California roofing: permits, codes and approvals
Title 24 cool roof rules for re-roofs, CRRC and State Fire Marshal product listings, Class A roofing in fire hazard zones, city re-roof permits, the CSLB C-39 license, preliminary notices, statutory lien waivers and home improvement contract rules.
1 · Product approvals
Product approvals
No single statewide roofing product approval. Title 24 cool roof products must be CRRC-rated and labeled, and the State Fire Marshal lists some fire-rated roofing. Otherwise inspectors rely on code labels and evaluation reports (Fresno's re-roof form asks for the ICC-ES number).
CRRC Rated Products Directory (cool roofs)When the Energy Code calls for a cool roof, the product must be CRRC-rated and labeled (Energy Code Section 10-113). Look up the CRRC Product ID, aged solar reflectance and thermal emittance in the directory and put them on the CF1R.OSFM Building Materials Listing (BML)The State Fire Marshal lists building materials tested at SFM-accredited labs. Roofing categories include wood shakes/shingles (4150), miscellaneous roof coverings (4175) and non-wood roof coverings/assemblies for the WUI (8180, tested to ASTM E108).Wood shakes and shingles must be SFM-listedWood roof coverings may not be sold or applied in California unless the State Fire Marshal has approved and listed them and they have passed at least five years of the 10-year natural weathering test (Health & Safety Code 13132.7(j)).OSFM WUI Listed Products Handbook (2025)Lists products verified for wildland-urban interface construction, including non-wood roof coverings and WUI vents. OSFM notes that listing is not a statutory mandate, so unlisted products can still comply with the code's prescriptive rules.Code evaluation reports (ICC-ES, UL, IAPMO): 48 roofing reports
2 · Permit forms
City re-roof permits
No statewide re-roof permit rule; each city or county decides. The state codes (Residential Code, Energy Code, Wildland-Urban Interface Code) still apply to the work, and some cities exempt simple re-roofs from a building permit.
Los AngelesRe-roofs with Class A or B covering under 6 lb/sq ft over solid sheathing get an express permit (no plan check); Class A is required in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and a CRRC cool roof when over 50% is replaced.San DiegoNo building permit to renew roof coverings if the structure isn't altered; a permit is needed if framing or sheathing is altered, skip sheathing is replaced, shakes or asphalt shingles are replaced with roofing over 6 lb/sq ft, or the site is historic.San FranciscoDBI issues reroofing permits online to C-39 licensed contractors who register a DBI contractor account.FresnoSingle-family and duplex re-roofs use the Residential Reroof Application (material, ICC evaluation report number, CRRC data, tear-off or overlay; overlay only over one existing layer); re-roofs are a Level 1 review of up to 3 business days.San JoseA permit is needed when 25% or more of the roof is reroofed in any 12-month period (less is a repair); most reroofs can be permitted online at SJPermits.org, and historic-inventory homes need Planning clearance first.
3 · Code rules
Code rules
The 2025 Title 24 codes took effect January 1, 2026: California Residential Code (Part 2.5), California Energy Code (Part 6, for permits applied for on or after that date) and the new California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (Part 7). Official adoption page ↗
Cool roof on steep-slope re-roofs (Climate Zones 4, 8-15)Single-family re-roofs with slope 2:12 or more need aged solar reflectance 0.20 and thermal emittance 0.75, or SRI 16 (Energy Code 150.2(b)1I). Exceptions include R-38 ceiling insulation, a qualifying radiant barrier, no attic ducts in certain zones, and roofs of 25 lb/sq ft or more.Cool roof on low-slope re-roofs (Climate Zones 4, 6-15)Single-family re-roofs with slope under 2:12 need aged solar reflectance 0.63 and thermal emittance 0.75, or SRI 75. Added roof-deck insulation per Table 150.2-B can substitute for reflectance; BIPV/solar thermal areas and roofs of 25 lb/sq ft or more are exempt.When the cool roof rule kicks inFor homes, the re-roof rules apply when more than 50% of the roof is replaced (Los Angeles and Sacramento city forms; Roseville's form says 50% or more). Recoating and recovering are also covered alterations.Energy forms: CF1R at permit, CF2R at finalThe Energy Commission's 2025 single-family forms include CF1R-ALT-01-E and CF1R-ALT-05-E (certificates of compliance) and CF2R-ALT-05-E and CF2R-ENV-04-E (roofing ventilation and radiant barrier) installation certificates. The installing contractor signs the CF2R; ask your building department which set it wants.Wildfire rules moved to Part 7 (WUI Code)From January 1, 2026, the wildfire construction rules formerly in CBC Chapter 7A are in the new 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (Title 24, Part 7). San Diego points re-roofs in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones to its Chapter 5.Class A roofing in Very High Fire Hazard Severity ZonesLos Angeles requires Class A roofing in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones; San Diego's IB-123 calls for a Class A assembly for all roof replacements and repairs. Check zones on OSFM's maps (SRA maps effective April 1, 2024; LRA maps released 2025).Two-layer limitWhere a roof already has two layers of asphalt shingles or built-up roofing, all existing layers must be removed down to the deck before re-roofing (San Diego IB-123, applying the CRC/CBC roofing chapters).
4 · Wind, fire and storm programs
Wind, fire and storm programs
Wildfire is the main roof-related program area: insurers must recognize home hardening such as a Class A roof, IBHS offers a wildfire designation, and post-disaster rules tighten contracting and cancellation rights.
Safer from Wildfires insurance discounts (Dept. of Insurance)The Department of Insurance's Safer from Wildfires regulation says every listed mitigation action qualifies for an insurance discount. The first home-level action is a Class A fire-rated roof; wood shake shingles are not Class A.Wildfire Prepared Home (IBHS)Voluntary IBHS wildfire mitigation program available in California: the homeowner completes a checklist, pays an application fee and gets a third-party evaluation before a designation certificate is issued.Unlicensed contracting in a disaster area is a felonyContracting without a license in a declared disaster area is a felony under B&P 7028.16, with up to three years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. CSLB runs stings in burn areas.7-business-day cancellation for disaster repair contractsIf a home improvement contract is to repair or restore a home damaged by a sudden or catastrophic event for which a state of emergency was declared, the owner gets a seven-business-day right to cancel; CSLB's sample contract includes the notice.
5 · License and insurance
License and insurance
Yes. Roofers need a Contractors State License Board (CSLB) license, normally the C-39 Roofing classification, for any job of $1,000 or more, or any job needing a permit or employees. C-39 contractors must carry workers' comp even with no employees.
C-39 Roofing classificationA C-39 contractor installs products and repairs surfaces that seal, waterproof and weatherproof structures, using asphaltum, felt, urethane foam, metal roofing, shakes, shingles, tile, slate or any other roofing, waterproofing or membrane material.Minor work exemption is now under $1,000Since January 1, 2025 (AB 2622), unlicensed people may do jobs totaling under $1,000 in labor and materials, up from $500, but only if the work needs no permit and they hire no one. Ads must say they are not licensed.$25,000 contractor's bondEvery license needs a $25,000 contractor's bond. A $25,000 bond of qualifying individual is also needed when an RME, or an RMO owning less than 10% of the voting stock, qualifies the license.Workers' comp: required for C-39 with or without employeesC-39 roofers cannot file a workers' comp exemption, even with no employees. For most other classes, SB 1455 (2024) delayed the all-contractor workers' comp mandate from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2028.
6 · Lien and contract forms
Lien and contract rules
Subs and suppliers send a 20-day preliminary notice, liens are recorded within 90 days (less after a notice of completion), and releases must use the four statutory waiver forms. Home improvement contracts have strict down payment and cancellation rules.
20-day preliminary noticeSubcontractors and suppliers must serve a preliminary notice before or within 20 days of starting work or delivering materials; a late notice only covers work done from 20 days before it was served. Direct contractors and laborers don't need one.Lien recording deadlineA lien must be recorded within 90 days after completion. If the owner records a notice of completion (they have 15 days after completion to do so), the direct contractor's window drops to 60 days and subs' and suppliers' to 30 days.Foreclosure lawsuit within 90 days of recordingAfter you record a mechanics lien, you must file a lien foreclosure lawsuit within 90 days of the recording date or the lien can't be enforced.Statutory waivers (Civil Code 8132-8138)Releases must substantially follow the four statutory forms: conditional and unconditional waivers on progress payment (8132, 8134) and on final payment (8136, 8138). Only sign an unconditional waiver once the payment has actually been received.Home improvement contract (B&P 7159)Home improvement jobs over $500 need a written contract with license number, price, payment schedule, start and finish dates, materials, who pulls permits, the Mechanics Lien Warning, insurance disclosures and the right-to-cancel notice. Changes go by written change order.Down payment cap: $1,000 or 10%The down payment may not exceed $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less (B&P 7159.5), with no exception for special-order materials. Later payments may not run ahead of the work done.Right to cancel: 3 days, 5 days for 65+Owners get three business days to cancel a home improvement contract, or five business days if 65 or older; refunds are due within 10 days. The right doesn't apply to contracts made at the contractor's place of business.Emergency service and repair contractsFor emergency or short-notice repairs the owner requests, the cancellation right ends once the contract is signed and work begins.
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Public records, last checked Oct 23, 2026. Always verify on the official source before you permit.