Our home city — our office is at 992 South Robert Street, a few blocks from City Hall. We work here regularly — roof replacement, hail and storm restoration, siding, windows, and gutters, paid retail or through insurance. Below is what West Saint Paul 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 West Saint Paul 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. West Saint Paul requires a building permit for a residential re-roof, and your contractor should be the one pulling it — not you. West Saint Paul Building Inspections: 651-552-4116.
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 West Saint Paul 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
The city warns that shingles sold locally may not meet code. This is the most useful thing West St. Paul publishes and almost nobody reads it. Minnesota requires shingles rated for a 90 MPH three-second gust. The city notes that shingles failing that standard are on sale locally, and that very few 3-tab shingles comply. The rating is printed on the bundle wrapper — Class D, F, G, or H, or a label reading 90 MPH or higher. Class A at 60 MPH is not code acceptable.
“It has come to the City's attention that there are shingles for sale locally that do not meet the Minnesota State Building Code (MSBC) for wind resistance. Shingles must be designed for 90MPH wind speed. Very few 3-tab shingles will comply with this guideline. Acceptable shingles by Code: Class D, Class F, Class G, Class H, Label reads 90 MPH or higher.” Source: City of West St. Paul, Roof Material Notice
One layer of roof covering, no exceptions. A second layer of asphalt shingles is not allowed, and that extends to repairing a roof that already carries two or more layers. Detached garages and accessory buildings have to meet current roofing code too.
“No more than one layer of roof covering is allowed... A second layer of asphalt shingles is no longer allowed under the Minnesota State Building Code. This also applies to repairing damaged roofing with two or more layers of shingles. All detached garages and accessory buildings are required to meet the current roofing code.” Source: City of West St. Paul, Roofing Handout
Crickets are required behind wide chimneys. Any chimney or penetration more than 30 inches wide, measured across the slope, needs a cricket or saddle on its ridge side, in sheet metal or the same material as the roof. Sidewall flashing is step-flashing, with kick-out flashing where the roof meets a wall.
“A cricket or saddle must be installed on the ridge side of any chimney or penetration more than 30 inches (762 mm) wide as measured perpendicular to the slope... Kick out flashing required at lower portion of roof intersecting a wall to divert water away from the wall.” Source: City of West St. Paul, Roofing Handout
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 West Saint Paul before we price it.
Everything Matthews does is available in West Saint Paul. Permit office: [email protected] · 1616 Humboldt Avenue · 651-552-4116.
Owens Corning shingle systems, full tear-off as West Saint Paul 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 →An older, established south-metro city — a lot of its housing stock is now at the age where roofs come due.
Burnsville roofing →A second-ring suburb that built out fast and is now cycling through its second and third roofs.
Apple Valley 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 West Saint Paul — 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 West Saint Paul ones above.
We measure the work by how it holds up — and by what clients say once we're gone.