Does a new roof after hail need a Calgary permit?

For most hail-damaged roofs in Calgary, no permit is required. The Alberta Permit Regulation exempts re-roofing when the new material is of a similar type, the work is for appearance or maintenance, there is no structural change, and health or safety is not at risk. Replacing asphalt shingles with asphalt shingles is the clearest example of that exemption.

When a permit is needed

The City of Calgary confirms that replacing or repairing roofing materials does not need a permit, but switching from shingles to clay roofing material does. If the hail also damaged the roof structure, such as cracked or broken rafters or sheathing that has lost its structural integrity, you would need to involve a structural engineer and the City before that work proceeds. A skylight that needs to be resized also requires a development and building permit, though replacing one at the same size does not.

If you are thinking about upgrading to a different material type after a hail claim, such as moving from asphalt to metal, the provincial exemption covers re-roofing with a similar type of material, so the permit picture is less clear. Ask the City of Calgary directly before signing anything, and make sure the contract states who is responsible for arranging any permit that turns out to be required.

One code requirement that does apply regardless of permits: the National Building Code (2023 Alberta Edition) requires eave protection on shingle roofs, extending at least 900 mm up the slope to a point at least 300 mm inside the inner face of the exterior wall. Calgary's climate, with roughly 128 freeze-thaw cycles a year, puts it well above the threshold where this is mandatory. A roofer who skips the ice-and-water shield at the eaves is not meeting code, permit or no permit.

Talk to your insurer before any work starts. The Insurance Bureau of Canada advises homeowners to contact their insurer before authorizing repairs after a storm. After a major hail event, door-to-door roofers move quickly through Calgary neighbourhoods; signing with one before the adjuster has seen the damage can complicate your claim. Ask the contractor for ID and their business licence number, confirm who they work for, and do not pay a large deposit to anyone who cannot show a valid Alberta prepaid contracting licence (searchable on Service Alberta's website) and a WCB-Alberta clearance letter.

A proper post-hail quote should spell out the tear-off and disposal, a decking inspection with a per-sheet price for any replacement sheathing, the underlayment and eave protection spec, flashings and vent boots, the exact shingle product and its impact rating, start and completion dates, and a payment schedule that holds back a portion until the work is done.

If your insurer is involved, ask whether upgrading to a Class 4 impact-resistant shingle changes your premium. The Insurance Bureau of Canada notes that a majority of insurers offer savings of up to 50% for hail-resistant materials, and the City of Calgary's own analysis found Class 4 shingles reduce hail damage risk significantly and tend to pay for themselves over time.