Roofing in Fort Collins

Fort Collins sits just under 5,000 feet where the plains meet the foothills, and it gets both hail and strong downslope wind. The National Weather Service lists Fort Collins among the Front Range cities that see winds of 60 to near 100 mph. The city has also written hail into its building code: it's one of the few places in Colorado that requires Class 4 impact-resistant shingles on a reroof.

Fort Collins runs its own building department, separate from Larimer County. If your address is outside city limits, the county's rules apply instead. Here's what applies inside the city as of October 2026.

Hail in Fort Collins

We counted every day with at least one hail report of 1 inch or larger within 5 miles of central Fort Collins, using NOAA's Storm Events Database from April 2010 through July 2026.

Most of those days came before 2021. Fort Collins had five 1-inch hail days in 2011 alone, then three or fewer in every year since. A quiet few years doesn't change the long-run exposure. Fort Collins' count of 1-inch hail days ranks third of the 18 Colorado cities in this guide (see hail by city).

NOAA's records come from spotters and the public, so they miss storms nobody reported and can't tell you what hit your roof. Treat them as a reason to look closer. To see reports near your own address, check your exact address, and see hail size and damage for what each size tends to do.

Permits and inspections

The City of Fort Collins issues roofing permits. Roofing is a Fast-Track permit, and you need one for anything beyond a repair of 100 square feet (one roofing square) per building, according to the city's building permits page. The residential fee is $85, plus sales tax figured on the job's valuation. Applications go to buildingservices@fortcollins.gov or through the city's online form.

Fort Collins adopted the 2024 International Residential Code with local amendments in Ordinance No. 213, 2025, and the city says permits submitted on or after April 1, 2026 fall under the 2024 codes. The city's published roofing rules include these:

• Ice barrier at all eaves, reaching at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line, or 36 inches on slopes of 8:12 or steeper.
• Drip edge at the eaves and rakes of asphalt shingle roofs.
• Overlays only as a second layer, only if the new roofing weighs under 3 pounds per square foot, and only where the manufacturer allows it. Heavier roofing needs an evaluation by a Colorado-registered structural engineer.
• Decking must be free of water or physical damage. Gaps over 1/8 inch need solid sheathing, such as at least 1/4-inch plywood laid over the boards.
• Fire rating: switching to a different roofing material requires a Class A covering. Replacing like with like needs at least Class C.
• Solar panels that must come off and go back on need a separate Solar PV Reinstallation permit, with a flat $65 fee.

These are code requirements, not suggestions, so they belong in every bid. If a quote leaves out the ice barrier or drip edge, ask why.

The city's published pages don't spell out which inspections a reroof gets, or whether photos are accepted. Inspections are scheduled online through Citizen Access, and the city's inspections page asks you to provide safe access, including a ladder if needed. Requests made before 11 p.m. are generally scheduled for the next business day. For roofing specifics, call Building Services at 970-416-2740.

Who can do the work

Colorado has no state roofing license, so Fort Collins licenses roofers itself. Its contractor licensing page lists a Roofing license for roofs steeper than 2:12 and a Roofing(+) license that adds low-slope roofs. Both require ICC certification, project verifications and a city business license.

Owners working on their own single-family home are exempt from licensing, with conditions. A homeowner permit application needs a Homeowner Affidavit.

To check a roofer, use the "Search by Licensed Professional Information" option in the city's permit search. We didn't find a separate license lookup. You can also confirm a license with Contractor Licensing at 970-224-6165. Our roofer checklist covers the state business search, insurance and workers' comp.

Class 4 and wildfire rules

Fort Collins requires Class 4 impact-resistant asphalt shingles, tested to UL 2218, when 50% or more of the roof is replaced. The 2024 code amendment (section R905.2.4.2 in Ordinance No. 213) lets repairs up to 49% of the roof use the existing type of shingle. If no matching Class 4 product exists, the building official can approve the highest impact class available in a matching color or style.

Class 4 is a lab rating from a steel-ball test, not a hail warranty. It helps, but it doesn't make a roof hail-proof. Read Class 4 shingles before you choose a product, and ask your insurer whether it offers a discount, since Colorado law doesn't require one.

On wildfire, the city adopted the 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code in Ordinance No. 220, 2025, according to a January 2026 council summary. Staff told the council in October 2025 that most of Fort Collins is outside the wildland-urban interface (WUI), with the largest effects in northwest and southwest Fort Collins. We didn't read the ordinance text itself, so check your address on the WUI map tool linked from the city's Building Services page and ask Building Services what applies.

Where the state wildfire code applies, replacing a roof covering, or 25% or more of the roof, generally means the whole roof must meet its rules, starting with a Class A rating, according to the state's Division of Fire Prevention and Control. Most Class 4 asphalt shingles are also Class A, but confirm the listing.

HOAs and historic properties

Fort Collins tells applicants to check whether a building is designated historic before submitting a permit. If your home is a designated landmark or in a historic district, talk to the city's historic preservation staff before you sign a contract, especially if you want to change roofing materials. We didn't find a published roofing guide for historic properties.

Many newer Fort Collins neighborhoods have HOAs with covenants on roof color or material. The city permit doesn't replace HOA approval. Our guide to HOA and townhome roofs covers who decides what.

Finding your roof's history

Search your address in the city's building permit search using "Search by Address." It covers building permits from 1983 to the present. Because a permit is required for anything over 100 square feet, a full reroof by a legitimate roofer should show up there. Our roof age guide covers other ways to date a roof.

Local resources

• Fort Collins Building Services, 281 N. College Ave., 970-416-2740
• Building permits and roofing requirements
• Permit and license search (Citizen Access)
• Contractor licensing, 970-224-6165
• Larimer County Assessor
• Larimer County emergency information and NOCO Alert sign-up

Common questions

Does Fort Collins require Class 4 shingles?

Yes. As of October 2026, asphalt shingles must be Class 4 impact resistant when 50% or more of the roof is replaced. Smaller repairs, up to 49% of the roof, can match the existing shingles. See Class 4 shingles for what the rating does and doesn't promise.

How much is a roofing permit in Fort Collins?

The city lists a residential building permit fee of $85, plus sales tax figured on the project's valuation. Repairs of 100 square feet or less don't need a permit.

Can I reroof my own house in Fort Collins?

Owners working on their own single-family home are exempt from contractor licensing, with conditions. The permit application needs a Homeowner Affidavit. Call Building Services at 970-416-2740 before you start.

Can a roofer put new shingles over my old ones in Fort Collins?

Only in limited cases. The city allows an overlay only as a second layer, only if the new roofing weighs under 3 pounds per square foot, and only if the shingle maker allows it. Heavier roofing needs a structural engineer's evaluation.