Example roofing plan, start to finish

Scaled diagram

Cut list

• Starter course ×180 lf along eaves
• Field courses ×345-5/8" exposure
• Ridge / hip cap ×4040 lf

Permit checkpoints

• Re-roof permit is required almost everywhere

  Nearly every jurisdiction requires a permit for a re-roof, even a like-for-like tear-off. It is usually a same-day over-the-counter permit with a flat fee, and it is what triggers the sheathing inspection after tear-off.

• Two-layer maximum

  Codes generally cap asphalt at two layers. If an inspector finds a third, the whole roof comes off regardless of what was planned.

• Fall protection above 6ft

  At 6/12 pitch, use roof brackets on anything over one story and never work a wet roof. OSHA requires fall protection for work over 6ft; homeowners are not exempt from gravity.

• Ice barrier and underlayment spec

  Cold-climate codes require an ice barrier from the eave edge to at least 24" inside the interior wall line. Valleys get it regardless of climate. Synthetic underlayment over the remaining field is now the normal spec.

• Net free ventilation area

  Most codes require 1 sq ft of net free vent area per 150 sq ft of attic floor, split roughly evenly between intake (soffit) and exhaust (ridge). Adding ridge vent without opening the soffits does nothing.

• Notify your insurer, and document the deck

  Photograph the bare sheathing before you dry it in. It is the only proof of what was underneath, and it matters for both the inspection and any future claim.

Rules vary by city and county — always confirm with your local building department. Estimates only, not a permit determination.