Questions covered in this guide
Local considerations
Fort Worth expressly separates shingle work from replacement of decking and named structural members. A pre-agreed discovery response lets the homeowner know who will obtain a fresh permit determination if concealed work changes the project.
The page identifies a Fort Worth scope boundary and turns it into a discovery response process with city contact and temporary protection responsibility. It avoids assuming that a shingle-only answer covers later structural work.
Explore the national planning guideSeparate covering work from the structure
Fort Worth’s residential page distinguishes shingle work from replacement of decking, sheathing, rafters, and ridge boards requiring a building permit. Ask how the contractor will handle that boundary if the actual scope changes after removal begins.
Discuss the uncertainty before tear-off
Verify that the property is within Fort Worth’s jurisdiction and that the residential guidance fits its building type. Ask the roofer which conditions are visible now and which remain concealed. Gather any prior roof repair records. A proposal should distinguish confirmed work from potential discoveries without suggesting that the surface-replacement permit answer automatically covers everything the crew might find underneath.
Prepare a discovery response sheet
List the concealed conditions the contractor considers plausible and leave a column for actual findings, photographs, proposed work, and the city permit determination. Identify who contacts Development Services, who prepares additional documents, and who authorizes a revised scope. Add the roofer’s temporary weather-protection plan if a decision or inspection affects the schedule. The worksheet should record a professional response, not direct you to inspect open decking or approve structural repairs from a photograph alone.
Match the final record to the work
If decking or structural work is needed, ask the applicant to confirm the required permit and inspection route before that added work proceeds. Retain the final scope and relevant city records with the roof agreement. This guide does not determine whether a specific repair qualifies or provide a layer-count rule. The national roofing calculator cannot price hidden structural conditions or local permit costs. Use the discovered, documented scope to compare a change proposal rather than relying on the original surface quantity.
Sources and supported claims
Fort Worth states that replacing roof decking, sheathing, rafters, or ridge boards requires a building permit.
Source ↗ · place · Checked 2026-10-12
Fort Worth separately states that shingle work does not require a permit, while noting a layer limit.
Source ↗ · place · Checked 2026-10-12