Cedar Park What the City's "Do I Need a Permit" Page Actually Says
If you've gone looking for roofing rules in Cedar Park, you've probably landed on the city's "Do I Need a Permit" page. It lists "Roof Covering (non-structural)" right alongside house painting, carpet, cabinets and wallpaper on its list of projects that do not require a permit. New construction, additions, remodels, accessory buildings, pools, HVAC swaps, water heaters, EVSE chargers and solar panels all still need a permit. So does anything that falls under the city's broader standard: "A permit is required for any construction which physically changes or adds structures to the property." A straightforward shingle re-roof, done as a like-for-like covering swap, reads as the kind of job that list covers.
Where "Non-Structural" Gets Fuzzy
Here's the catch nobody puts in bold on a city webpage: the page never actually defines "non-structural." Swapping shingles is one thing. Pulling and replacing decking sheets underneath them is a different question, and the city's own list doesn't say whether that crosses the line into structural territory. We'd rather tell you that plainly than guess on your behalf. If your roof has soft spots, old plywood, or storm damage that might mean decking repair along with new shingles, call the Cedar Park building office at 512-401-5100 before work starts and ask them directly how they'd classify your specific job. It's a five-minute call that can save you a headache later.
One more wrinkle worth knowing: siding and window replacement don't appear on either the no-permit list or the permit-required list. The city's permit pages don't mention them. Same advice applies — if your project is siding replacement rather than roof covering, a quick call to the building office clears up where you stand before material shows up in your driveway.
No Permit Also Means No City Inspection
Because a non-structural re-roof typically doesn't require a permit, it also doesn't get a city inspection. Nobody from Cedar Park walks your roof afterward to confirm the work was done correctly. The city does require every contractor, new or established, to register with the city at no fee through the MGO Connect portal — so registration exists, even where a permit doesn't. But registration isn't an inspection. In practice, the written scope of work you get before the crew starts is the only real check you have on what's actually happening up there: material brand and type, number of layers removed versus added, flashing and edge detail, cleanup, and warranty terms. Treat that document the way you'd treat a permit card.
A Practical Sequence Before You Sign Anything
- Confirm the scope: is this a straight covering replacement, or does it involve decking, framing, or ventilation changes that might read as structural?
- If there's any doubt, call the Cedar Park building office at 512-401-5100 and ask how they'd classify the specific work on your house.
- Get the full scope in writing — materials, layers, flashing, ridge and edge details, and disposal — before any tear-off begins.
- Confirm your contractor is registered with the city through MGO Connect.
- Keep the written scope and any photos of the finished roof on file; it's your substitute for an inspection record.
This matters more than it might seem after storms like the May 28, 2025 hail, when public reports for Cedar Park ran from 1.5 to 2 inches. A fast re-roof after weather like that is exactly the kind of job where it's tempting to skip the paperwork step entirely — and exactly when having a clear scope in hand protects you most. A storm damage roof inspection before you commit to a full replacement can also clarify whether you're actually looking at a non-structural covering job or something that goes deeper.
Why This Still Matters for Planning Your Project
Even on a job the city leaves off its permit list, ventilation and decking condition still deserve attention. A full roof replacement is a good moment to have the contractor check attic airflow and decking while everything's already exposed, even if the permit paperwork never enters the picture.
The takeaway: Cedar Park won't require a permit for an ordinary roof covering swap, but "non-structural" isn't defined on paper, so confirm your specific scope with the building office and get everything else in writing from your contractor instead.