Illinois Roofing License IDFPR #19HC00108700 · GAF Certified Contractor
Roofing work in Madison County, Illinois requires building permits in most circumstances, and the specific authority – city, village, or county – varies depending on where your home sits. This guide walks through who issues permits for which areas, when a permit is required (and when it isn’t), what the inspection process looks like, and what your contractor should handle so you don’t have to chase paperwork.
When a permit is required
Madison County and the cities/villages within it generally require a building permit for:
- Full roof replacement (tear-off and re-shingle) – always requires a permit
- Re-roofing with overlay (new shingles over existing) – generally requires a permit
- Roof repair affecting structural members – replacing rafters, decking sections, or structural sheathing
- Adding skylights, chimneys, or roof penetrations
Permits are not typically required for:
- Shingle repair affecting a small area (a few shingles, single penetration flashing)
- Gutter and downspout work (separate scope)
- Soffit and fascia repair on existing geometry
The threshold varies by jurisdiction. When in doubt, your contractor should know and pull the permit anyway – the penalty for unpermitted work is significantly more expensive than the permit itself.
Who issues the permit (by location)
Madison County is divided between municipal building departments and the county building department. Where your home sits determines who handles the permit:
| Location | Permit authority |
|---|---|
| Within city limits of Alton, Edwardsville | City building department |
| Within village limits of Bethalto, Brighton, East Alton, Glen Carbon, Godfrey, Wood River, Worden, etc. | Village building department + Madison County (varies by village) |
| Unincorporated Madison County | Madison County Building Code Enforcement |
The Village of Godfrey specifically requires permits through Madison County’s building code enforcement office for roofing work, with the village handling other municipal aspects. Some villages have their own building inspector; some rely on county inspection.
If you’re in a contracted-services area or near a municipal boundary, your contractor should know which authority applies. Always confirm in writing before work begins.
What’s required for the permit application
Typical roofing permit application includes:
- Property address and owner name
- Brief scope of work description (“tear-off and replace asphalt shingle roof, approximately 2,000 sq ft”)
- Estimated job value
- Contractor’s IL roofing license number (verify at the IDFPR public lookup)
- Contractor’s certificate of insurance (general liability + workers comp)
- Permit fee – typically $50-$150 for a residential roofing permit, varies by jurisdiction and job value
Trill Roofing handles the permit application as part of every replacement scope. You provide an address; we provide everything else.
The inspection process
Most Madison County jurisdictions require:
- Permit posting – the issued permit is visibly posted on the jobsite, typically at the front of the property
- Mid-installation inspection (optional) – some inspectors prefer to check the deck after tear-off before shingles go on; usually a quick visit
- Final inspection – once the work is complete, the inspector verifies the work matches the permitted scope, ice and water shield is installed per code, drip edge is in place, ventilation meets minimum, and any structural decking replacement was done correctly
The final inspection is required to close out the permit. An open (unclosed) permit can be a problem when you sell the home – title companies sometimes flag open permits during their search and require resolution before closing.
Trill Roofing coordinates inspection scheduling with the inspector and is on-site for inspections to address any questions. Inspectors in Madison County are generally efficient and reasonable – most inspections take 15-30 minutes.
What inspectors actually look for
Common items that get checked on a Madison County roofing final inspection:
- Ice and water shield at eaves (24″ inside warm-wall line per IRC R905.1.2)
- Drip edge at eaves and rakes (IRC R905.2.8.5)
- Underlayment installed (synthetic or felt)
- Six-nail nailing pattern in high-wind zone (if the manufacturer warranty requires it)
- Step flashing at sidewalls
- Chimney counter-flashing kerfed into mortar (not just caulked)
- Pipe boot replacement
- Ridge cap installation
- Ventilation meeting 1:300 NFA
- Cleanup of nails and debris
Inspectors don’t typically inspect shingle brand or warranty tier – they enforce the code minimums.
What unpermitted work looks like
Unpermitted roofing work creates problems in several places:
- At resale – title companies and home inspectors flag missing permits. Buyers can require resolution before closing.
- On insurance claims – some carriers won’t honor a claim on work done without permits
- On warranty claims – manufacturer warranties on shingles can be voided by unpermitted work, particularly if a code issue contributed to the failure
- During home additions – if you add to the home later and a building inspector pulls the prior roof permit history, missing permits can require retroactive inspection
The legitimate exceptions: very small repairs that fall below the permit threshold in your jurisdiction (handful of shingles, single flashing replacement). For anything more substantial, the permit is a small cost relative to the protection it provides.
Schedule an inspection
Schedule a free Trill Roofing inspection at /free-inspection/ – we’ll evaluate your roof, explain what work needs to be done, and pull all required permits if you decide to proceed.
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