How to choose shingle color in Northern Virginia
In much of Northern Virginia, the color of a new shingle roof is a choice that a committee or a staff reviewer looks at, not a number in a building code. This guide puts the review first and the swatch second, with the official documents linked so you can read the sentence that applies to your address.
Ask who reviews the color, then match the document
Ashburn Village, Brambleton, Reston clusters, Alexandria's historic districts and Old Town Fairfax each handle roof color differently, and each says so in writing. Pick from the swatches only after you know which of those documents covers your house.
Process
Four steps, in the order that avoids a re-order
First: find out whether anyone reviews the color at your address
Same color is treated differently from a new one. Ashburn Village does not require committee approval to replace a roof with the same material, color, configuration and pitch; Brambleton requires approval for all roof replacements; in Alexandria's Old and Historic District, replacement roofing visible from the public right-of-way goes to staff.
Stop here if your documents say no review applies, and keep the same colorSecond: read the one sentence about color in your own document
Governing documents differ by neighborhood and sometimes by street. The sentence you need is below for the places already read. If your address is not covered, ask the association or the permit office, not a neighbor.
Third: look at the neighboring roofs
Ashburn Village asks that new colors blend with neighboring homes, Brambleton asks for the neighbors' roof colors in the application, and two Reston cluster standards give every home in a row the same shade.
Fourth: only then choose a named color and get a sample
The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association describes asphalt shingles as available in a variety of colors, so the range is not the limit. The documents are. Brambleton asks for the manufacturer, the color name and a sample.
Source text
The wording to look for, from the documents themselves
These are short quotes. Read the full page for your neighborhood before you rely on them.
"Any changes to roofing material, color, configuration or pitch are not permitted without prior AERC approval. New colors must blend with the majority of colors on neighboring homes."
Ashburn Village (AVCA) Architectural and Environmental Guidelines, Roofing, updated June 24, 2025. Checked October 16, 2026.
The review process "includes such minor items as changes in color and materials."
Brambleton Community Association, Design Review page. Checked October 16, 2026.
"Staff can provide a color chart of historically appropriate roof colors of buildings for the different periods of architecture found in the historic districts."
City of Alexandria, Roofing sheet for the Old and Historic District, amended July 16, 2025. Checked October 16, 2026.
In the City of Fairfax, the Old Town Historic Overlay District's own FAQ says "all physical changes to properties in the Historic Overlay District visible from the street or other public places are subject to architectural review." In Reston, the Design Review Board application asks for a color photo showing the manufacturer, style and material of a proposed roof, and cluster standards can fix the shade for a whole row. Our Reston page, Ashburn page, Alexandria page and Fairfax page list who reviews what in each place.
Heat
Light and dark shingles: what the neutral sources say
The Environmental Protection Agency says a cool roof "absorbs and transfers less heat from the sun to the building compared with a more conventional roof," and lists asphalt shingles surfaced with light- or cool-colored granules among cool roof products. That is a statement about reflectance, which depends on the surface of the particular shingle, not on a color name alone. Ask for the reflectance information if heat is a deciding factor, and see our materials guide for how other roof types compare.
One city goes further for a specific case: Alexandria's historic roofing sheet says the Board "recommends using light colors on flat roofs to reduce air conditioning loads on the building and minimize the urban heat island effect." That sentence is about flat roofs. Our flat roof guide covers those sections, and our shingle page covers the pitched ones.
An old version of this post gave dollar figures and temperature differences for dark roofs. We removed them because no neutral source for Northern Virginia backs those numbers. If you want a figure for your own attic, ask the person who inspects it.
What to have ready before you apply or order
- Photographs of the house and the roofBrambleton asks for both, plus a sample of the existing roof if possible.
- The manufacturer and the color nameBrambleton asks for the specific color name and a sample. Reston asks for the manufacturer, style and material.
- The neighbors' roof colorsBrambleton lists the adjacent neighbors' roofing colors as part of the submission.
- The approval in writingBrambleton's decision letters come in writing after the committee meets, and the Covenants Committee asks owners in doubt to seek clarification first.
- Your documentsYour declaration, any cluster or neighborhood standard, and the date it was last updated.
- A plan for the whole roofAshburn Village requires the entire structure to be reroofed at one time unless partial work exactly matches.
If the roof also has damage, the order matters: see roof replacement and roof repair. If metal is on your list, read who says yes first for metal roofing, and the comparison in asphalt shingles versus metal.
FAQ
Shingle color questions, answered from the documents
Do I need approval if I keep the same shingle color?
It depends on the document. Ashburn Village does not require committee approval to replace roofing with the same material, color, configuration and pitch. Brambleton requires approval for all roof replacements. Ask your association which applies.
Is there a list of approved shingle colors for Northern Virginia?
Not one list. The documents read here give tests, such as blending with neighbors in Ashburn Village, or a color chart on request in Alexandria. Reston cluster standards can fix the shade for a row.
What if my neighbor already has a color I like?
Ashburn Village measures new colors against the majority of neighboring homes, and Brambleton asks for neighbors' roof colors. A neighbor's roof can help your case, but it is not an approval. Get your own decision in writing.
Do townhomes get the same choices as detached houses?
Not always. Ashburn Village requires townhome replacement roofing to exactly match the original material and color, and two Reston cluster standards set one shade for each row.
Does a historic district choose the color for me?
It reviews it. In Alexandria, staff can provide a color chart and review visible roofing. In Old Town Fairfax, visible changes are subject to architectural review. Ask the City office before you order.
Can I choose a lighter shingle to cut cooling load?
EPA says a cool roof absorbs less heat and lists shingles with light or cool-colored granules among cool products. Your association may still need to approve the color. Ask for reflectance information on the product.
Should I get the color approved before I sign a roofing contract?
Our reading of the documents is that approvals concern the proposed color, so seeking approval first keeps the order from changing. Brambleton asks for a color name and sample, which a contract does not replace.
Is a color decision different on a flat roof?
Yes. Alexandria's roofing sheet says flat and low-sloped roofs are not reviewed by the Board because of limited visibility, and recommends light colors on them. Other places may differ, so check the document.
Documents opened for this guide, October 16, 2026
Ashburn Village AERC Guidelines; Brambleton design review page (guidelines roofing section read on October 11, 2026); City of Alexandria, Roofing, Old and Historic District; City of Fairfax, Old Town historic district FAQ; EPA, Using Cool Roofs to Reduce Heat Islands; Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, Why Choose Asphalt Shingles. Reston's Design Review Board application was read on October 12, 2026 and could not be re-opened on October 16. See also our service areas.
Talk through the next step
Tell us the neighborhood before you pick a swatch
Give us the street and the association or district name. We will point you to the document that decides your shingle color before you order anything.
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