Roofing permits in Bryan and College Station

In both cities it is the contractor’s job. Bryan puts it plainly: “it is the responsibility of the roofing contractor to obtain the permit, through the city’s online portal, Citizenserve.”

College Station requires contractors to register with the City before obtaining a building permit. If you are doing the work yourself on your own homestead you do not have to register as a contractor, but you still have to apply for the permit before any work starts.

A homeowner can legally pull a permit on their own home. It does mean that if the work fails inspection, the name on the paperwork is yours.

Bryan: yes. The city’s hail damage guidance states that “a building permit is required for roof repairs and must be visible from the street before work begins.” Not just replacements. Repairs.

College Station publishes guidance on re-roofing. It states that re-roofing of residential structures requires a building permit when replacing shingles, or replacing decking and shingles. It does not publish a threshold for partial repair. If your job is a patch rather than a replacement, call Planning and Development Services on (979) 764-3570 and ask before anyone starts. We do.

We do not publish a figure, and here is the honest reason. College Station adjusts its development application and permit fees annually against the Consumer Price Index, with the increase taking effect every 1 October. A number printed on this page in September is wrong in October. The current schedule is published by the city as its Planning and Development Fees document, and that is the only figure worth quoting.

The permit fee is the city’s, not ours, and your proposal shows in writing how it is handled.

In Bryan you request the inspection through Citizenserve, by email to building@bryantx.gov, or by calling Development Services on (979) 209-5010. The city issues a green tag if the work is acceptable and a red tag if it is not, with the corrections needed written on the tag.

Two things about Bryan’s inspection catch people out. The inspector may need access to your attic, so the inspector and the contractor have to coordinate a time with you. And the city’s own advice to homeowners is worth repeating exactly: “withhold final payment until city inspections are completed.”

In College Station an inspection is required upon completion of the work. All materials used for residential re-roofing must carry a minimum Class C fire rating.

If your property sits in unincorporated Brazos County rather than inside Bryan or College Station, the rules are different and they are not the same as either city’s. Call the county before you assume a city rule applies. We will tell you which side of the line you are on before we quote the work.

The city rules above say who obtains the permit. Your proposal states it in writing for your job, and we never leave you to work it out alone.

• City of Bryan, Development Services (979) 209-5010 · building@bryantx.gov · permits and inspection requests through Citizenserve
• City of College Station, Planning and Development Services (979) 764-3570

City rules and fees change. Confirm the current rule with the city office before work starts.