An older, established south-metro city — a lot of its housing stock is now at the age where roofs come due. We work here regularly — roof replacement, hail and storm restoration, siding, windows, and gutters, paid retail or through insurance. Below is what Burnsville actually requires on a re-roof, quoted from the city’s own documents.
Most roofing pages say the same thing about every city. These are the rules Burnsville publishes itself, with the source linked on each one so you can check us.
Dakota County is classified as a moderate hail area in the building code, and asphalt shingles may not be applied over any existing roof covering. Every re-roof here is a full tear-off. If a bid quotes you a layover, it is quoting work that will not pass inspection.
Yes. Burnsville requires a building permit for a residential re-roof, and your contractor should be the one pulling it — not you. Burnsville Building Inspections: 952-895-4444.
No. This is the question we get most, and in Dakota County the answer is not a preference — it is the code.
Dakota County is classified as a moderate hail area in the building code, and asphalt shingles may not be applied over any existing roof covering. Every re-roof here is a full tear-off. Anyone quoting you a layover in Burnsville is quoting work the city will not pass.
“Dakota County is in an area that is identified as a moderate hail area in the building code. What this means for you is that the building code will not allow asphalt shingles to be applied over any existing roof covering.” Source: City of Burnsville, Re-Roofing With Asphalt Shingles
An approved ice barrier must run from the roof edge to at least 24 inches past the exterior wall line, on every part of the roof.
The measurement is taken from the exterior wall line going up the roof, not from the gutter edge. On a house with a deep soffit overhang, code-compliant ice barrier is meaningfully wider than one three-foot course — which is the most common place two quotes quietly differ on price.
“The Minnesota building code requires that an approved ice barrier underlayment be installed from your roofs edge to a point at least 24 inches past the exterior wall line. This applies to all portions of your roof, including attached heated or un-heated garages, covered porches, bays, fire place enclosures and similar areas.” Source: City of Burnsville, Re-Roofing With Asphalt Shingles
Photos can replace the ice-barrier inspection — if they are right. Burnsville lets you submit pictures of the ice barrier instead of scheduling a separate inspection of it, but it sets conditions. The photos have to clearly show the ice barrier as distinct from the regular underlayment, and they have to cover every roof section on the structure. The permit itself has to be available at the final — taping it to the front door is what the city suggests.
“The City of Burnsville allows you to provide pictures of the ice barrier installation, in lieu of scheduling an inspection of the installation... 1. The pictures must clearly show the ice barrier, separate from the regular underlayment. 2. They must show all roof sections of the structure being roofed.” Source: City of Burnsville, Re-Roofing With Asphalt Shingles
Underlayment depends on your roof's pitch. At 4/12 or steeper, one layer of #15 felt over the deck. Below 4/12, two layers. Laps are specified too: two inches on the lower piece, six inches on end laps, and splices offset at least six feet.
“for roof slopes of 4/12 or greater, a single layer of #15 roofing felt must be applied to your roof deck before you install asphalt shingles. For a roof slope of 4/12 or less, you must have two layers of #15 felt.” Source: City of Burnsville, Re-Roofing With Asphalt Shingles
Decking gets inspected before you cover it. Solid plywood or OSB sheathing, or 1-inch nominal wood boards, all in good condition. If any of it is replaced, the city wants a decking inspection before the new deck is covered.
City requirements are quoted from each city’s published handout or building department page and were verified on 2026-09-08. Cities amend these; the linked source is authoritative, this page is not. When we bid your roof we confirm the current requirement with Burnsville before we price it.
Everything Matthews does is available in Burnsville. Permit office: [email protected] · 100 Civic Center Parkway · 952-895-4444.
Owens Corning shingle systems, full tear-off as Burnsville requires. Most homes done in 1–2 days.
Roof Replacement →Free post-storm inspection, documented to the standard carriers accept.
Storm Damage →We cover all of Dakota County and the rest of Minnesota — see all service areas.
Dakota County's second-largest city and one of the most densely built in the south metro.
Eagan roofing →The largest city in Dakota County and still one of the fastest-growing in the metro.
Lakeville roofing →A second-ring suburb that built out fast and is now cycling through its second and third roofs.
Apple Valley roofing →Our home city — our office is at 992 South Robert Street, a few blocks from City Hall.
West Saint Paul roofing →East Dakota County along the river, with a mix of established neighborhoods and newer development.
Inver Grove Heights roofing →A small, established city on the bluffs where the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers meet — larger lots and a lot of custom homes.
Mendota Heights roofing →Roofing, siding, windows, and gutters across Burnsville — retail or insurance. Send your address and we’ll schedule a look.
We’ll walk the roof, photograph what we find, and hand you a scope that names the code requirement behind every line — including the Burnsville ones above.
We measure the work by how it holds up — and by what clients say once we're gone.