Older houses
Cottages and bungalows can have several roof planes and chimneys. See roof repair and roof replacement.
Roofing Company in Silver Spring, MD
Silver Spring is unincorporated Montgomery County, where the county's own list says "Roof (covering only)" most likely needs no building permit, while the City of Takoma Park next door adds a step of its own. The median Silver Spring home was built in 1964. From our Fairfax, Virginia base we begin every Silver Spring call by finding out which side of that city line the street is on.
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(703) 712-1506Questions about a Silver Spring roof
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Permits
Does a Silver Spring re-roof need a permit when Takoma Park is next door?
The county splits home work into two lists. "Roof (covering only)" sits under work you "most likely will not need a permit" for, beside siding and gutters. The permit list has no roofing line. A new covering is therefore on the lighter list, while framing or new roof openings are not. The county also cautions that its list leaves out town and association rules, so the address decides the rest.
The county's advice when unsure: dial MC 311 at 240-777-0311, or visit 2425 Reedie Drive, 7th Floor, Wheaton, open 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on weekdays.
What we do here
Which roofs does a Woodside Park house or a downtown Silver Spring building have?
Apartment and condo buildings
Some of these roofs are low-slope, covered on flat roof. A board or manager may decide.
Choosing a covering
Shingle, metal and membrane suit different frames. Compare on materials.
More local reading: our guide to roof repair in Silver Spring, MD.
Who to ask
Who answers first: the Wheaton counter, Takoma Park Planning or the Historic Preservation Office?
| What you plan | Who to ask |
|---|---|
| Re-cover a house roof | County Department of Permitting Services, 240-777-0311. Confirm with the office. |
| Rafters, framing or new openings | The same department, before scoping. |
| Address inside Takoma Park | City of Takoma Park, 301-891-7100, 7500 Maple Avenue. |
| Listed historic property | Historic Preservation Office, 301-563-3400. |
| Condo, co-op or HOA building | Your association, before signing anything. |
Takoma Park
What does a Takoma Park municipality letter add to a roof job?
Takoma Park is a separate city on the edge of downtown Silver Spring. Its page says any project needing a county permit first needs a Municipality Letter, free of charge, which "is not a permit". The City also permits trees, stormwater and anything in its right-of-way. Whether a covering-only re-roof needs the letter is not spelled out, so ask the City before you schedule.
One item that can touch a re-roof: a dumpster on a City right-of-way, usually the adjacent road, needs a City permit, while one in a private driveway does not. Public Works answers at 301-891-7633.
Trees count too: work within 50 feet of an urban forest tree of 7 and five-eighths inches or more may need a Tree Impact Assessment. The Urban Forest Manager is at 301-891-7612.
The county lists Takoma Park under two headings, so call the City rather than guess the order.
Historic and design review
Does the Master Plan or a Takoma Park district put a Silver Spring roof under review?
A parcel on the county's Master Plan for Historic Preservation needs commission sign-off for exterior work. The listing on your parcel is the test, not the Silver Spring name, so look up the address on the county's HAWP map. Matching repairs are outside that process, but a full re-roof is not spelled out; on a listed property, phone before buying shingles.
Takoma Park says its own historic district also needs the county permit. That district lies in Takoma Park, not Silver Spring proper.
Housing
What do 35,774 Silver Spring homes with a 1964 median say about roofs?
Median year built: 1964
About 22,088 units, 61.7 percent, predate 1970. The 1960s alone hold 7,511.
10,582 detached homes
That is 29.6 percent, plus 1,900 attached single homes at 5.3 percent.
21,613 units in bigger buildings
Five or more units: 60.4 percent. Renters hold 20,979 homes and owners 13,009.
The Census counts homes, not roofs, and says nothing of roof age or material.
Woodside Park, between Spring Street, Georgia Avenue, Dale Drive and Colesville Road, shows that age: the state form says 293 of about 415 original houses predate 1941, on narrow streets with mostly no curbs.
Weather and trees
What did the Northwood Park tornado and the Woodside Parkway tree do to roofs?
FOX 5 reported on June 19, 2017 that an EF-0 tornado, estimated at 70 miles per hour, hit Dennis Avenue, with the worst in Northwood Park. Two homes were condemned, and one roof caved in.
On January 9, 2024, branches went through a roof in the 1200 block of Woodside Parkway, near Dale Drive. Two residents were displaced, with no injuries, and highway crews took 55 calls to clear trees from roads.
How a job starts
What happens between a first call about a Silver Spring roof and a written scope?
1. Call
Describe the roof and nearest cross streets.
2. Line
We check whether Takoma Park applies.
3. Visit
Choose a time to look together.
4. Scope
A written plan covers rotted decking surprises.
5. Work
The crew follows the plan, then walks you through it.
Reviews
Where can Silver Spring homeowners read our Google reviews?
5.0 on Google from 60 reviews.
FAQ
Questions Silver Spring and Takoma Park owners raise about a re-roof
Does Silver Spring have a building office of its own?
No, it is unincorporated, so the county office in Wheaton applies. Call 240-777-0311.
What does the county list say about replacing only the covering?
It names "Roof (covering only)" as work you most likely will not need a permit for.
Does a Takoma Park address change anything?
Yes. The City asks for a Municipality Letter and permits trees, stormwater and right-of-way items. Ask whether a re-roof needs the letter.
Does a street dumpster need anything in Takoma Park?
A City permit, if it sits on the right-of-way. A private driveway needs none. Public Works: 301-891-7633.
Does a tree near a Takoma Park house matter?
Possibly. Work within 50 feet of a large urban forest tree may need an assessment. Urban Forest Manager: 301-891-7612.
Does a roof on a listed historic house need the commission?
Matching repairs are outside it. A full re-roof is not spelled out, so call 301-563-3400 first.
Does a median build year of 1964 mean worn roofs?
Not by itself. 61.7 percent of units predate 1970, but roof age is not recorded. Condition is the test.
How many roofs did the 2017 Northwood Park tornado damage?
FOX 5 names two condemned homes, one with a collapsed roof, and gives no wider count.
Nearby
Which neighbors sit closest to Silver Spring?
Nearby pages: Bethesda, Rockville, Kensington and Washington, DC. Also all service areas and about us.
Official pages used
Checked October 10, 2026: county home improvements list, county municipalities page, Takoma Park municipality letters, Historic Area Work Permits, Woodside Park inventory form and Census Reporter, Silver Spring.
Roof material guides for Silver Spring: EPDM roofs in downtown Silver Spring, TPO roofs in Silver Spring, metal roofs in Silver Spring, PVC roofs in Silver Spring.
Talk through the next step
Tell us the street first
A Silver Spring mailing line can sit inside Takoma Park or outside it. Give us the street and what you see overhead, and we will sort out which office to ask.
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