Douglas County and Highlands Ranch Roofing Codes: Permits, Inspections, and Requirements
Adopted building and energy codes, permit rules, and roofing requirements for Douglas County and Highlands Ranch, Douglas County. Rows below reflect our reading of the jurisdiction's own published sources, linked at the bottom of the page.
Building department
303-660-7497Inspection line
303-660-7495Permit line
303-660-7497Official department
Live code pageDouglas County and Highlands Ranch roofing code requirements
- What this jurisdiction requires
- 2024 IBC and 2024 IRC with Douglas County amendments
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Yes
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Sheathing
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Class A
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Class C
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Class C
- What this jurisdiction requires
- If over 7000 feet, sustained wind shall be 120 MPH
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Per manufacturer 90/120
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Yes, if above 7000 ft
- What this jurisdiction requires
- No, inspectors do not carry ladders
- What this jurisdiction requires
- For batten roofing systems only
- What this jurisdiction requires
- No
- What this jurisdiction requires
- One layer
- What this jurisdiction requires
- One unless approved by manufacturer
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Yes
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Any gap at all - asphalt shingles shall not be installed over spaced decking
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Required
- What this jurisdiction requires
- 4 x 2
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Required
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Ice barrier required at eaves per the IRC
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Two layers of underlayment
- What this jurisdiction requires
- One layer of underlayment
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Open and closed
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Either - 90# or metal is also ok for asphalt shingle
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Either - 90# is also ok
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Required where the roof meets a wall
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Any area 30" or more on a roof surface causing a water dam; ie. Skylights, swamp coolers.
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Yes
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Required, installed to manufacturer specifications
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Yes
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Yes
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Required per IRC attic ventilation provisions
- What this jurisdiction requires
- Class of roof system is dependent on type of construction
| Requirement | What this jurisdiction requires |
|---|---|
| Current building code | 2024 IBC and 2024 IRC with Douglas County amendments |
| Building permit required | Yes |
| Other or special permits required | Sheathing |
| Roof system fire rating (residential) | Class A |
| Roof system fire rating (commercial) | Class C |
| Roof system fire rating (multi-family) | Class C |
| Minimum wind speed rating for asphalt shingles | If over 7000 feet, sustained wind shall be 120 MPH |
| Requires a manufacturer wind warranty | Per manufacturer 90/120 |
| Requires wind nailing | Yes, if above 7000 ft |
| Inspectors carry ladders for the final | No, inspectors do not carry ladders |
| Requires midroof (in progress) inspection | For batten roofing systems only |
| Requires a sheathing / decking inspection | No |
| Maximum layers of asphalt shingles permitted | One layer |
| Maximum layers of flat roof material permitted | One unless approved by manufacturer |
| Requires solid sheeting over spaced decking | Yes |
| Sheeting gap requirement | Any gap at all - asphalt shingles shall not be installed over spaced decking |
| Requires drip edge | Required |
| Minimum drip edge size | 4 x 2 |
| Requires rake / gable metal edging | Required |
| Self adhering underlayment (ice and water shield) | Ice barrier required at eaves per the IRC |
| Underlayment required 2:12 up to 4:12 | Two layers of underlayment |
| Underlayment required 4:12 and above | One layer of underlayment |
| Type of valleys allowed | Open and closed |
| Valley material required for closed valleys | Either - 90# or metal is also ok for asphalt shingle |
| Valley material required for open valleys | Either - 90# is also ok |
| Kick-out required on step flashing | Required where the roof meets a wall |
| Chimney cricket requirement | Any area 30" or more on a roof surface causing a water dam; ie. Skylights, swamp coolers. |
| Minimum curb height requirement | Yes |
| Requires ridge cap | Required, installed to manufacturer specifications |
| Requires ventilation to meet code | Yes |
| Blower door test when increasing ventilation to code | Yes |
| Requires soffit / eave vents | Required per IRC attic ventilation provisions |
| Special conditions | Class of roof system is dependent on type of construction |
Last checked September 2, 2026. This reflects published sources at that date, not an official ruling. Code adoptions change, so confirm with the Douglas County and Highlands Ranch building department before you pull a permit.
What Douglas County and Highlands Ranch requires, in plain language
Douglas County and Highlands Ranch builds to the 2024 IBC and 2024 IRC with Douglas County amendments. That edition, not the newest code published nationally, is the rulebook an inspector in Douglas County holds your roof to.
Layer limit in Douglas County and Highlands Ranch: One layer. This is the line item that moves a bid the most. If your existing roof is already at the limit, the deck gets stripped before new material goes down, and the labor plus dump fees belong in the written price. Flat roof sections are capped at One unless approved by manufacturer.
Wind is what Douglas County and Highlands Ranch tests shingles against. Shingles need a If over 7000 feet, sustained wind shall be 120 MPH rating. Wind nailing: Yes, if above 7000 ft. Manufacturer wind warranty: Per manufacturer 90/120.
Underlayment and edge metal are where roofs fail inspection. Ice and water shield: Ice barrier required at eaves per the IRC. On 2:12 to 4:12 slopes: Two layers of underlayment. On 4:12 and steeper: One layer of underlayment. Drip edge: Required. Minimum drip edge size 4 x 2.
Douglas County, which permits unincorporated Highlands Ranch, adopted the 2024 International Codes with county amendments covering the IRC, IBC, IPC, IMC, IFGC and ISPSC.
Installation details above come from our building department field survey for Douglas County and Highlands Ranch, last updated 9/23/18. Code editions and contacts are refreshed from the department directly. Always confirm the details on your permit before work starts, since departments amend requirements on their own schedule.
Sources
- https://www.douglasco.gov/building-division/
- https://www.douglasco.gov/building-division/building-codes/
These links go straight to the jurisdiction, so you always have the real-time source. Adoptions and amendments change on their schedule, not ours. Always confirm before permitting.
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Nearby jurisdictions
Last checked September 2, 2026. This is our best read of published sources, not an official ruling. Confirm with the Douglas County and Highlands Ranch building department before you pull a permit.