DC Roof Permit Cost (2026)
Residential roof replacement permits in Washington DC are processed under the DC Department of Buildings (DOB) alteration and repair tier formula. The DOB Building Permit Fee Schedule treats roof replacement as an alteration/repair; the declared construction value drives the fee tier. The relevant tier for typical residential re-roofing ($1,001-$1,000,000 declared value) is $30 + 2% of declared value, plus the universal 10% Enhanced Fee on the permit, plus a separate Green Building Fee of 0.13% of value (with its own 10% Enhanced Fee on top). Note: the DOB fee schedule is published as a live page with no stamped effective date; figures below are captured as of April 25, 2026.
A residential roof replacement permit in Washington DC costs $384.45 all-in for a $15,000 re-roof ($330 base + $33 Enhanced Fee + $21.45 Green Building Fee). Smaller jobs: $150.15 for $5,000 declared value, $267.30 for $10,000. Larger jobs: $618.75 for $25,000 and $1,204.50 for $50,000. The fee structure is $30 + 2% of declared construction value (alteration tier 3), plus a 10% Enhanced Fee on the permit, plus a Green Building Fee of 0.13% of value (with its own 10% Enhanced). Solar and electrical work are filed under separate trade permits.
- DC DOB treats roof replacement as an alteration/repair under the tier formula. The relevant tier for typical residential re-roofing ($1,001-$1,000,000 declared value) is $30 + 2% of declared construction value. All DC roof replacements require a permit.
- For a typical $15,000 re-roof: permit fee $330 + $33 Enhanced Fee + $19.50 Green Building Fee + $1.95 Enhanced on Green Building Fee = $384.45 all-in. This is the verified headline figure from the live DOB fee schedule captured April 25, 2026.
- The 10% Enhanced Fee applies to every line item: both the building permit fee and the Green Building Fee each carry their own 10% surcharge. There is no cap on the Enhanced Fee.
- The Green Building Fee is 0.13% of declared value for alterations $1,001-$1,000,000, with its own 10% Enhanced Fee on top. For a $15,000 re-roof: $15,000 x 0.13% = $19.50 + $1.95 Enhanced = $21.45 total Green Building charge.
- DC does not charge a separate flat plan review fee for standard residential alterations. Plan review cost is built into the tier formula. Repeat Technical Review applies only if plans are rejected and resubmitted: $65 + 10% Enhanced = $71.50 for single-family residential.
- Compared to nearby jurisdictions: Fairfax County charges $688.50 for the same $15,000 re-roof (see Fairfax roof permit guide). Norfolk requires no residential re-roof permit ($0). DC at $384.45 sits between these extremes.
- The DOB fee schedule is published as a live page at dob.dc.gov/node/1620346 with no stamped effective date. PermitPrice captures and re-verifies quarterly. Always confirm current rates with DOB at filing. Solar panel installation (separate scope) uses DC's Instant Permit program and is priced differently.
DC Roof Permit Fee Structure (Alteration Tier Formula)
Three components on every DC roof replacement permit. Each component carries the universal 10% Enhanced Fee.
| Component | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Building permit fee (alteration tier 3) | $30 + 2% of declared construction value (when value is $1,001-$1,000,000) | DOB Fee Schedule, Section a, Alteration & Repair |
| 2. 10% Enhanced Fee on permit | Building permit fee x 10% | DOB Fee Schedule, Section a, Enhanced Fee column |
| 3. Green Building Fee | 0.13% of declared value (alterations $1,001-$1M) | DOB Fee Schedule, Section a, Green Building Fee row |
| 4. 10% Enhanced Fee on Green Building Fee | Green Building Fee x 10% | DOB Fee Schedule, Section a, Enhanced Fee column |
DC Roof Permit Cost at Different Declared Construction Values
| Declared Value | Building Permit ($30 + 2%) | +10% Enhanced | Green Building Fee (0.13% +10%) | All-In Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 re-roof | $30 + $100 = $130 | $143.00 | $5,000 x 0.13% x 1.10 = $7.15 | $150.15 |
| $10,000 re-roof | $30 + $200 = $230 | $253.00 | $10,000 x 0.13% x 1.10 = $14.30 | $267.30 |
| $15,000 re-roof (headline) | $30 + $300 = $330 | $363.00 | $15,000 x 0.13% x 1.10 = $21.45 | $384.45 |
| $25,000 re-roof | $30 + $500 = $530 | $583.00 | $25,000 x 0.13% x 1.10 = $35.75 | $618.75 |
| $50,000 re-roof (full replacement, large home) | $30 + $1,000 = $1,030 | $1,133.00 | $50,000 x 0.13% x 1.10 = $71.50 | $1,204.50 |
All-in totals reflect the alteration tier formula plus the 10% Enhanced Fee plus the Green Building Fee (with its own 10% Enhanced). Solar and electrical trade permits not included. Source: DOB Building Permit Fee Schedule, Section a, captured April 25, 2026. No stamped effective date on the live page - verify before filing.
$15,000 Re-Roof: Fee Components Breakdown
| Fee Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base permit fee ($30 + 2% x $15,000) | $330.00 |
| 10% Enhanced Fee on permit ($330 x 10%) | $33.00 |
| Green Building Fee ($15,000 x 0.13%) | $19.50 |
| 10% Enhanced Fee on Green Building Fee ($19.50 x 10%) | $1.95 |
| All-In Total | $384.45 |
Worked Examples
Example 1: $5,000 Re-Roof (small home or partial replacement)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee (alteration tier 3) | $30 + 2% x $5,000 = $30 + $100 = $130 | $130.00 |
| 10% Enhanced Fee on permit | $130 x 10% | $13.00 |
| Green Building Fee | $5,000 x 0.13% = $6.50 | $6.50 |
| 10% Enhanced Fee on Green Building Fee | $6.50 x 10% | $0.65 |
| Total - Building Permit Only | $130 + $13 + $6.50 + $0.65 | $150.15 |
Example 2: $15,000 Re-Roof (typical full replacement, mid-size home)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee (alteration tier 3) | $30 + 2% x $15,000 = $30 + $300 = $330 | $330.00 |
| 10% Enhanced Fee on permit | $330 x 10% | $33.00 |
| Green Building Fee | $15,000 x 0.13% = $19.50 | $19.50 |
| 10% Enhanced Fee on Green Building Fee | $19.50 x 10% | $1.95 |
| Total - Building Permit Only | $330 + $33 + $19.50 + $1.95 | $384.45 |
If the re-roof also involves an attic ventilation fan or electrical rough-in, a separate electrical permit is required. The roof replacement permit itself covers only the structural/envelope scope.
Example 3: $50,000 Re-Roof (large home, full replacement with premium materials)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee (alteration tier 3) | $30 + 2% x $50,000 = $30 + $1,000 = $1,030 | $1,030.00 |
| 10% Enhanced Fee on permit | $1,030 x 10% | $103.00 |
| Green Building Fee | $50,000 x 0.13% = $65.00 | $65.00 |
| 10% Enhanced Fee on Green Building Fee | $65.00 x 10% | $6.50 |
| Total - Building Permit Only | $1,030 + $103 + $65 + $6.50 | $1,204.50 |
Calculator Coverage for DC Roof Permits
DC's alteration tier formula for roof replacement is fully documented on this page with five worked examples covering $5,000 through $50,000 declared values. The PermitPrice fee calculator currently wires DC flat-rate project types; the alteration tier roofing formula uses the worked examples on this page for exact arithmetic. Use the table above to look up your declared construction value range, or apply the formula directly: $30 + 2% of declared value, multiply by 1.10 for the Enhanced Fee, then add 0.13% of declared value x 1.10 for the Green Building Fee.
Open Fee Calculator$15,000 Re-Roof Permit Cost Across the DMV
Comparison of DC against verified DMV jurisdictions for the same $15,000 re-roof. All numbers are PermitPrice-verified all-in figures from each jurisdiction's published fee schedule. Solar and electrical trade permits are not included in any figure below.
| Jurisdiction | $15,000 Re-Roof All-In | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $384.45 | DOB live page (Apr 2026) | Alteration tier formula + Enhanced Fee + Green Building Fee |
| Fairfax County, VA | $688.50 | Appendix Q FY2025 | 3% of value + 50% plan review + 2% state levy; see Fairfax roof guide |
| Norfolk City, VA | $0 | Norfolk Building Dept. | No permit required for residential re-roofing in Norfolk; see Norfolk roof guide |
| Henrico County, VA | $163.20 | Dec 2025 fee page | $100 + $6 per $1,000 over $5,000 = $160 + 2% state levy |
| Richmond City, VA | $144.75 | Rev. June 2022 | $63 + $6.07 per $1,000 over $2,000 + 2% levy; source-age caveat |
| Virginia Beach City, VA | $237.50 | Rev. Jul-2025 | Value-based alteration formula + tech fee + 2% levy |
Non-DC figures apply each jurisdiction's own value/alteration formula. Norfolk requires no residential re-roof permit. Fairfax County is the most expensive due to its 50% plan review fee. DC at $384.45 sits between Fairfax and the Virginia MSA jurisdictions. For the full DC vs Virginia comparison across project types, see the Virginia roof permit cost guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
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Building Permit Fee Schedule - DC Department of Buildings Captured April 25, 2026 - DC Department of Buildings - Primary source for the alteration tier formula, Enhanced Fee, and Green Building Fee structure used to price residential roof replacement permits. No stamped effective date on live page. Verified
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Permitting in the District of Columbia - DC DOB Accessed April 25, 2026 - DC Department of Buildings - Permitting overview index linking the Building Permit Fee Schedule and DOB Scout filing portal
See the full DC fee schedule, compare DC against Fairfax County, or browse the Virginia roof permit guide.