The Littleton Roofing Code, in Plain English

Are you actually in Littleton?

Start here, because everything else on this page depends on it. The Post Office applies the name “Littleton” to communities across three counties. Only ZIP 80120 is completely within city limits. 80121 is partially. 80122 to 80130 are partially or completely outside.

The city states that USPS “has designated the name ‘Littleton’ to include several local communities, both incorporated and unincorporated areas of three counties.” (source)

Policy 24-001 governs work inside city limits only. If you are outside, a different authority issues your permit under its own adopted codes. Here is how the 15 authorities we work under actually differ. An em dash means we have not verified that requirement, not that there is none.

Two consequences worth absorbing. Centennial requires a mid-roof inspection on every reroof and Littleton requires none, which changes how a job has to be scheduled. And the same trade is licensed as D-5 in Littleton and D-2 in Englewood, three miles apart, because Colorado has no statewide roofing license at all.

To find out which applies to you: check your property tax statement for the county and any municipality you pay. Or call us with the address.

When you need a permit

A permit is required before work starts on any asphalt shingle, metal or clay/concrete tile replacement. The threshold is one square, 100 square feet: removal or replacement of 100 sq ft or less in aggregate is a repair; more than that is a replacement.

Note aggregate. Three separate 40 sq ft patches total 120 sq ft, which is a replacement, not three repairs.

Partial new roof installation is allowed where a structure has been expanded, creating a new roof plane or extending an existing one. Otherwise, work exceeding the repair definition requires full roof replacement.

A separate trap: if the roof covering did not require a permit, but the area of sheathing needing replacement is large enough to require one, a roof permit must still be obtained.

The permit must be displayed in a location visible from the street, and must describe the complete scope including any sheathing replacement or overlay. Work begun without a permit, or without a valid City of Littleton contractor license, can result in a stop work order and a municipal summons.

Design criteria

Per City Code Title 4, Chapter 1, amending IRC Table R301.2 (Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria):

Ground snow load

40 psf, non-reducible

Ultimate design wind speed

136 mph

Adopted codes

2024 IBC, 2024 IRC, 2024 IECC

For commercial projects, snow load and wind speed are determined by the online ASCE Hazard Tool using the version of ASCE 7 referenced in the currently adopted I-Codes, rather than by these fixed residential figures.

Properties inside a designated Wildland Urban Interface hazard zone may carry additional requirements.

Wind resistance requirements

Tear-off and overlays

The City of Littleton requires full tear off to deck. No overlays will be accepted. This applies to asphalt shingle, metal and clay/concrete tile roofs. Membrane roofing is the exception, where overlays are permitted.

If a contractor quotes you a layover on a shingle roof in Littleton, they are quoting work the city will not pass.

Clay and concrete tiles may be reused, provided the manufacturer allows it and the warranty remains valid.

Six nails per shingle

All asphalt shingles must be nailed with a minimum of six nails per shingle. Many manufacturers specify four as their standard pattern, and their high-wind listings are typically contingent on the enhanced six-nail pattern.

Asphalt shingles must comply with 2024 IRC Section R905.2.4 and ASTM D3462, and with the wind-resistance labelling and classification requirements of 2024 IRC Section R905.2.4.1, including ASTM D7158 Class H for the adopted ultimate design wind speed, or ASTM D3161 where permitted by code.

Pitch limits:

• Asphalt shingles may not be installed below 2/12 pitch.
• Between 2/12 and 4/12, double underlayment or ice and water barrier is required.

Ice barrier, valleys and edges

• Ice and water barrier complying with ASTM D1970, extending a minimum of two feet inside the exterior wall line, is required at the eaves of all conditioned structures.
• Closed valleys: ice and water barrier a minimum of 36 inches wide.
• Open valleys: one layer of 24-inch wide galvanized metal, or two layers of mineral-surfaced rolled roofing, one 18 inches and one 36 inches.
• Drip edge is required at eaves and rake edges of shingle roofs, installed per the applicable code and manufacturer instructions.

The two-foot dimension is measured inside the exterior wall line, not from the edge of the roof. On a house with deep eaves that means considerably more than two feet of material.

For comparison: Douglas County requires ice barrier only above 7,000 feet elevation. Littleton requires it on every conditioned structure regardless.

The half-inch sheathing rule

Roof decks with spaced or board sheathing that have any gap exceeding 1/2 inch must be overlaid, or replaced with panel sheathing such as plywood or OSB a minimum of 3/8 inch thick.

Fastening is specified:

• Nails at a maximum of 6 inches on center at edges
• 12 inches on center in rows no further than 24 inches apart
• Vertical panel edges must break on framing members

An inspection of the sheathing fastening by Building Division staff is required prior to installation of roof underlayment or coverings. This is a hold point in the middle of the job and cannot be satisfied with photographs afterwards.

If the need for sheathing is discovered after permit issuance and was not indicated on the permit, the permit must be amended.

This is the most common cost overrun on an older Littleton roof, and nobody can see it before tear-off. Full explanation here →

Ventilation

Roof ventilation shall not be reduced below existing conditions unless the revised system complies with the applicable code. Changes must comply with 2024 IBC Section 1202 or 2024 IRC Section R806, as applicable.

Where attic or enclosed rafter ventilation is required, it is based on net free ventilating area:

• 1/150 of the vented space, or
• 1/300 where all code conditions for reduced ventilation are met, including the required distribution of upper and lower ventilation.

Flat and low-slope roofs

Section 2 of the policy covers replacement and overlays of all other roof coverings.

• Membrane overlays are permitted — the one real exception to the no-overlay rule.
• Liquid-applied overlays require a product submittal supplied to and approved by the Building Division before permit issuance and before work starts.
• Mineral-surfaced roll roofing is not permitted in the City of Littleton.
• Modified bitumen is acceptable.
• Spaced or board sheathing with gaps over 1/2 inch must be overlaid or replaced here too, with the same fastening and the same pre-underlayment inspection.
• Installation guidelines must be submitted at permit application and available on site at all inspections.

For commercial membrane roofing, a final roof inspection by the Building Division is required and a warranty certificate must be provided and attached to the building permit. A third-party engineer's observation letter is not accepted in place of a final inspection without prior authorization from the Chief Building Official.

Where manufacturer instructions and adopted code conflict, the more restrictive requirement applies.

More on flat roofing →

Solar panels

If a roofer offers to take your panels off as a favor, that is the end of the conversation. The full sequence is here →

Inspections

Littleton requires a final roof inspection to complete and close permits. There is no general mid-roof inspection requirement, unlike Centennial and Jefferson County.

Two practical requirements:

• An OSHA-compliant ladder extending 3 feet above the roof eave must be provided and secured at the time of inspection.
• Permission is required if the inspector must pass through a fence or enter the rear yard. Inspectors will not enter rear yards without permission, or at all when pets are present.

Inspections will not be completed unless a valid permit is on site in a visible, accessible location.

An open permit does not expire quietly. It surfaces when you sell, and resolving it years later is harder than passing an inspection on the day.

Contractor licensing

Colorado has no statewide roofing license. Licensing is handled jurisdiction by jurisdiction. The City of Littleton issues roofing under Class D-5 (Roofing), and a license or registration certificate is required to pull permits inside city limits.

• Expiry: Licenses expire annually on December 31. Renewal opens 90 days before expiry.
• Insurance: Commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, with the City of Littleton named as certificate holder. Workers compensation is required where there are employees.
• Examination: Qualifying examination through the International Code Council where the Building Division deems it necessary.

Because "licensed roofing contractor" means nothing without a jurisdiction attached, ask any bidder which specific authorities they hold a license in, and confirm it covers the one your property actually falls under.

The Permit Center will confirm: 303-795-3751 or [email protected]. Permits run through eTRAKiT.

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This guide summarizes City of Littleton Building Division Policy #24-001, 5th Revision, May 21, 2026. It is written for homeowner reference and is not a substitute for the published policy or for advice from the Building Division. Requirements change; always confirm the current position with the city before relying on any of it.