City of OKC says mandatory roofing permits are to protect homeowners from scams

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — If you live inside Oklahoma City limits and are planning a big roofing project, you'll need a permit. It's a $94.50 cost that the city and contractors say is meant to protect homeowners.

Avery Smith, Executive Director with the Oklahoma Roofing Contractors Association, says he believes the new rule will help crack down on scammers.

Brock Rowe, the Development Services Director with the City of OKC, says either the contractor or the homeowner can get the permit.

Smith also says that you, as the homeowner, should require the roofing contractor hired to get the permit, instead of doing it yourself.

"Every time we see a storm, we see companies come in, promise the world, put on a substandard roof and then leave town, never to be heard from again," Smith said.

News 4 wanted to know how the permit directly protects homeowners; however, Rowe says it's up to homeowners to ask the right questions.

"The contractor is required by state law to have a contractor's license for roofing. That's the first thing you do is you need to ask for that," Rowe said.

You can get your permit online here, or go to the city's in-person business center downtown.

Rowe added, "We have a multitude of inspectors in all areas of the city all day long, and if they see a reroof happening, they're going to stop and they're going to ask questions and you will be required to either get your license or your permit."

Permits are only required for projects over 500 square feet.

They're not needed for smaller jobs like replacing shingles or minor repairs.

"That permit is going to be automatic after you apply for it. There's not going to be much waiting time at all. We are going to work with people to make sure they get their permit. The whole point of this is to be able to do the inspection, and that's the key to it," Rowe said.

However, News 4 had more questions about how this will ultimately protect consumers and what the inspection will include.

The city says contractors won't be required to present their state license at the time they apply for the permit.

Contractors also won't be required to display that license at the job site.

We're told that if an inspector stops at a job site, they'll ask for the permit and state license, but will also be given a bilingual card with a QR code that will allow them to apply for the permit right then.

Protecting yourself will require you to ask good questions before signing anything.

If you're wondering what the city plans to do with the money that they make from the ordinance, Rowe says the fee covers internal operational costs for staff to go out and do the inspections.

Remaining funds left over go back into their general fund for other city departments.