Roofing in Centennial

Centennial is a young city, incorporated in 2001 from suburban Arapahoe County, at about 5,700 feet, in the hail-prone suburbs south of Denver. Its building division writes clear reroof rules, and some of them go further than neighboring cities: an ice barrier on every roof and a mid-roof inspection on every reroof. Since June 30, 2026, mapped pockets of the city also fall under the state's wildfire code.

Hail in Centennial

We counted hail days from NOAA's Storm Events Database: distinct dates with at least one report of hail 1 inch or larger within 5 miles of Centennial's center point. Data runs from April 2010 through July 2026.

• 23 hail days with 1-inch or larger stones since April 2010.
• 5 of those came in 2021 or later.
• The largest stone reported was 2.75 inches, on June 19, 2018.
• That ranks 5th of the 18 Colorado cities in this guide (see hail by city).

NOAA's record depends on spotters and the public reporting what they see, so it misses storms and can't tell you what hit your roof. A single 5-mile circle also doesn't cover every Centennial neighborhood. To see storms near your own house, check your exact address. For what stone sizes do to shingles, see hail size and damage.

Permits and inspections

The City of Centennial's Building Division issues roofing permits. Its residential roof repairs and re-roofing page cites section R908 of the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), which the city adopted with local amendments. Colorado has no statewide residential code, so these are Centennial's own rules. As of October 2026:

• When you need a permit: repairs over 100 square feet, on one slope or added across several. Repairs under 100 square feet don't need one.
• The 25% rule: repairs over 25% of the total roof area require a complete tear-off and reroof.
• Tear-off: a replacement removes all existing layers down to the deck. Skip sheathing (spaced boards) is allowed only where gaps don't exceed 1/2 inch.
• Ice barrier: required on all roofs.
• Drip edge: required on all roof edges.
• Materials: no used or salvaged materials. Everything must arrive in labeled manufacturer packaging.
• Mid-roof inspection: required on every reroof permit, once tear-off and underlayment are done and the new roofing is 25% to 75% installed.
• Photo inspections: mid-roof and final inspections may be done by photo under the city's photo waiver process.
• In person: the permit holder supplies and sets up an OSHA-compliant ladder that reaches every roof level. City inspectors don't bring ladders.
• Posting: the approved permit must be posted on site from the start of work until the final passes.

The city doesn't post a flat reroof fee on these pages. Call the Building Division at 303-754-3321 for the current fee, or the 24-hour Citizen Response Center at 303-325-8000. Apply and schedule inspections through the city's self-service portal. For what each stage looks like, see the reroof process and inspections.

Who can do the work

Colorado has no state roofing license, but Centennial licenses contractors itself. The Building Division's FAQ says any contractor or subcontractor must be licensed in the City of Centennial, and subcontractors must be listed on a form. A contractor license requires general liability and workers' comp certificates naming the city, plus testing for some license classes.

The Building Division's FAQ says the self-service portal shows public contractor information. Ask the roofer for their Centennial license number and look it up there, or confirm it with the Building Division at 303-754-3321 or buildingdivision@centennialco.gov. Homeowners can pull a permit only if they live in the home and do the work themselves, with a signed Homeowner Agreement. Then work through the other checks on our check out a roofer page.

Class 4 and wildfire rules

We found no Class 4 (impact-resistant) shingle requirement in Centennial's reroof guidance, checked October 30, 2026. See Class 4 shingles if you're weighing them anyway.

Centennial adopted the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code, effective June 30, 2026. It applies only to properties on the city's wildfire map, which is based on the 2025 state map. On a mapped property, a roof replacement of 25% or more of the surface triggers the code. A roof permit then needs only the roofing requirements, not work on the rest of the house. In the lowest (yellow) zone that means Class A roofing, noncombustible gutters and ember-resistant vents; moderate (orange) zones add more. The city says it has no high (red) zones. Check your address on the city's map before you choose materials. Related reading: gutters and attic ventilation.

HOAs and historic districts

If your subdivision has an HOA, its covenants may restrict roof color and material. HOA approval is separate from the city permit, and you usually need both. Get the HOA's written approval before you sign a roofing contract, so you don't end up with a roof the association rejects. If the association owns or insures the roof, see our condo, townhome and HOA roofs guide. We found no city historic district rules that affect reroofs.

Finding your roof's history

Centennial says you can search public permit information on its self-service portal, and get detailed records of past permits through a public records request. If your house is older than the city, ask the Building Division where earlier permit records are kept. Our roof age guide covers other ways to date a roof.

Local resources

• Centennial Building Division, 303-754-3321
• Residential roof repairs and re-roofing
• Permit and inspection self-service portal
• Centennial wildfire resiliency code and map
• Arapahoe County Assessor, 303-795-4600
• National Weather Service Denver/Boulder

Common questions

Does Centennial require a permit for roof repairs?

Repairs under 100 square feet don't need a permit. Repairs over 100 square feet, on one slope or added across several, need one. If repairs exceed 25% of the total roof area, Centennial requires a complete tear-off and reroof.

Does Centennial require ice and water shield?

Yes. Centennial's reroof guidance says ice barrier underlayment is required on all roofs, and drip edge on all roof edges. That's stricter than some nearby cities.

Can my Centennial roof inspection be done by photo?

Centennial allows mid-roof and final roof inspections by photo submission under its photo waiver process. In-person inspections need an OSHA-compliant ladder set up by the permit holder.

Does the wildfire code apply to my Centennial reroof?

Only if your property is in a mapped wildfire area. Since June 30, 2026, replacing 25% or more of the roof surface on a mapped property triggers Class A roofing and other ember-resistance rules. Check the city's map.