Re-Roofing Permit in Billings, Montana
VerifiedRequired for residential and commercial re-roofing in Billings. Governed by the 2018 IRC roofing provisions per the City's published Roofing Guidelines, plus the Design Criteria wind and snow load requirements. May be submitted via email in addition to the CityView Portal.
Verified 2026-07-02 · Source
When you need this permit
- Building permit required for re-roofing (falls under 'Roofing' in the City's list of work requiring a permit)
- Roofs less than 2/12 pitch cannot use standard asphalt shingles; low-slope roofing products required
- Roofs 2/12 to 4/12 pitch: standard asphalt shingles allowed but require two layers of underlayment felt
- Roofs 4/12 and over: one layer of underlayment required
- Ice barrier (self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen per ASTM D1970) required from the lowest roof edge to at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line
- Drip edge required at eaves and gables, fastened at a maximum of 12 inches on center
- Solid roof sheathing required (minimum 7/16 inch, or 3/8 inch with blocked edges); deteriorated sheathing must be replaced
- Minimum net free ventilation area of 1/150 of vented space (or 1/300 with a Class I/II vapor retarder and 40-50% of ventilation in the upper attic)
- Residential and commercial roofing, siding, windows, and doors may be submitted via email to permits@billingsmt.gov in addition to the CityView Portal
Required documents
- Required
Building Permit Application (Roofing)
Submitted online through the CityView Portal, or by email to permits@billingsmt.gov for roofing/siding/windows/doors
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee — valuation-based (same schedule as new construction) | $30.00 minimum ($1-$1,000 valuation), scaling per the Residential and Commercial Building Permit Fees table | City of Billings Building Permit Fees schedule |
| Other Inspections and Fees | $45.00 minimum, or total hourly City cost if greater | City of Billings Building Permit Fees schedule |
Review timeline
~4–7 business days
Typical estimate — confirm current times with the Billings building department
Inspection process
- 1
Mid-Roof
Requested after ice barrier, underlayment, flashing, counter-flashing, and drip edge are installed but before being entirely covered by shingles (a few rows of shingles may be installed while leaving other components exposed). Must be requested the day before by emailing inspections@billingsmt.gov
Tips
- A Mid-Roof inspection is required and must be requested the day before by emailing inspections@billingsmt.gov to ensure scheduling.
- Under 2/12 pitch, standard asphalt shingles are not allowed at all — low-slope products are required.
- One layer of existing asphalt shingles may be overlaid if the existing roof is not water-soaked or deteriorated; otherwise the roof must be fully stripped.
- Roofing, siding, window, and door permits may be submitted by email to permits@billingsmt.gov as an alternative to the CityView Portal.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit to re-roof my house in Billings?
- Yes, roofing is explicitly listed by the City of Billings Building Division as requiring a building permit. Ice barrier, underlayment layers (one or two depending on pitch), and drip edge are all required per the City's Roofing Guidelines, and a Mid-Roof inspection must be scheduled before shingles fully cover the underlayment.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-02.
- City of Billings Building Division — official building department
- Roofing Guidelines for Billings, MT (PDF) | City of Billings
- Building Division FAQs | City of Billings
- Building Permit Fees (PDF) | City of Billings
Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Billings building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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