- Property address (sometimes parcel number)
- Permit type and a work description such as 're-roof', 'tear-off and replace', 'shingle' or 'roof replacement'
- Dates: applied, issued and finaled
- Declared valuation in many jurisdictions
- Contractor of record, usually with a license number
Who should use roofing permits, and how
| You are | How a re-roof permit helps |
|---|---|
| Roofer | See which ZIPs and subdivisions are replacing roofs, and which competitors win them, to aim canvassing and mailers |
| Gutter installer | New roofs are a natural moment to replace gutters and add guards |
| Solar installer | A fresh roof removes the most common reason to postpone solar |
| Insulation and attic contractor | Tear-offs expose the attic; ventilation and insulation upgrades follow |
| Skylight and chimney trades | Penetrations are cheapest to add or repair during a replacement |
Filtering the list
Permit categories differ by jurisdiction, so filter on the work description as well as the permit type. Keywords that catch most residential replacements: re-roof, reroof, roof replacement, tear-off, shingle, roof covering. Exclude repairs and commercial roofs if you only sell residential replacements, and use valuation to separate full replacements from patches.
Code context: recover vs replace
In jurisdictions that adopt the International Residential Code, Section R908 covers reroofing. It does not allow a new roof to be laid over an existing one (a 'recover') when there are already two or more layers, which is why older homes on their second layer show up as full tear-offs. Local amendments vary, so check your jurisdiction.
Working the list each week
- Group permits by ZIP and by contractor of record to see share of work in your area
- Prioritize addresses where the permit was issued in the last 1–2 weeks: add-on decisions are made before and during the job
- For competitor intelligence, track the same ZIPs week over week rather than single permits
Contacting owners: stay compliant
- Permit records are public, but phone and text outreach to homeowners is regulated: scrub numbers against the National Do Not Call Registry and follow TCPA rules before calling or texting.
- Most permit records do not include homeowner phone numbers or emails; the contractor of record and the property address are the reliable fields.
- Door hangers, mailers and B2B outreach to the contractor of record are the usual low-risk channels.
Questions
Do all roof replacements need a permit?
Many US jurisdictions require a permit for a full roof replacement, but rules vary, and some exempt small repairs. Check your city or county building department.
Can I see who did the roof?
Usually yes: the contractor of record is listed on most permits, which is what makes them useful for competitor tracking.
Sources
- ICC: 2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 9 Roof Assemblies (Section R908 Reroofing) Source: codes.iccsafe.org
- US Census Bureau: Building Permits Survey Source: census.gov
- FTC: National Do Not Call Registry Source: donotcall.gov