Roofing in Lakewood

Lakewood sits at about 5,656 feet in Jefferson County, running from the Denver line west to Green Mountain and the foothills. That location brings two roof risks: Front Range hail, and wildfire exposure along its western open space. Its reroof handout already requires a Class A fire-rated roof covering on every home.

Lakewood also issues its own contractor registrations and inspects reroofs by photo. Here's what applies as of October 2026.

Hail in Lakewood

We counted every day with a hail report of 1 inch or larger within 5 miles of Lakewood's center point. The data is NOAA's Storm Events Database, April 2010 through July 2026.

The May 8, 2017 storm was Colorado's costliest on record, at $2.3 billion insured, according to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. NOAA's records rely on spotters and the public, so they miss unreported storms and can't tell you what hit your roof. 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

Lakewood's Public Works permit counter issues roofing permits. Its 2026 roof or re-roof handout applies the 2021 International Residential, Building and Existing Building codes as Lakewood amended them, effective June 30, 2023. The main rules:

• When you need a permit. Before tear-off and installation, for any reroof or repair. Only repairs under 100 square feet are exempt.
• Tear-off. Existing roof coverings on homes and accessory buildings must come off down to the deck. No overlays.
• Fire rating. Every roof covering must be listed Class A under ASTM E108 or UL 790.
• Ice barrier. Not required.
• Drip edge. Required at all eaves, and at eaves and rakes on asphalt shingle roofs.
• Low slopes. Asphalt shingles under a 4:12 slope need a double layer of felt, or self-adhered membrane over the whole roof. Shingles can't go below 2:12 without written approval.
• Other details. A cricket is required behind chimneys and penetrations wider than 30 inches. T-lock shingles aren't approved for reroofs. Tile weighing 7.5 pounds per square foot or more needs an engineer's review.

Inspections are done by photo. Your roofer uploads photos and documents to the permit in eTRAKiT, then schedules a "reroof final." Asphalt roofs need only the final. Tile and metal roofs other than standing seam also need a mid-roof inspection before the final covering goes on. The handout doesn't list fees; call the permit counter at 303-987-7500.

Who can do the work

Colorado has no state roofing license. Lakewood requires anyone you hire to hold City of Lakewood contractor registration at level 5H (roofing and waterproofing) or higher, and to get the permit before starting. We didn't find a public online list of registered contractors. To confirm a registration, email permitcounter@lakewood.org or call 303-987-7500.

Homeowners may pull a reroof permit for an owner-occupied single-family home if they do the work themselves. See check a roofer for the full vetting checklist and hiring a roofer for your contract rights.

Class 4 and wildfire rules

As of October 30, 2026, we found no Lakewood requirement to use Class 4 impact-resistant shingles. Our news page lists the Colorado places that do. Class 4 is a lab rating, not a hail warranty; see Class 4 shingles.

Lakewood's wildfire code was still in motion when we checked. In April 2026, the council considered a local wildfire code, O-2026-14, modeled on Jefferson County's. The council delayed the vote to allow more public input, the Jeffco Transcript reported. A draft of that code required a Class A roof assembly and exempted roof work affecting less than 25% of the roof.

The city then noticed a public hearing for September 28, 2026 on Ordinance O-2026-31. It would adopt the 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code with local amendments and the state's map. We could not confirm the final vote or effective date. Because Lakewood already requires Class A roofs, the bigger changes for a reroof would likely be valley flashing, gutters and vents. Ask the permit counter whether your address is on the wildfire map.

Finding your roof's history

Lakewood's eTRAKiT portal is for account holders, so the city routes permit history requests through the City Clerk's public records request page. Ask for all roofing permits at your address. Our roof age guide covers other ways to date a roof.

Local resources

• Lakewood permit counter: 303-987-7500, permitcounter@lakewood.org (2026 reroof handout)
• Lakewood contractor registration
• Lakewood public records request (permit history)
• Jefferson County Assessor
• LookoutAlert, Jefferson County emergency notifications

Common questions

Do I need a permit to reroof in Lakewood?

Yes, before tear-off begins. Lakewood exempts only repairs under 100 square feet. The permit is required whether a registered contractor or the homeowner does the work.

Can I put new shingles over my old roof in Lakewood?

No. Lakewood's reroof handout requires existing roof coverings on homes to be removed down to the deck.

Does Lakewood inspect roofs in person?

Usually not. Lakewood's reroof inspections are photo inspections: your roofer uploads photos to the permit in eTRAKiT, then schedules the final. Tile and some metal roofs also need a mid-roof inspection.

Does Lakewood require Class 4 shingles?

We found no Class 4 requirement as of October 30, 2026. Lakewood does require every roof covering to carry a Class A fire rating.