**Yes.** A full roof replacement requires a permit in the City of Houston and in most surrounding jurisdictions, and **your contractor should pull it, not you.**
What you should know:
– **The contractor pulls it in their name.** A roofer who asks the homeowner to pull the permit is usually avoiding scrutiny — it shifts liability for code compliance onto you.
– **Requirements vary by jurisdiction.** Unincorporated Harris County, Katy, Sugar Land, Cypress, and The Woodlands each have their own process. A roofer working across the metro should already know the differences.
– **HOA approval is separate** from the city permit, and is required before work starts in most Houston-area subdivisions.
– **Permit cost is minor** relative to the job and should already be in your estimate.
Why it matters beyond compliance: **unpermitted work surfaces at resale.** Title companies and buyers’ inspectors check permit history, and an unpermitted roof can delay or kill a closing. It can also give an insurance carrier grounds to contest a future claim.
We handle permitting and the final inspection as part of every replacement. If a bid you’re comparing doesn’t mention permits at all, ask why.