What's Required in New York City
- Reroofing limited to membrane, coverings, cant strip and above-deck insulation is exempt from a permit (1 RCNY 101-14 Table 2, IV.1), unless the Energy Code requires added insulation
- Replacing roof deck or sheathing requires a permit (1 RCNY 101-14 Table 2, IV.2), filed as an alteration by a PE or RA
- Replacing the entire roof deck or assembly triggers a sustainable roofing zone on 100% of the roof: 4 kW of solar, a green roof, or both (Local Laws 92/94 of 2019)
- Exclusions from the sustainable roofing zone are listed in Buildings Bulletin 2019-010 (Fire Code access, rooftop equipment, roofs steeper than 17% that cannot hold 4 kW, structural limitation)
- Roof recover with deck and insulation unexposed falls under NYCECC C503.1 exception 5 (no new insulation)
- Asbestos requirements must be satisfied before DOB issues a permit; the PW1 states whether abatement is required, not required, or exempt
- Work permit issued to a Registered General Contractor; DCWP Home Improvement Contractor license at 1-4 family homes
- Green roofs up to 4 in deep on noncombustible or over-100-ft buildings are exempt from a permit
Do You Need a Permit to Replace a Roof in New York City?
Only if the job goes below the roof covering. DOB rule 1 RCNY 101-14 draws the line at the roof deck: roof repair or replacement limited to the membrane, roof coverings, cant strip and insulation above the deck or sheathing needs no permit, provided the Energy Conservation Code does not require additional thermal insulation for the roof. Roof repair or replacement that includes replacing the roof deck or sheathing requires a permit. A green roof no more than 4 inches deep on a noncombustible building or a building over 100 feet tall is also exempt. DOB's homeowner page lists non-structural roof repair among the work that needs no permit.
NYC Roof Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | DOB filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| New membrane, shingles or coverings, cant strip, or insulation above the existing deck | None (if the Energy Code does not require added insulation) | 1 RCNY 101-14 Table 2, IV.1 |
| Non-structural roof repair | None | DOB "Does my project require a permit?" |
| Replacing the roof deck or sheathing, in whole or part | Alteration filed by a PE or RA in DOB NOW | 1 RCNY 101-14 Table 2, IV.2 |
| Replacing the entire roof deck or roof assembly | Alteration filing plus a sustainable roofing zone (solar or green roof) on 100% of the roof | Local Laws 92 and 94 of 2019; Buildings Bulletin 2019-010 |
| Green roof up to 4 in deep on a noncombustible building or one over 100 ft tall | None | 1 RCNY 101-14 Table 2, IV.3 |
| Roof recover where neither deck nor insulation is exposed | Energy Code insulation not triggered | NYCECC C503.1 exception 5, per DOB's Energy Code FAQ |
| Work that disturbs existing materials in a pre-1987 building | Asbestos determination before DOB permit issuance | DOB Permits by Type: Asbestos Abatement |
How Much Does a Roof Permit Cost in NYC?
For a recover or reroof above the deck, the DOB fee is zero. A job that replaces the deck is filed as an alteration under Administrative Code Table 28-112.2 (as amended by Local Law 128 of 2024, in effect since December 21, 2025). At a one-, two- or three-family home that is a $130 minimum covering the first $5,000 of job cost, plus $2.60 for each additional $1,000: a $25,000 roof files at about $182, a $60,000 one at about $273. In other buildings under seven stories the minimum is $225 for the first $3,000 plus $10.30 per additional $1,000, so a $30,000 flat-roof replacement on a small apartment building is about $503. The Registered Design Professional's fee to prepare and file is separate and set by the market.
The Solar or Green Roof Rule
Since November 15, 2019, Local Laws 92 and 94 of 2019 require that when the entire existing roof deck or roof assembly is replaced, the roof must provide a sustainable roofing zone covering 100 percent of the roof: a solar photovoltaic system generating at least 4 kW, a green roof, or a combination. Buildings Bulletin 2019-010 lists the areas excluded: Fire Code access and setback areas, areas occupied by rooftop structures and mechanical equipment, stormwater systems, certain setbacks and terraces, documented recreational space, pitched roofs steeper than 17 percent that could not hold 4 kW of solar (with a shading report), and areas the Department finds unfavorable, including a deck replacement where the structure cannot carry the added weight, substantiated by a registered design professional. On a low-slope roof, a contiguous zone of 200 square feet or more (100 square feet on a Group R building of five stories or less) must receive solar, a green roof, or both.
Energy Code and Asbestos
DOB's Energy Code FAQ confirms that a roof recover in which neither the deck nor the insulation is exposed falls under NYCECC section C503.1, exception 5, and does not trigger new insulation; expose the deck or insulation and the alteration provisions apply, which is also what pulls a reroof out of the 1 RCNY 101-14 exemption. Separately, asbestos abatement is regulated by the Department of Environmental Protection, and DOB states that owners must demonstrate the asbestos requirements are satisfied before a permit can be issued, with the PW1 indicating whether the project requires abatement, does not, or is exempt.
How to Get a Roof Replacement Permit in New York City
Find out whether the deck is coming off
Above the deck: no DOB filing. Any deck or sheathing replacement: an alteration filed by a PE or RA.
Check the solar/green roof trigger
Replacing the entire deck or assembly means a sustainable roofing zone on 100% of the roof unless an exclusion in Buildings Bulletin 2019-010 applies.
Clear asbestos
DEP regulates abatement; DOB will not issue the permit until the PW1 shows the project requires abatement, does not, or is exempt.
File the alteration
PE or RA files in DOB NOW with the Energy Code compliance statement. Fee: $130 minimum for the first $5,000 of job cost plus $2.60 per $1,000 above that at a 1-3 family home.
Build and sign off
Permit issued to a Registered GC (HIC license at 1-4 family homes); DOB inspects and signs off the completed roof.