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

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 need a permit. The same applies to cedar shake replaced with cedar shake, or a flat membrane replaced with a comparable flat membrane.

A permit is required when the work crosses into different territory. The City specifically lists changing from shingles to clay roofing material as an example that needs a building permit. If there is structural damage to rafters, trusses or sheathing beyond routine decking replacement, the City recommends hiring a structural engineer, and that work would also trigger a permit. A skylight that changes size needs both a development and a building permit; replacing one with the same dimensions does not.

Switching from shingles to metal is a common question, and the honest answer is: confirm with the City of Calgary before you sign. The provincial exemption covers re-roofing with a similar type of material, and whether metal qualifies under that exemption for your specific project is something the City's permit office can answer directly. Put it in writing, and make sure your contract states who is responsible for arranging any permit if one turns out to be needed.

A few other things worth knowing before the work starts. The National Building Code (2023 Alberta Edition, in force since May 2024) requires eave protection, commonly called ice-and-water shield, extending at least 900 mm up the slope to a point at least 300 mm inside the inner wall line. Calgary's freeze-thaw cycle, roughly 128 cycles a year on average, makes this more than a code formality; it is the main defence against ice dams working water under the shingles. A roofer who skips it on a Calgary re-roof is cutting a corner that will likely cost you later.

Before hiring anyone, check two things yourself: the contractor's Alberta prepaid contracting licence through Service Alberta's online lookup (required if any deposit is collected before the work is complete), and a current WCB-Alberta clearance letter confirming their account is in good standing. WCB-Alberta notes that hiring a contractor without coverage could leave you responsible for outstanding premiums. Get a written contract that spells out the scope, materials, tear-off and disposal, decking allowance, eave protection, flashings, start and completion dates, and the payment schedule.

If a permit does apply to your project, a Calgary residential alteration permit runs about $206 based on the 2026 fee schedule, which is a small line item relative to the overall job cost.