Key numbers
103 verified hail storms with stones of 1.5 inches or larger reached El Paso County, which includes Colorado Springs, from 2000 to 2025 in the storm records we keep; the largest measured 4.5 inches (softball size) on July 13, 2011 (NOAA NCEI).
| Hail storms by decade, 2000 to 2025 | 2000s: 35, 2010s: 44, 2020s: 24 Source: Storm library: El Paso County hail history |
|---|---|
| Largest hail | 4.5 in. (softball), July 13, 2011 Source: NOAA NCEI |
| Costliest hail storm | $352.8 million insured losses (2016 dollars), July 28, 2016 Source: RMIIA |
A storm counts when the library lists El Paso 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.
Who permits your Elizabeth roof depends on whether the house is inside town limits. The Town of Elizabeth issues building permits only for addresses within its municipal limits, with SAFEbuilt handling permits and inspections for the Town. Everywhere else with an Elizabeth mailing address, and there are many, the permit comes from Elbert County. The two have different rules, so the first step on any Elizabeth roof is a quick call to confirm which side of the line you are on.
Inside town limits: the Town of Elizabeth
The Town’s building code page sets out the reroof rules:
- Application. Use the Building Permit Application for reroofs and include a copy of the contract with the property owner’s signature.
- Valuation. Labor at $4 per square foot and materials at $150 per roofing square (100 sq ft). Town and county use taxes apply on top of permit fees.
- Design values. Section 18-2-40 lists a 30 psf ground snow load and a 90 mph design wind speed. Ice barrier underlayment is not required.
- Inspections. A final inspection with an OSHA-certified ladder on site, and a mid-roof inspection if the main pitch is below 4:12. Requests by 4:00 p.m. are usually inspected the next business day.
- Penalty. Permit fees are doubled for construction started without a permit.
- Contractors. The Town does not require contractor licensing or registration to pull a permit.
Outside town limits: Elbert County
Elbert County’s Building Department requires a permit for any roof repair over one square (100 square feet) and for every roof replacement. It offers mid-roof inspections in person or by photo, with the owner’s written consent. The County publishes its own snow load and wind design table and does not allow reductions to it. In its June 2026 hail-season notice, the County warned that not every contractor knocking on doors after a storm is properly licensed in Elbert County, and offered to verify a license or provide a list.
Elizabeth weather and roof choices
The Town designs for a 90 mph wind and a modest 30 psf ground snow load, so the bigger threats to an Elizabeth roof are wind-lifted shingles and the hail season Elbert County warns about each summer. For homes that see repeat hail, an impact-resistant shingle (see our Class 4 comparison) or steel metal roofing is worth pricing. For smaller problems, see roof repair in Elizabeth.
Nearby Elbert County and Douglas County towns
South toward the Palmer Divide, see roof repair in Elbert and the Elbert County roofing page. West, Douglas County has its own permit rules, and east of Falcon, Calhan is permitted by PPRBD.
Schedule a free Elizabeth roof inspection
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned, family-run since 1990, and an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. We reply the same business day. Call our Colorado Springs office at (719) 488-2800 or book a free roof inspection.
Sources: Town of Elizabeth, Building Code and Permit Information; Elbert County, Did a Hailstorm Leave You With Roof Damage? (June 24, 2026); Elbert County Building Department, Frequently Asked Questions.
