Older houses
Porches, gables and dormers give leaks many seams to start from. See roof repair and roof replacement.
Roofing Company in Kensington, MD
Kensington is a Town, and Montgomery County's own list puts it in the column where the Town's approval comes before the county application, so a roof here begins with a call to Mitchell Street. King's Roofing Company, based in Fairfax, Virginia, starts every Kensington call by asking whether the house sits inside the Town line.
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(703) 712-1506Questions about a Kensington roof
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Town first
Why does a Kensington roof go to the Town before Montgomery County?
The county's Department of Permitting Services keeps a municipalities page that sorts towns by approval order. Kensington sits under "City Approval is Required Prior to County Application", alongside Takoma Park, Poolesville and Chevy Chase Village.
Town Code Section 5-102(c) adds that its rules do not exempt anyone from "proper permits from Montgomery County as required by County law".
Permits
Who do you ask about a re-roof, a dumpster or a debris deposit in Kensington?
| What you plan | Who to ask |
|---|---|
| Any roof work inside the Town | Town of Kensington, 3710 Mitchell Street, (301) 949-2424, town@tok.md.gov. Ask first, before the county application. |
| Same-material re-roof | Ask the Town. Its Code requires a Town building permit to "alter" any building or part of one, but the section does not use the word roof. Ask the Town whether a covering swap counts and what the fee is. |
| Tear-off dumpster of two cubic yards or more | Ask the Town. Its Code requires a Town dumpster permit on residential property, valid up to 30 days, with extensions possible. |
| Street and sidewalk damage deposit | Ask the Town. The Code requires a refundable deposit of fifty to five thousand dollars with each Town permit, returned after the Building Inspector approves. |
| County permit for a roof covering | Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services, 240-777-0311. Its home improvements list files "Roof (covering only)" under no permit needed. Confirm with the office. |
| Framing, rafters or new roof openings | The same county department, before the work is scoped. Structural changes are not on its no-permit list. |
Ask the Town for its hours and filing steps. The county counter is at 2425 Reedie Drive, 7th Floor, Wheaton.
Mailing address
Does a Kensington 20895 mailing line put a house inside the Town?
No. The same county page lists the Town of Chevy Chase View with a post office box in Kensington, MD 20895, yet that is a separate municipality. Homes with a Kensington mailing line can sit outside the Town and fall to the county alone.
The mailing city is a hint only. The parcel decides which office reviews the roof, so check the Town's boundary information or call (301) 949-2424 before anyone books a crew. Nearby pages cover Chevy Chase and Bethesda.
Historic district
Does the Kensington Historic District send a roof to the county HPC?
The Town Code's historic preservation article says the district went on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and was designated a Montgomery County Historic District in 1986. It describes late 19th and early 20th century houses in Queen Anne, Shingle, Eastlake and Colonial Revival styles, a "Victorian garden suburb". The Code adopts county Chapter 24A and lets the County enforce it, so the reviewing body is the county Historic Preservation Commission, not a Town board.
Montgomery Planning says properties in a historic district need commission approval through a Historic Area Work Permit. It lists roof repairs that match the existing materials and design as work that does not involve the commission. Its permit list includes changes to exterior materials, and a swap from one roofing material to another fits that. Call the Historic Preservation Office at 301-563-3400 before ordering.
That page also names Kensington among places where the municipality may review changes before the Historic Area Work Permit application. The Town's own review sheet points owners to Town staff for the order of steps.
Housing
What do 945 Kensington homes, 53.2 percent built before 1960, say about the roofs?
Census Bureau estimates for the Town of Kensington, 2020 to 2024.
Median year built: 1959
An estimated 503 of 945 units, 53.2 percent, date from before 1960.
496 detached homes
That is 52.5 percent of units. Attached single homes number only 7, so house roofs make up about half of the housing.
392 units in 5+ unit buildings
That is 41.5 percent, and 315 of them are in buildings of 50 or more units. Of 893 occupied homes, 451 are owner-occupied and 442 rented.
These figures count homes. A house can carry a roof far newer than the walls.
Weather and trees
What did the April 9, 2020 wind do to a roof on Parkwood Drive?
WUSA9 reported that during a wind advisory, with gusts of 40 to 50 miles per hour, a tree fell on a house on Parkwood Drive, "crushing the roof" and trapping a man on the second floor. The article says a building inspector was called.
After a windy day, scan from the ground for limbs on a slope; our storm damage repair guide lists what to check.
How a job starts
Which Kensington checks come before anyone orders shingles?
1. Street
Tell us the street and what you see overhead.
2. Boundary
Together we confirm Town, district or county-only.
3. Visit
You choose a time to go over the roof.
4. Scope
A written scope covers what happens if rotted decking appears.
5. Work
The crew follows the scope and walks you through it.
Reviews
Where can a Kensington neighbor read what others said about King's?
5.0 on Google from 60 reviews.
FAQ
Kensington questions: Mitchell Street, the HPC and the 20895 line
Which desk sees a Kensington roof first, the Town or the county?
Before. The county's municipalities page lists Kensington under "City Approval is Required Prior to County Application". Call (301) 949-2424.
Does a same-material re-roof need a Town of Kensington building permit?
Ask the Town. Section 5-102 of its Code requires a permit to alter a building or part of one, but the section does not name roofs.
Does the Town regulate the tear-off dumpster?
Its Code requires a Town permit for a dumpster of two cubic yards or more on residential property, valid up to 30 days. Ask the Town how it applies.
What is the street and sidewalk deposit?
A bond or cash deposit comes with each Town permit, refunded after the Building Inspector approves. Ask the Town for the amount.
Who reviews a roof in the Kensington Historic District?
The county Historic Preservation Commission, through a Historic Area Work Permit. The Town Code adopts county Chapter 24A. Matching roof repairs are exempt.
Is every house with a Kensington mailing address inside the Town?
No. The county list gives the Town of Chevy Chase View a Kensington 20895 mailing address too. The parcel location decides which office applies.
Does the county itself require a permit for a roof covering?
Its list places "Roof (covering only)" under no permits required, but puts exterior work on a historic property under permits required. Confirm at 240-777-0311.
Is a median build year of 1959 a sign Kensington roofs are worn?
Over half of the 945 homes predate 1960, yet many were re-roofed since. Roof condition is the test.
Nearby
Where else near Kensington does King.s work?
Neighbors with their own pages: Silver Spring, Rockville, Potomac, Chevy Chase and Bethesda. See all service areas or read about King's Roofing Company.
Official pages used
Checked October 10, 2026: county municipalities page, county home improvements list, Town of Kensington Code of Ordinances, Town historic district review sheet, Historic Area Work Permits, Census Reporter, Kensington and WUSA9 storm report.
Roof material guide for Kensington: metal roofs in Kensington.
Talk through the next step
Ask the Town before the county
Tell us the street and what you see on the roof. We will help you sort out which office to ask before any material is ordered.
Book a free 15-minute phone consultation
(703) 712-1506
9220 Topaz St, Fairfax, VA 22031
Mon to Fri 7 AM to 8:30 PM, Sat 7 AM to 8 PM, closed Sunday