Snow and ice
Learn the distinction between snow loading, ice formation, and an assessment of your building.
Locations
Climate changes the answer. Jurisdictions change the rules.
National guidance should give you a framework. Regional pages should add verified climate, code, permit, licensing, material-fit, and cost context—not swap city names into a template.
30-second answer
Can a ZIP code tell me my local roofing code requirements?
A ZIP code is a useful screening input, not a code determination. Roofing requirements can depend on the state, county, city, adopted code edition, local amendments, building type, exposure, and the authority having jurisdiction.
How requirements are set
From a location to an actual requirement.
Roofing rules are not a national lookup. They are the product of a chain, and any link in it can change the answer for the building next door.
We do not publish a jurisdiction lookup, and we will not publish one that guesses. Until a state page can cite its adopted edition, its amendments, and the date each was verified, it stays unwritten.
Climate and exposure
Start with the hazard, then verify the local requirement.
Use the East Coast overview for regional context or the hazard library for a specific exposure. These pages provide questions to investigate, not a permit determination.
East Coast climate desk
Read the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast context and its local limits.
Browse roof hazards
Choose from snow, ice, wind, hail, salt, heat, humidity, wildfire, and seismic exposure.
Verify a local contractor
Understand the independent checks to make where licensing and registration requirements vary.
Explore an exposure
Follow the conditions your building faces.
Hazards overlap. Read each relevant guide and confirm project requirements with the authority having jurisdiction and the project professionals.
Hurricane wind and rain
Review roof-assembly and water-entry questions for exposed buildings.
Hail
Understand impact terminology and the evidence needed for a damage assessment.
Coastal salt
Identify material-compatibility and corrosion questions for the roof specification.
Heat and ultraviolet exposure
Review how exposure and building context affect material questions.
Wildfire
Read the roof and adjacent-building questions raised by wildfire exposure.
Start regional
Begin with the East Coast climate desk.
The first regional release separates Northeast snow and ice, Mid-Atlantic mixed humidity, and coastal Southeast wind and rain before any state guide is attempted.
Explore the East Coast