Key numbers
62 verified hail storms with stones of 1.75 inches or larger reached Douglas County, which includes Highlands Ranch, from 1991 to 2026 in the storm records we keep; the largest measured 4.25 inches (grapefruit size) on June 10, 2010 (NOAA NCEI).
| Hail storms by decade, 1991 to 2026 | 1990s: 1, 2000s: 26, 2010s: 25, 2020s: 10 Source: Storm library: Denver metro hail history |
|---|---|
| Largest hail | 4.25 in. (grapefruit), June 10, 2010 Source: NOAA NCEI |
| Costliest hail storm | $767.6 million insured losses (2009 dollars), July 20, 2009 Source: RMIIA |
| 78.1% | 78.1% of occupied housing units in Highlands Ranch were owner-occupied in 2020-2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 |
| 0.5% | 0.5% of Douglas County's housing units were built in 1939 or earlier. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 |
A storm counts when the library lists Douglas County among the areas it hit. Each hail size is the storm's largest report, which may have fallen in a neighboring county, and insured losses cover every area the storm hit.
Hail history by ZIP (NOAA reports since 1996; linked ZIPs have a full page, method)
| ZIP | Area | 1 in.+ reports | Largest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80126 | Highlands Ranch | 21 | 1.75 in. |
| 80129 | Highlands Ranch | 6 | 1.5 in. |
| 80130 | Highlands Ranch | 2 | 1 in. |
Local building code: Douglas County (unincorporated) roof code data: IRC edition, reroof permits, ice barrier
To hire a roofer in Highlands Ranch, check three things: that the contractor will pull a Douglas County Building Division permit in its own name (Highlands Ranch is unincorporated, so there is no city permit), that the bid meets the county’s rules for a home below 7,000 feet, and that your HOA has approved the color and material. The county requires a permit for any replacement or any repair over one square (100 sq ft), allows one layer of roofing, and requires a final inspection on every permit. At 5,699 feet (the National Weather Service forecast point), most homes here need shingles rated at least ASTM D7158 Class D (90 mph), and the county’s ice barrier and high-wind nailing rules, which start above 7,000 feet, do not apply.
What a Highlands Ranch roof job looks like
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Week 1: inspection and bid | A free inspection with photos, then Good, Better and Best options. If hail is involved, the claim stays yours and the photos keep the scope complete. |
| HOA approval | Submit color and material to your HOA before work starts. A county permit does not replace it. |
| Permit | Basic asphalt or metal re-roofs can be permitted online; tile and other systems go through the Building Division. |
| Install day | Tear-off, then one new layer. Most homes are one to three days on the roof. |
| Mid-roof (if needed) | Only for tile, slate, stone-coated steel or battened systems, at 25 to 50% complete. |
| Final inspection | Requested before 3:30 p.m., it is generally done the next business day. |
For the full county code, read Highlands Ranch roofing code.
Questions to ask any Highlands Ranch roofer
- Will the permit be in your company’s name, and will you be there with a secured ladder for the inspection?
- Which shingle wind class are you installing, and does it meet or beat Class D?
- If I want tile or a heavier product, will you get the structural engineer’s review the county requires above 600 pounds per square?
- Who will I call about the warranty in five years?
Hail history
On June 6, 2012, NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center logged 1- to 1.75-inch hail in Highlands Ranch, and on August 6, 2018, it logged 1.25-inch hail about a mile northwest of Highlands Ranch. If a storm just passed, read Highlands Ranch hail: checking your roof before anyone climbs on the roof.
Which office serves Highlands Ranch?
Highlands Ranch is part of our Colorado Springs service area, and our Denver-area office in Centennial is the closest one to you. Nearby: Parker, which has its own Town rules, Larkspur and Centennial. All areas are on the service area list.
We are veteran-owned, family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor, and have 650+ Google reviews. Call (719) 488-2800 or book a free roof inspection; we answer the same business day.
Sources: Douglas County Building Division, Roofing Permits; National Weather Service, Highlands Ranch point forecast (elevation); NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports for June 6, 2012 and August 6, 2018 (preliminary).
