Heat and monsoon storms are what Arizona roofs are built for
The National Weather Service calls excessive heat the leading weather-related killer in the Southwest, and it can persist through the monsoon as summer heat combines with higher humidity.[22] For a roof, the useful question is how much heat and how much rain your county sees.

These are NOAA 1991-2020 normals at one station per county. They describe that station, not the whole county.
| County (NOAA station) | July high | Days at or above 100 F | July-September rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maricopa (Phoenix Sky Harbor) | 106.5 F[5] | 111.3[6] | 2.41 in[5] |
| Pima (Tucson International Airport) | 100.2 F[7] | 67.9[8] | 5.51 in[7] |
| Yuma (Yuma MCAS) | 106.7 F[9] | 118.2[10] | 1.12 in[9] |
| Coconino (Flagstaff Pulliam Airport) | 82.0 F[3] | 0.0[4] | 7.49 in[3] |
| Cochise (Bisbee) | 87.4 F[1] | 0.3[2] | 10.04 in[1] |
The spread is wide.
The Cochise County station logs the most monsoon rain in this table and almost no 100-degree days. The Maricopa and Yuma stations see more than 100 such days and far less rain.
118.2
days at or above 100 F at the Yuma station, the most in the table
The full set of 15 counties is on the Arizona heat and monsoon rain by county page. For storm safety, see the National Weather Service pages for Phoenix dust storms and monsoon[12] and Tucson monsoon safety.[11]
The monsoon roof inspection guide covers what to check before and after storms.
When a re-roof needs a permit
The rule depends on the city, and most conditions turn on what you are putting on the roof. The data confirms five cities. Each is quoted from its own page.
| City | Answer and condition | City's own words |
|---|---|---|
| Mesa | Depends: no permit if the new covering is the same classification or better[15] | "A building permit is not required for replacement roof coverings, provided the replacement roof covering classification is equal to or greater than the existing roofing classification." |
| Chandler | Depends: like-for-like is exempt if no load is added; a permit is needed for a switch such as concrete tile[16] | "You need to get a permit to re-roof your house when you are: Replacing the old roofing material with a different material such as concrete tile." |
| Tucson | Depends: permit required for structural roof work[17] | "A permit is required for any structural roof work, including replacement of sheathing, decking, joists, or trusses." |
| Flagstaff | Permit required[18] | "A permit is required for re-roofing a building." |
| Lake Havasu City | Depends: no permit for in-kind reroofing if replaced sheathing is no more than 25 percent of the roof area[19] | "In-kind reroofing provided the roof sheathing removed and replaced does not exceed 25 percent of the roof area." |
Flagstaff also offers an over-the-counter re-roof permit. It limits decking replacement to 1 square (100 square feet), and anything more needs a repair or remodel permit.[21]
Check the city's fee schedule for the fee.
Decide
Does a re-roof need a permit?
Is the new covering a different material, such as concrete tile in Chandler?
If Yes, different material
then: A permit is needed in Chandler
If No, like-for-like with no added load
then: Usually exempt, but check your city
If Sheathing replaced exceeds 25 percent in Lake Havasu City
then: A permit is needed
For any other city, including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale and Yuma, check the city's permit page. The re-roof permit rules by city page links each one.
Which license class covers roofing
Arizona's Administrative Code defines two roofing classes. R-42 is the residential roofing license, and CR-42 is the dual license covering both commercial and residential work.[13][14]
| Class | What the code says |
|---|---|
| R-42, Roofing | "This classification allows the licensee to apply, repair, or install weatherproofing (i.e. asphaltum, pitch, tar, felt, glass fabric, flax, or other commonly used materials or systems) or roof accessories (i.e. flashing, valleys, gravel stops, or sheet metal) as required for the licensee to install and repair: 1. Roof tile 2. Shingles 3. Shakes 4. Slate 5. Metal roofing systems 6. Urethane foam 7. Roof insulation or coatings on or above the roof deck"[13] |
| CR-42, Roofing (dual) | "This classification allows the scopes of work permitted by the commercial C-42 Roofing and the residential R-42 Roofing licenses."[14] |
Notice that the R-42 wording stops at the roof deck.
Work on the structure below it, such as the decking and framing that Tucson's rule mentions, is outside that quoted scope. Ask your roofer who will handle it.
The license classes guide lists every class.
How to check a roofer's license
The Registrar of Contractors runs its own contractor search.[20]
Check the license before you sign anything, not after.
- Ask the roofer for the business name and license number as they appear on the estimate.
- Open the ROC contractor search and look up that name or number.
- Compare the license class with the work in your estimate. A roof replacement should fall under R-42 or CR-42.
- Ask your city's permit desk whether a permit is needed for the work and who should pull it.
The step-by-step license check walks through the same process in more detail.
Quick answers
Which license class covers a roof replacement?
A roof replacement should fall under R-42 or CR-42.
Do all Arizona cities require a re-roof permit?
No. The rule depends on the city. Flagstaff requires one, while Mesa exempts a covering of the same classification or better.
Where can I check a roofer's license?
Use the Registrar of Contractors contractor search with the business name or license number from your estimate.
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. "NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Bisbee 1Wnw (monthly normals)." https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?includeStationName=1&format=csv&stations=USC00020775&dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. "NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Bisbee 1Wnw (annual days at or above 100 F)." https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?includeStationName=1&format=csv&stations=USC00020775&dataset=normals-annualseasonal-1991-2020&dataTypes=ANN-TMAX-AVGNDS-GRTH100. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. "NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (monthly normals)." https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?includeStationName=1&format=csv&stations=USW00003103&dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. "NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (annual days at or above 100 F)." https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?includeStationName=1&format=csv&stations=USW00003103&dataset=normals-annualseasonal-1991-2020&dataTypes=ANN-TMAX-AVGNDS-GRTH100. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. "NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (monthly normals)." https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?includeStationName=1&format=csv&stations=USW00023183&dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. "NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (annual days at or above 100 F)." https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?includeStationName=1&format=csv&stations=USW00023183&dataset=normals-annualseasonal-1991-2020&dataTypes=ANN-TMAX-AVGNDS-GRTH100. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. "NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Tucson International Airport (monthly normals)." https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?includeStationName=1&format=csv&stations=USW00023160&dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. "NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Tucson International Airport (annual days at or above 100 F)." https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?includeStationName=1&format=csv&stations=USW00023160&dataset=normals-annualseasonal-1991-2020&dataTypes=ANN-TMAX-AVGNDS-GRTH100. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. "NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Yuma Mcas (monthly normals)." https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?includeStationName=1&format=csv&stations=USW00003145&dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. "NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Yuma Mcas (annual days at or above 100 F)." https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?includeStationName=1&format=csv&stations=USW00003145&dataset=normals-annualseasonal-1991-2020&dataTypes=ANN-TMAX-AVGNDS-GRTH100. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- National Weather Service. "NWS Tucson monsoon safety (heat, thunderstorm and dust storm)." https://www.weather.gov/twc/monsoonsafety. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- National Weather Service. "NWS Phoenix dust storm and monsoon safety." https://www.weather.gov/psr/MonsoonSafety. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- Cornell Legal Information Institute. "Arizona Administrative Code R4-9-103 (contractor classifications)." https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/arizona/Ariz-Admin-Code-SS-R4-9-103. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- Cornell Legal Information Institute. "Arizona Administrative Code R4-9-104 (contractor classifications)." https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/arizona/Ariz-Admin-Code-SS-R4-9-104. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- City of Mesa. "Mesa: re-roofing permit." https://www.mesaaz.gov/files/assets/public/v/2/business-development/devsvcs/guides/residential-construction-guide.pdf. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- City of Chandler. "Chandler: re-roofing permit." https://www.chandleraz.gov/sites/default/files/departments/development-services/City-of-Chandler-Home-Owners-Building-Permit-Manual.pdf. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- City of Tucson. "Tucson: re-roofing permit." https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Planning-Development-Services/Permits/Tucson-Permit-Exemptions. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- City of Flagstaff. "Flagstaff: re-roofing permit." https://www.flagstaff.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/14750/When-is-a-building-permit-needed. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- City of Lake Havasu City. "Lake Havasu City: re-roofing permit." https://www.lhcaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1204/Amendments-To-2024-Intl-Residential-Code-PDF. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors. "Arizona ROC contractor search." https://azroc.my.site.com/AZRoc/s/contractor-search. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- City of Flagstaff. "Re-Roof Over-the-Counter Permit Application." https://www.flagstaff.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/90461/Revised-Over-Counter-Permit06102025. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- National Weather Service, Phoenix. "Monsoon Safety Page." https://www.weather.gov/psr/monsoonsafety. Accessed October 21, 2026.