Roofing in Arvada

Arvada sits at roughly 5,500 feet, mostly in Jefferson County with a small part in Adams County. It runs from Olde Town west toward Highway 93 and the foothills. That spread matters for roofs. Arvada sets a higher wind design speed west of Highway 93, and its wildfire code has covered mapped areas since July 1, 2026.

The city issues its own permits and contractor licenses. Here's what we could confirm as of October 2026.

Hail in Arvada

We counted every day with a hail report of 1 inch or larger within 5 miles of Arvada's center point. The data is NOAA's Storm Events Database, April 2010 through July 2026. We used the Census Bureau's center point for Arvada, because the common map pin sits near the city's far western edge.

Even in the lower part of our list, that's close to one 1-inch storm a year on average. NOAA's records rely on spotters and the public, so they miss unreported storms, especially over open land to the west. To see reports near your own house, check your exact address. Our hail size guide explains what each size tends to do.

Permits and inspections

Arvada's Building Division issues roofing permits through its eTRAKiT site. The city moved to the 2024 International Residential and Building Codes on July 1, 2026, but its re-roofing page still cites the 2018 code. Confirm any detail below with the Building Division before you sign.

• When you need a permit. Replacing more than 100 square feet (one square) in a year. Up to 100 square feet a year is maintenance.
• Partial reroofs. If only one face of the roof is damaged, you may replace just that face, where the manufacturer's instructions allow it.
• Overlays. The page says a new covering over an existing one is permitted under the code's recovering section (IRC R908.3.1). Spaced board decking with gaps over 1/2 inch generally needs solid sheathing.
• Ice barrier. Not required on residential reroofs.
• Underlayment. Slopes from 2:12 to 4:12 need a double layer. Open valleys get two layers of 90-pound roofing.
• Wind. Shingles must pass ASTM D3161 Class F. Arvada's design wind speed is 136 mph east of Highway 93 and 150 mph west of it. Use high-wind nailing, with at least four nails per shingle.
• Inspections. A final is required on every reroof. A mid-roof inspection is required for low-slope, tile and special roofs. No one needs to be home, but the inspector needs a secured, duty-rated ladder, a dry roof and dogs put away.

Fees are the building permit fee plus use tax, and the city's fee calculator gives an estimate. Inspections can run late after big hailstorms.

Who can do the work

Colorado has no state roofing license. Arvada requires a city license for contractors who build, alter or repair structures. Check a company with the contractor search on Arvada's eTRAKiT site, and see the contractor on past jobs with the permit search.

Homeowners who live in the home can apply for their own permits. If you hire a contractor, the contractor should pull the permit. Our check a roofer checklist and hiring a roofer guide cover the rest.

Class 4 and wildfire rules

As of October 30, 2026, we found no Class 4 impact-resistance requirement on Arvada's re-roofing, adopted code or 2026 code change pages. Several roofing company websites say Arvada began requiring Class 4 shingles in 2026. We couldn't confirm that in a city document, so ask the Building Division at 720-898-7620. Our news page lists the places where we could read the rule ourselves.

The Arvada Wildfire Resiliency Code took effect July 1, 2026 in mapped parts of the city. Homes fall into Class 1 (lower hazard) or Class 2 (moderate to high hazard) zones.

• A reroof affecting less than 25% of the roof covering is exempt from the wildfire code. It still needs a permit if it's over 100 square feet.
• A larger reroof must meet the code's Chapter 4 roofing rules. Under the state model code those start with a Class A fire rating and cover valleys, gutters and vents.
• A reroof doesn't trigger the code's defensible-space rules.

Use the city's wildfire map address lookup, linked from the code page, to see your zone. See gutters and attic vents for the parts the code touches.

Finding your roof's history

Use the permit search on Arvada's eTRAKiT site. If the full address finds nothing, enter only the house number and pick from the list, and leave periods out of street names. Permits from before 2013 sit under a PREH13 record for the address. Arvada says that if nothing comes up, there most likely isn't a permit on file. See roof age for other clues.

Local resources

• Arvada Building Services: 720-898-7620, 8101 Ralston Road
• Arvada eTRAKiT permit site
• Arvada Wildfire Resiliency Code and map lookup
• Jefferson County Assessor and Adams County Assessor
• LookoutAlert, Jefferson County emergency notifications

Common questions

When do I need a roofing permit in Arvada?

When you replace more than 100 square feet of roofing in a year. Smaller repairs count as maintenance. Every permitted reroof gets a final inspection.

Does the Arvada wildfire code affect my reroof?

Only if your home is in a mapped wildfire zone and the work affects 25% or more of the roof covering. Then the code's roofing rules in Chapter 4 apply, but not its defensible-space rules. Check your address with the city's wildfire map lookup.

Does Arvada require Class 4 shingles?

We didn't find a Class 4 requirement on Arvada's own pages as of October 30, 2026. Some roofing websites say one took effect in 2026, but we couldn't confirm it, so ask the Building Division at 720-898-7620.

How do I look up old roofing permits in Arvada?

Use the permit search on Arvada's eTRAKiT site. Try just the house number if the full address returns nothing. Records before 2013 sit under a PREH13 record for the address.