How do I hire a roofing contractor in San Jose?

Which kind of San Jose roofer do I need?

San Jose has about 183,000 owner-occupied homes and a median home built in 1976 (ACS B25035, B25003), so no single roof type dominates. Pitched shingle roofs cover most of Willow Glen, Cambrian, Berryessa and Blossom Valley. Eichler tracts, including Fairglen and others, need low-slope systems (South Bay Eichler guide). The Evergreen and Almaden foothills have many concrete tile roofs (tile guide). Ask each contractor which of these is their usual work.

How do I check a San Jose roofer's license?

Search the business on the CSLB license lookup. For a reroof you want an active license with the C-39 Roofing classification (CSLB: C-39), a bond on file and, if the company has employees, a workers' compensation policy. The name on your estimate should match the CSLB record exactly.

How do the permit and cool-roof rule affect the job?

San Jose reroof permits are issued online through SJPermits.org, so a licensed contractor can usually get one quickly. The bigger rule is climate: San Jose is in climate zone 4 (CEC), where a reroof replacing more than half the roof generally needs a rated cool-roof product, with a much higher target for low-slope roofs (CEC cool-roof guide). Make sure the product on the estimate is CRRC-listed. Our ZIP-by-ZIP permit history shows where reroofs have been busiest.

Solar and fire zones

Many San Jose roofs carry solar panels, which must come off and go back on (solar guide). Get removal, reinstall and warranties into one written scope. Homes in the east foothills, Almaden and Evergreen border wildland; check CAL FIRE's map, because a very high zone requires Class A when more than half the roof is replaced (HSC 13132.7).

Where do I find San Jose roof prices?

This page is about who replaces your roof. Price lives on our San Jose cost guide, which covers what moves the number on local homes. We don't publish dollar figures, because a written estimate after an inspection is the only number that fits your roof.

How do rain, heat and fire zones play out in San Jose?

NOAA's San Jose airport station averages 13.5 inches of precipitation a year, 58% of it from December through February, and about 16 days a year reach 90 degrees (1991-2020 normals). San Jose includes Very High ground on CAL FIRE's 2025 recommended map, so a reroof of more than half the roof there must be Class A (HSC 13132.7). Look up your own parcel on CAL FIRE's map.

More roofer guides on this site: Palo Alto roofers, Los Gatos & Saratoga roofers, Sunnyvale & Mountain View roofers.

More town guides: Santa Clara.