Key numbers
56 verified hail storms with stones of 1.75 inches or larger reached Pueblo County from 1997 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, 1997 to 2025 | 1990s: 1, 2000s: 18, 2010s: 26, 2020s: 11 Source: Storm library: Colorado storm records |
|---|---|
| Largest hail | 4.5 in. (softball), July 13, 2011 Source: NOAA NCEI |
| Costliest hail storm | $321.1 million insured losses (2012 dollars), June 6, 2012 Source: Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association |
| About 77.1% | About 77.1% of Pueblo's housing units (38,385 of 49,813) were built in 1989 or earlier. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 |
| About 59.3% | About 59.3% of Pueblo County's housing units (43,660 of 73,646) were built in 1979 or earlier, the Census bin closest to the 1978 federal lead-paint ban. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 |
A storm counts when the library lists Pueblo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81007 | Pueblo West | 51 | 2.75 in. |
| 81001 | Pueblo | 40 | 3 in. |
| 81005 | Pueblo | 35 | 2 in. |
| 81006 | Pueblo | 28 | 3 in. |
| 81069 | Colorado City | 27 | 1.75 in. |
| 81004 | Pueblo | 21 | 2 in. |
| 81003 | Pueblo | 20 | 2 in. |
| 81023 | Beulah Valley | 19 | 2.5 in. |
| 81025 | Boone | 18 | 2.75 in. |
| 81019 | Colorado City | 12 | 1.75 in. |
| 81022 | Avondale | 12 | 2.75 in. |
| 81039 | Fowler | 12 | 2.5 in. |
| 81008 | Pueblo | 11 | 2 in. |
Since the end of 2025, two different offices permit roofs in Pueblo County, depending on your address. Inside the City of Pueblo, the City says building permits are issued by the Southern Colorado Building Department at 830 N Main St. Outside city limits, in unincorporated areas such as Pueblo West, the new Pueblo County Building Division issues permits, licenses contractors, and schedules inspections. Its contractor licensing code applies to all unincorporated areas of the county and took effect December 31, 2025. For homeowners, the practical upshot is simple: confirm which office covers your address, and make sure your roofer is licensed with that office.
City of Pueblo vs unincorporated Pueblo County
| City of Pueblo | Unincorporated Pueblo County | |
|---|---|---|
| Permit office | Southern Colorado Building Department, 830 N Main St., 719-543-0002 | Pueblo County Building Division, 201 W. 8th St. #120, 719-583-6100 |
| When a roof permit is needed | Ask the department for your scope | Roof replacements, structural changes and major repairs |
| Contractor | Ask the department about licensing | Registered with the County; roofing license requires an ICC exam |
| Codes | Ask the department | 2021 building codes |
If a roofer works on both sides of the city line, ask about a license with each office, get the license number, and check it with the right department before you sign.
Hail in Pueblo County
Pueblo sees real hail. On May 16, 2021, NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center logged reports of 1.75-inch hail in Pueblo’s University Park neighborhood and up to 2-inch hail east of Blende. Our Pueblo hail damage guide walks through that storm and how to check your roof from the ground.
What to have done, and when
- After a storm: a free inspection before you file a claim, so you know whether there is functional damage.
- Small leaks and wind damage: see roof repair in Pueblo for when a repair needs a permit.
- Full replacement: our Pueblo roofing page covers materials and replacement.
Colorado’s roofing contractor law applies everywhere in the county: a written contract with the scope, dates and costs, and no paying, waiving or rebating your deductible.
Nearby
North on I-25, Fountain and Stratmoor are permitted by the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department instead. See our El Paso County guide.
Book a Pueblo County roof inspection
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned, family-run since 1990, and an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Pueblo County is served from our Colorado Springs office at 115 N Union Blvd, and we reply the same business day. Call (719) 488-2800 or book a free roof inspection.
Sources: City of Pueblo, Building Permits; Pueblo County Building Division, Building Permit Types; Pueblo County Building Division, How to Get Registered; Pueblo County Code, Chapter 15.10 Contractor Licenses; NOAA Storm Prediction Center, storm reports for May 16, 2021; C.R.S. 6-22-103 and 6-22-105 (unofficial reproduction).
