Roof Repair or Reconstruction in 2026 – When Is a Notice Required, and When Is a Permit Needed? | Roofs from A to Z

Work carried out on a building’s roof involves not only significant costs but also the need to complete paperwork, which very often raises questions among investors. The extent of the work on the roof coverings or roof structure directly determines whether a notification of construction work is sufficient or whether a building permit is required. So what formal requirements under current building code regulations must be met when deciding to renovate, remodel, or replace a roof?

Roof Repair vs. Roof Reconstruction—What’s the Difference?

The distinction between roof repair and roof reconstruction is important for determining administrative obligations. Construction law precisely defines both terms, and misclassifying them may result in work being carried out without the required administrative approvals. In practice, this constitutes unauthorized construction, which may lead to the suspension of work by the architectural and construction regulatory authority, the imposition of an obligation to legalize the work, or even a demolition order. Additionally, the developer may be charged a legalization fee and held liable for an administrative offense, regardless of the complexity of the construction work or the reasons for the violation of regulations.

According to the regulations for 2026, roof renovation means restoring the roof to its original condition using modern materials. If you replace the old roofing material with a new covering (e.g., metal roof tiles, ceramic roof tiles, or asphalt shingles) without altering the roof framing structure, this is considered a renovation. Keep in mind, however, that starting in 2026, when renovating a roof, special attention must be paid to thermal insulation parameters (in accordance with WT 2021/2026), which is often combined with thermal retrofitting and available subsidy programs such as “Clean Air” or “My Electricity.”

Roof renovation, on the other hand, involves construction work that results in changes to the technical or functional characteristics of the building. Such work includes, among other things, changing the roof pitch, raising the Ridge, altering the geometry of the roof slopes, or modifying the span of the structure. A renovation almost always affects the building’s footprint and may result in a change in the building’s volume or an increase in the building area. In this case, the question “When does a roof renovation or modification require a permit?” becomes irrelevant—a building permit is always required.

Roof work that does not require any paperwork

Work that requires neither notification nor a building permit includes only maintenance or repair work that does not affect the building’s technical specifications, roof structure, functional capabilities, or the building’s area of impact. Specifically, this includes:

• replacement of individual roof coverings (e.g., roof tiles, ridge tiles, metal sheets) as part of the existing roof covering,
• local repairs to sheet metal flashings (gutters, over-gutter flashings, sidewall flashings),
• maintenance and cleaning of gutters and downspouts,
• repair of a chimney above the roof surface, provided that it does not involve its reconstruction, extension, or a change in its cross-section or height,
• Sealing roof joints and penetrations without affecting the structural layers of the roof.

These activities are considered routine maintenance of a building and do not qualify as construction work under the Construction Law.

What types of roof work require a permit?

In many cases, roof renovation requires filing a construction work notification with the competent architectural and construction authority. Such a notification is required when the planned work affects the technical elements of a building (with the exception of small architectural structures), but do not result in a change to its technical or functional parameters—in particular, they do not alter the building’s volume, building footprint, or the area of impact of the structure.

The report covers, in particular:

• replacement of the roof covering, while retaining the existing structure,
• a comprehensive roof renovation, including the restoration of the insulation and waterproofing layers,
• Assembly or replacement of roof windows, provided that they do not increase the building’s impact area or alter its technical parameters.

In the above cases, the investor submits a construction project notification, to which they attach a description of the planned scope of work and a statement confirming their right to use the property for construction purposes. If the architectural review authority does not raise any objections within 21 days of the date of delivery of the complete notification, the investor may proceed with the work.

In 2026, it is standard practice to submit applications electronically via the e-Budownictwo portal (a trusted profile or e-ID is required). For most single-family homes whose area of impact does not extend beyond the property line, replacing the roof coverings along with reinforcing the roof framing (without changing the roof’s geometry) requires only a notification accompanied by a design plan. This significantly speeds up the process—instead of waiting 65 days for a building permit, you can begin work 21 days after submitting the application, provided the local authority does not object.

When does a roof renovation require a building permit?

A building permit is required whenever the planned work involves reconstruction and results in a change to the building’s specifications. This applies in particular to work that alters the structure of the building, resulting in a change in the building’s volume, height, or floor area.

A building permit is required, among other things, in the following cases:

• changes to the roof structure,
• raising the roof or changing the pitch of the roof slopes,
• roof renovations that result in a change in the building’s function, such as converting an unused attic into living space,
• construction work that increases the impact area of buildings.

A building permit is also required for buildings listed in the register of historic monuments and those located within an area covered by such a listing. In such cases, it is necessary to obtain permission from the provincial historic preservation officer.

Additional formal restrictions may also apply to investments carried out in areas subject to special forms of protection, including national parks, State Treasury forest lands, as well as agricultural lands used for agricultural production and areas designated for special forms of protection—where separate regulations governing land use may apply.

Examples of jobs and their formal requirements

• Replacing the entire roof covering on a single-family residential building, without altering the structure, requires filing a construction work notification . The developer must include a description of the work and a statement confirming the right to dispose of the property.
• Roof renovation involving the restoration of insulation layers (thermal, moisture-proof, or windproof) while preserving the structure is also subject to a construction work notification .
• The assembly or replacement of roof windows—provided it does not increase the building’s footprint or alter its volume—requires notification.
• Altering the roof structure to convert the attic into living space, or any other type of renovation that affects the building’s volume or form, requires a building permit along with a complete construction plan.
• Work on the roofs of buildings listed in the register of historic monuments or located within an area listed in the register requires a building permit and prior approval from the provincial historic preservation officer.
• Any renovation of roof surfaces that results in a change in the roof pitch or the height of the building—regardless of the type of structure—always requires a building permit and the preparation of an appropriate construction plan.

Good to know! In certain cases involving structures built on an existing residential lot—such as single-story outbuildings, structures used for the owner’s personal needs, or farm buildings related to agricultural operations—the regulations provide for a simplified construction procedure. If the scope of work includes roof replacement or other construction work that does not interfere with the structure or alter the building’s parameters, a construction notification is sufficient, provided that it does not violate the provisions of the local zoning plan. This also applies to structures constituting supplementary farm buildings, with the exception of buildings located in areas subject to special protection.

How to Handle the Paperwork – A Practical Guide

Properly handling the paperwork related to roof repair or reconstruction requires compliance with applicable regulations. The scope of the required administrative procedures depends primarily on the nature of the planned work, the complexity of the work, and the type of structure involved. We outline the steps in the process that will help you avoid procedural errors and the risk of the work being challenged by the administrative authority.

Analysis of the Scope of Work

The first step is to clearly determine whether the planned work constitutes roof repair or reconstruction. It must be precisely determined whether the construction work will consist solely of restoring the roof to its existing technical condition (e.g., replacing the roof coverings, restoring the insulation), or whether the scope of work involves altering the roof’s structure, changing its geometry, the span of the structure, the building’s height, or its functional use.

Remember! This distinction is of fundamental importance, as it determines whether a permit is required or whether the work can be carried out based on a notification. In practice, it is precisely the incorrect classification of the work that is the most common reason for a project to be deemed an unauthorized construction.

Assessment of Local Conditions

At this stage, you should verify the conditions related to the building’s location, even if only a roof renovation is planned. In particular, you should check:

• the status of the parcel in the land registry, including whether the property is located on agricultural land, State Treasury forest land, or land designated for specific uses, which may affect the manner in which the work is carried out,
• provisions of the local land-use plan (MPZP), including land use designation, maximum building coverage, building height, and roof slope parameters

In the case of a roof renovation, this analysis serves as a verification process and ensures that the scope of work does not violate applicable restrictions. For a roof reconstruction, this is an essential step, as planning requirements directly affect the ability to obtain a permit and the content of the project documentation.

Determination of the Administrative Procedure

Once the scope of work and local conditions have been determined, the appropriate administrative procedure must be clearly established. Depending on the nature of the project:

• Roof repairs must be reported if they involve work that goes beyond routine maintenance of the building,
• A building permit is required when the work involves roof reconstruction or changes to the building’s specifications,

Tip! If you have any doubts about the classification of the work, it is advisable to consult with the relevant architectural and construction authority regarding the planned scope of work before submitting the documents.

Preparation of Documentation

The scope of the documentation depends on the administrative procedure adopted.

The following must be attached to the notification of construction work (including notifications of roof repairs):

• a description of the planned scope of work and the technologies to be used in its execution,
• a statement regarding the right to use the property for construction purposes,
• In the case of structures listed in the register of historic monuments or located within an area subject to historic preservation, approval or permits from the competent historic preservation authority are required.

An application for a building permit requires the submission of:

• the complete project—the content of the construction project should be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Construction Law,
• a development plan for the lot or site that takes into account existing structures and the facility’s area of impact,
• documents confirming the right to use the property for construction purposes,
• or any additional requirements, such as a chimney sweep’s report or—which is extremely important in 2026—fire safety approval, if we are installing a photovoltaic system with a capacity exceeding 6.5 kW along with the new roof. When replacing asbestos roofing, it is also necessary to include information about products containing asbestos, in accordance with the national plan to phase out this material by 2032.

Submission of Documents

The documentation is submitted to the competent architectural and construction authority (usually the county administrator or the mayor of a city with county rights). In the case of a notification of construction work, the authority has 21 days from the date of receipt of the notification to raise an objection by means of an administrative decision. The absence of an objection within this period constitutes so-called tacit consent and entitles the developer to begin construction.

For projects requiring a building permit, the architectural and construction administration authority issues a decision within 65 days of the submission of a complete application. Work may not begin until a building permit decision has become final, i.e., after the deadline for filing an appeal has expired or after the appeal proceedings have been resolved.

Execution of the work

The work must be carried out in accordance with the approved documentation and applicable regulations. During the course of the work, only minor deviations that do not affect the roof structure, the technical parameters of the building, or its area of impact are permitted. If significant changes are made, it is necessary to resubmit the work plans or obtain an amended building permit.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ

Summary

The choice between filing a notice and obtaining a permit depends on the scope of the planned work. Remember this simple rule: if you’re not changing the structure, geometry, or function of the roof, a notice is sufficient. If you’re raising the Ridge, changing the slope angle, or converting the attic into living space—you’ll need a building permit. If in doubt, consult an architect or check the current guidelines at your local county office, taking into account the new General Plans effective as of 2026.