Question 1

How is roof snow load handled under Alberta building code?

Accepted Answer

Snow load in Alberta is governed by the National Building Code – 2023 Alberta Edition, in force since May 1, 2024, and it shapes both how new roofs are engineered and what a homeowner should watch for after a heavy snowfall.

How the code approaches snow load

The NBC sets a "specified snow load" for each location based on ground snow data. The code requires structural designers to account for the full combination of snow weight, rain-on-snow surcharges, and wind redistribution across the roof

Question 2

Is a re-roof permit needed in Cochrane?

Accepted Answer

For a straight like-for-like re-roof in Cochrane, no permit is needed. The Town of Cochrane's own permit guide lists "replacing roofing or siding" as work that does not require a permit, and that aligns with Alberta's Permit Regulation, which exempts re-roofing done for appearance or maintenance when the new material is of a similar type and no structural change is involved.

What "like-for-like" means here

Same material to same material: asphalt shingles replaced with asphalt shingles, a flat

Question 3

Replacing my roof in Calgary, do I need a permit?

Accepted Answer

For most Calgary homeowners replacing their roof, no permit is required. The Alberta Permit Regulation exempts re-roofing done for appearance or maintenance when the new material is of a similar type, there is no structural change, and health or safety is not at risk.

What that means in practice

If you are swapping asphalt shingles for asphalt shingles, you are in the clear. The City of Calgary's own storm-damage repair guidance confirms that replacing or repairing roofing materials does not

Question 4

Where do old shingles go after a Calgary tear-off?

Accepted Answer

Most torn-off shingles from a Calgary roof end up in a landfill, but the picture is more layered than that, and it matters when you are comparing quotes.

Where the material actually goes

Asphalt shingles are a petroleum-based composite: a fibreglass or organic felt mat, asphalt coating and mineral granules. Calgary's waste haulers and roofing contractors typically take tear-off shingles to one of the regional landfills that accept construction, renovation and demolition (CRD) waste. The City

Permits, Codes & Safety

How is roof snow load handled under Alberta building code?

Is a re-roof permit needed in Cochrane?

Replacing my roof in Calgary, do I need a permit?

Where do old shingles go after a Calgary tear-off?