What a replacement involves
A replacement strips the old covering and installs a new one over sound or repaired deck. San Antonio's re-roof application allows a maximum of two layers of roofing under the IRC. Garland says a third layer means tearing off.
What a new roof costs in Texas: estimates, not quotes
With tear-off, a roof replacement comes out at $8,275 to $17,800 per roof, tear-off included. Ten Texas roofing companies print whole-roof prices on their own sites, and this band runs across the middle half of them. Our national estimate lands under that band and counts only as a floor.
Price pages aren't signed jobs. Read the band as a model and the permit row below as a separate cost.
| Item | Figure | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated range, not a quote | $8,275 to $17,800 per roof, tear-off included | The middle half of 10 Texas company prices for this job (25th to 75th percentile, $8,275 to $17,800); our national estimate ($4,725 to $11,600: built from two national published ranges, adjusted by the Texas roofer wage ratio (0.81) plus a typical permit fee ($92)) only sets a floor, and the companies' lower quarter sits above it. Twelve Texas roofing companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Basis: company sample (n=10), interquartile range. |
| Estimated range per square, not a quote | $205 to $560 per square (100 square feet), installed | Built from one national published range, adjusted by the Texas roofer wage ratio (0.81). Twelve Texas roofing companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Basis: no state company sample (one counted Texas company price for this job), national estimate only. |
| Roofer wage, Texas mean | $22.69 an hour | Mean hourly pay for Texas roofers, BLS May 2025; labor pay and not a roof price. |
| Typical re-roof permit fee in Texas | $92 | Median of the 16 Texas city roofing fees in the model; the fee your city charges is the one that counts. |
| Re-roof permit, San Antonio | $26.50 | San Antonio's remodeling FAQ, no schedule date printed. |
| Re-roofing permit, Irving, single-family | $100 | City of Irving government rates and fees, per structure. |
| Re-roofing permit, Garland | $150 | Garland's re-roofing page, plus a 4.5 percent technology surcharge on all permits. |
| Reroof permit, Arlington | $275 | Planning and Development Services schedule effective September 1, 2025. |
Estimated range. Built from national published ranges (2 sources), adjusted by Texas's roofer wage ratio to the US (0.81, BLS May 2025), plus the local permit fee where the city publishes one. Not a quote. Twelve Texas roofing companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Ten Texas companies publish a price we could count for this job, so the range runs from the lower quarter to the upper quarter of those prices (the middle half of them). Full method. Prices as of Oct 23, 2026.
When a new roof is the right call
Killeen counts deck or framing damage as permit work at any size. An insurer won't pay for a new roof just because the old one is old or worn out, TDI says.
- The damage is limited to part of one slope.
- The deck is sound and the repair stays under your city's permit threshold.
- The deck or framing is damaged across the roof.
- The policy covers replacement and the adjuster's scope covers most slopes.
Where the permit rules land
Houston, San Antonio and Grand Prairie want a permit for any re-roof, and so do McKinney (2020 guide) and Denton (2022 rule). A shingles-only job in Fort Worth needs none. Austin exempts asphalt shingles that replace asphalt shingles, unless the property is in the Wildland-Urban Interface and half or more of the roof is replaced. Arlington exempts a replacement of 10 percent of the roof area or less.
The coastal inspection and TWIA
In the 14 coastal counties and Harris County east of Highway 146, TDI says roof replacements generally must be inspected before you can get TWIA coverage, and TWIA lists replacing a roof among work that needs a certificate of compliance. File the WPI-1 before you start. A TDI inspector comes during the work, and Corpus Christi wants the WPI-1 with its permit application.
Which code applies to the new roof
A 2018 copy of Local Government Code section 214.212 adopts the International Residential Code "as it existed on May 1, 2001" as the default in a municipality, and later amendments may differ. Cities adopt later editions by ordinance. Arlington lists the 2021 I-Codes, Fort Worth the 2021 IRC, and Garland's re-roofing page cites the 2015 IRC. For coastal windstorm inspections, TDI adopted the 2024 building codes effective April 1, 2026.
The contract and the deductible notice
If a claim pays, a contract of $1,000 or more has to carry a boldface notice that Texas law requires the insured to pay the deductible, under the 2019 enacted text of HB 2102 (the current code may differ). TDI also advises asking for the certificate of insurance and the bond certification, and paying by check or credit card.
When a roof replacement cannot wait
- The deck is exposed or has fallen in somewhere.
- Water is entering in several places after a storm.
- An aging roof with no leaks that you are pricing for next year.
- A worn roof with no leaks while you compare written bids.
What to settle before you sign
- Ask the building office whether your address needs a permit, and who pulls it.
- Read the contract for the boldface deductible notice if a claim will pay.
- On the coast, find out who files the WPI-1, and do it before work starts.
Who issues the re-roof permit
Your city's building office issues it. Houston's page lists plan review, an inspection, six months of validity and ten business days of processing for a residential roofing permit. San Antonio issues a re-roof with no change of pitch over the counter, and a change of pitch needs full plan review. Arlington wants the contractor registered with the city and the permit posted at the job site before work starts.
Texas has no state roofing license to check, so before any work starts, ask for the certificate of insurance and call the companies listed on it.
Questions people ask
How much does a new roof cost in Texas?
We estimate $8,275 to $17,800 per roof, tear-off included, which is a range and not a quote. The band is the middle half of the whole-roof prices ten Texas roofing companies publish. Use it to compare written bids, not as a quote.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Texas?
In San Antonio, Houston, Grand Prairie and McKinney, yes; your city decides. San Antonio, Houston, Grand Prairie and McKinney require one for every re-roof. Fort Worth needs none for shingles only, and Arlington exempts 10 percent of the roof area or less.
Does a roof replacement need a TDI inspection?
On the coast, yes, and you apply first. In the 14 coastal counties, TDI says most roof replacements must be inspected before TWIA coverage is available. File the WPI-1 before work begins; TDI inspectors charge no fee.
Which building code applies to a new roof in Texas?
The one your city has adopted. A 2018 copy of state law adopts the IRC as it existed on May 1, 2001 as the municipal default, and cities adopt later editions. Arlington lists the 2021 I-Codes and Fort Worth the 2021 IRC.
Do I pay a deductible if insurance covers the roof?
Yes, and no contractor can waive it. Under HB 2102's 2019 text a seller who absorbs it commits a Class B misdemeanor, and TDI adds that the insurer can ask for proof that you paid.
- BLS Public Data API v1, series OEUS480000000000047218103 (Texas) and OEUN000000000000047218103 (US) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Roofers (SOC 47-2181), United States, mean hourly wage Read Oct 23, 2026.
- RooferMatch: how we estimate costs, Texas (editorial policy) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of San Antonio DSD: Home Remodeling FAQs (PDF) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Irving: Government rates and fees Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Garland: Re-Roofing Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Arlington: Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule (effective 2025-09-01) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- RCAT: Become A Licensed Roofer In Texas (licensing page); RCAT consumers page Read Oct 23, 2026. Confirm with the source before you rely on it.
- City of San Antonio DSD: Residential Permits; Re-Roof Permit Application (PDF) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Houston Permitting Center: Residential Roofing Permit (HPWCODE1140) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Grand Prairie: Residential Re-Roof Permit Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of McKinney: Roofing Guide (Roof Packet) Read Oct 23, 2026. Unconfirmed on the source's own page, so check this detail with the source before you act on it.
- City of Denton: Roofing (Wayback 2023-09-26) Read Oct 23, 2026. Confirm with the source before you rely on it.
- City of Fort Worth: Development Fee Schedule (Ordinance 27191-09-2024) Read Oct 23, 2026. This is our interpretation of the source, which doesn't state it outright, so confirm it with the source before you rely on it.
- City of Austin Development Services: Work Exempt from Building Permits; Express Permits Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Arlington: Roofing replacement permits and inspections (technical bulletin) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Killeen: Roofing Permits Requirements; Building Projects That Require Permits Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Corpus Christi Development Services: Residential Remodels and Repairs Read Oct 23, 2026.
- City of Fort Worth Development Services: Roofing FAQ Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDI: Home repairs that don’t require a windstorm inspection Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDI Windstorm Inspections: What is the Windstorm Inspection Process? Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TWIA: Windstorm Certification Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDI: What you need to know about windstorm inspections; TDI WPI-8 fact sheet (PDF) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Texas Local Government Code ch. 214 (Wayback 2018-04-27 copy) Read Oct 23, 2026. Confirm with the source before you rely on it.
- TDI Windstorm Inspection Program: Building Codes and Downloads Read Oct 23, 2026.
- Texas Legislature Online: HB 2102, 86(R), enrolled version Read Oct 23, 2026. Confirm with the source before you rely on it.
- TDI: Is it OK for a contractor to waive my deductible?; TDI: New state law cracks down on roof scams (2019-08-07) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDI: Do you know the signs of a contracting scam? Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDI: Insurance and your roof Read Oct 23, 2026.
- TDLR home page (Regulated Industries menu) Read Oct 23, 2026.