Re-Roof Permit & Storm Documentation Checklist

Permit & Historic-District Pre-Check

Work through this before you order material or call for bids. Per tacomapermits.org, a standard single-family or duplex re-roof is typically permit-exempt — but the details below decide whether that's true for your job, and whether historic-district design review applies on top of it.

• Confirm the old roofing will be fully removed, not covered over — a permit-exempt re-roof requires a complete tear-off, not an added layer.
• Check that the new material stays under 2.5 lb/sq ft — heavier material (some tile and slab-style products) can trigger a permit on its own.
• Confirm no roofline or framing changes are planned — changing the roofline requires a permit even on an otherwise exempt job.
• Check whether the property sits inside the North Slope Historic Special Review District or the Stadium-Seminary National Historic District.
• If it does, and a permit is triggered for any of the reasons above, expect Landmarks Preservation Commission design review under Tacoma Municipal Code 13.05.047 covering compatible roof pitch and material.
• If the home was built before 1930 — common on North Slope and Stadium-Seminary properties — budget time for a deck inspection, since original decking often hides damage that only shows up once the old roofing comes off.
• Get a written price broken out by material, tear-off, and any deck repair before signing anything — a single lump-sum number hides which of these actually applies to your job.

After a Storm: Documentation Checklist

Good documentation is the biggest factor in how smoothly an insurance claim goes, if one applies. Tacoma sits directly on open water at Commencement Bay and the Tacoma Narrows, so windstorm-driven roof damage is a real, recurring event here, not a rare one. Do these in order:

• Secure the property first. If it's safe, contain any active interior leak and prevent further water intrusion — but don't get on the roof yourself.
• Photograph before any repair. Wide shots for context, close-ups for detail, from multiple angles, the same day if possible.
• Photograph undamaged areas too. This helps establish contrast between the storm damage and the roof's prior condition.
• Note the date and conditions of the storm itself — this supports the "sudden event" documentation insurers look for.
• Call for a professional assessment before assuming the damage is (or isn't) storm-related — gradual wear and sudden wind damage look different, and the distinction affects insurance coverage.
• Report to your insurer promptly once you have initial photos and an assessment.

When to Call a Professional Right Away

• Active dripping or a fast-growing ceiling stain
• Visible daylight through the roof deck from inside the attic
• Missing or torn material covering more than a small, isolated area
• Any storm damage you're considering filing an insurance claim for