Missoula Eliminates Waiting for Roofing Permits After Storm Damage Delays

MISSOULA — Homeowners facing roof repairs can now get building permits issued immediately instead of waiting days, thanks to streamlined processes the City of Missoula says it implemented in response to damage from the 2024 summer storm.

The new “roofing” permit type automatically issues permits at the time of application, eliminating multi-day waiting periods that previously delayed urgent repairs when homeowners were already dealing with the stress and expense of roof damage.

“This change ensures that when urgent repairs are needed, Missoula residents and contractors can move quickly, while staff time is freed up to focus on other essential community services,” the city announced last Thursday.

Under the previous system, homeowners had to submit applications and wait for staff review before permits were issued. The new process allows residents to apply, pay and receive issued permits immediately in most cases.

The improvements also enable instant inspection scheduling for underlayment work, supporting continuous project progress instead of forcing contractors to pause work while waiting for inspection appointments.

The city has simplified the application itself, collecting only essential information and eliminating unnecessary fields that previously required detailed project descriptions.

Last year, the city processed 1,300 roofing permits. The streamlined process is expected to save 270 hours of staff time annually, allowing city employees to focus on other permitting needs.

According to the city, the changes directly respond to the challenges homeowners faced following summer 2024 storm damage, when urgent roof repairs were needed but bureaucratic delays slowed critical work.

City officials say they are looking forward to applying lessons learned from the roofing permit improvements to other permit types to continue streamlining services for residents.

For detailed application instructions, residents can visit the city’s website. Roofing permits can be applied for online through the city’s permit portal.