Littleton’s roof code is the City of Littleton Building Division’s Policy #24-001, revised May 21, 2026, which applies the city’s amendments to the 2024 International Residential Code. For a shingle roof it requires a city-licensed contractor and a posted permit, a full tear-off to the deck, panel sheathing over gapped boards with its own nailing inspection, an ice and water barrier at every conditioned eave, ASTM D7158 Class H shingles with six nails each, and a final inspection. Removing more than 100 square feet of roofing turns a repair into a full replacement.
Section 1: shingle, metal and tile roofs
- Permit and license. The permit is pulled before work starts, describes the full scope including any sheathing, and is displayed where it can be seen from the street. Work without a permit, or without a City of Littleton contractor’s license, can bring a stop-work order or a municipal summons.
- Tear-off. Full tear-off to the deck. No overlays.
- Tile reuse. Clay and concrete tile can go back on if the manufacturer allows it and the warranty stays valid.
- Decking. Board decks with any gap over 1/2 inch get overlaid or replaced with panel sheathing at least 3/8 inch thick, nailed 6 inches on center at edges and 12 inches in the field, and a Building Division inspector checks the nailing before underlayment goes down. If the need is found after the permit is issued, the permit must be amended.
- Ice barrier and valleys. ASTM D1970 ice and water barrier at least two feet inside the exterior wall line at the eaves of every conditioned building. Closed valleys get 36-inch ice and water barrier; open valleys get 24-inch galvanized metal or two layers of mineral-surfaced roll roofing.
- Drip edge. Required at eaves and rakes of shingle roofs.
- Shingles. ASTM D3462, wind labeled ASTM D7158 Class H (or D3161 where the code permits), six nails per shingle, no shingles below 2/12, and double underlayment or ice barrier from 2/12 to 4/12.
- Ventilation. Not to be reduced below existing conditions unless the new system meets code.
- Final inspection. With an OSHA-compliant ladder extending 3 feet above the eave, and permission to enter a fenced yard. Inspectors will not go in with pets present.
Sections 2 to 4: other roofs, repairs and solar
- Low-slope and other coverings: membrane overlays are allowed, liquid-applied overlays need product approval first, mineral-surfaced roll roofing is not permitted, and commercial membrane finals need a warranty certificate.
- Repair limit: 100 square feet (one square) of removal or replacement, in total, is a repair. More than that is a replacement, and on a shingle, metal or tile roof the whole roof is replaced. New roof planes from an addition are the exception.
- Solar: if city records show panels, the roof permit waits until a city-licensed solar contractor has a permit to remove and reinstall them.
What changed since our 2016 article
| Then (2016 article) | Now (Policy 24-001, 2026) |
|---|---|
| 2012 IRC, in effect January 1, 2014 | Amendments to the 2024 IRC |
| Wind rating per shingle package, D3161 or D7158 | D7158 Class H required, product data at permit intake |
| Nailing per manufacturer | Six nails per shingle, always |
| Gapped plank decks discussed case by case | Over 1/2 inch gaps must be sheathed and inspected |
| 15 lb felt doubled on low slopes | Double underlayment or ice barrier from 2/12 to 4/12 |
What it means when you hire
A Littleton job priced like a Denver job is probably missing something. Denver does not require an eave ice barrier and allows a single-layer re-cover; Littleton requires both the barrier and a full tear-off. Ask any bidder to show the Class H label and the city license. For hiring and service in town, see our Littleton roofers page; for the neighbors’ rules, compare Denver roofing codes, Highlands Ranch and Castle Rock. The wind classes are explained in ASTM D3161 and D7158 ratings.
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews, serving Littleton from our Denver-area office in Centennial. Call (303) 209-0152 or book a free Denver-area inspection for a roof replacement; we reach out the same business day.
Sources: City of Littleton Building Division, Policy #24-001, Roof Covering Installation and Inspection Requirements (5th revision, 5/21/2026); City and County of Denver, Roofing Guide and Checklist (updated 4/11/2024).
