The rule in 3 cities, with their permit counts
Rules from each city's own page, read 23 October 2026. Counts are siding permits in the city's file over three years to September 2026 (Colorado Springs files stucco with siding); "usual days" is the typical time from issue to final inspection.
| City | The rule | Siding permits | Usual filed value | Usual days to final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | Siding is not on the exempt list; "Soffits, fascia, trim and other accessories" are | 1,823 | $13,500 | 113 |
| Saint Paul, MN | Not on the exempt list; alterations over $500 in labor and materials need a permit, and stucco needs "a separate Stucco/Plaster permit application" | 829 | $15,000 | 183 |
| Colorado Springs, CO (Pikes Peak Regional) | "Exterior siding and stucco" need a permit; repairs "less than 100 square feet" do not | 1,598 (siding and stucco) | $12,707 | 45 |
Ten more departments, without siding counts in our file:
| Building department | The rule |
|---|---|
| Austin, TX | Exempt: siding "that does not exceed 128 square feet and is not part of a fire-resistance-rated assembly" |
| Columbus, OH | "Replace exterior siding": permit, no plan review |
| Denver, CO | "Exterior wall coverings" are a roofing and siding quick permit; landmark properties need Landmark Preservation approval first |
| Denton, TX | "A Residential permit is required to replace siding." |
| Sacramento County (unincorporated) | "Siding / Stucco" needs a permit |
| Citrus Heights, CA | "WOOD or VINYL SIDING, STUCCO (New or replacement)": yes; wood siding repair under 10% of the wall area: no |
| San Francisco, CA | "In-kind exterior siding repair or replacement (same size and location)" is an over-the-counter permit; street-visible finish changes need plans |
| Anaheim, CA | "Stucco and siding" need a permit |
| Bellevue, WA | Exempt: "the replacement of siding, except for stucco and brick or stone veneer greater than four feet above the grade plane" |
| Naperville, IL | Exempt for vinyl, aluminum or cement board siding on a single-family home if the existing sheathing stays |
Why the sheathing matters
The permit question turns on what is behind the siding. Naperville exempts siding but requires a permit for "Replacing roof or wall sheathing", and Austin caps its exemption at 128 square feet and keeps fire-rated walls out. If the crew finds rot and replaces sheathing, the job becomes permit work in both, so ask the contractor what happens if they find it.
What happens if you skip it
- Colorado Springs area: Pikes Peak Regional issues a stop work order and files a "Certificate of Alleged Non-compliance" against the property with the county Clerk and Recorder.
- Palo Alto: "an additional penalty fee equal to the amount of the permit fee shall be assessed".
More in permit vs no permit.
Who pulls it
The siding contractor. Pikes Peak Regional says a contractor doing permit work "must be licensed and registered" with it, and "A contractor cannot obtain a permit unless the contractor's license is in good standing." Saint Paul issues permits to the homesteader or "a contractor licensed by the City of Saint Paul", and notes that a state license does not exempt a contractor from the city's. The license check is in hiring a siding contractor.
How long it takes
The usual siding permit closed in 45 days in Colorado Springs and 113 in Minneapolis, against 183 in Saint Paul. 88.9% of Minneapolis's siding permits a year or more old reached a final, against 58.8% of Saint Paul's. Hold back part of the last payment until the final passes.
Check it in five minutes
- Measure the area being replaced; under 100 to 128 square feet is a repair in Austin and the Pikes Peak region.
- Check whether the job includes stucco, masonry veneer or sheathing; each can change the answer.
- In a historic district, ask the preservation office before choosing a material.
See every Minneapolis siding contractor by permits filed →
What this does not tell you
We read 13 departments' rules. Our counts come from three cities, and Colorado Springs includes stucco. Siding work done under a roofing or remodel permit is not in these counts.
How we know this
Rules are quoted from the pages under Sources, read 23 October 2026. Permit counts, filed values, usual days to final and finished shares come from each city's permit file over the three years ending September 2026. "Usual days" is the median from issue to final inspection; "reached a final" counts permits a year or more old.
Numbers come from City of Minneapolis construction permits (CCS); City of Saint Paul building and trade permits (the City's old approved-permits file up to June 2025, and the City's PAULIE permit system since September 2025), with the contractor named on each permit; Pikes Peak Regional Building Department permits inside Colorado Springs city limits, data through October 17, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- Do I need a permit to repair a section of siding?
Usually not for a small patch. Pikes Peak Regional (Colorado Springs) exempts siding repairs under 100 square feet, Austin up to 128 square feet if the wall is not fire-rated, and Citrus Heights wood siding repairs under 10% of the total exterior wall area. Citrus Heights also exempts stucco patching of small holes and cracks.
- Does stucco need a different permit from siding?
In some cities. Saint Paul requires 'a separate Stucco/Plaster permit application' for stucco and exterior insulation finish systems, and Bellevue exempts siding replacement 'except for stucco and brick or stone veneer greater than four feet above the grade plane'. Naperville requires a permit for 'removal of EIFS applications'.
- Can I put new siding over the old siding without a permit?
Not where full replacement needs one; the cities we read do not distinguish overlays. The sheathing is the line in Naperville: vinyl, aluminum or cement board siding is exempt only if the existing sheathing stays, and 'Replacing roof or wall sheathing' needs a permit.
- How long does a siding permit take?
The usual siding permit reached its final inspection in 45 days in Colorado Springs and 113 in Minneapolis, against 183 in Saint Paul. Denton requires one inspection, a building final, and Columbus issues siding permits without plan review.
- What does a permitted siding job cost?
The usual filed value on a siding permit was $12,707 in Colorado Springs, $13,500 in Minneapolis and $15,000 in Saint Paul. Filed values are what the contractor wrote on the application.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Do I need a siding permit in Colorado Springs? PPRBD's 100 sq ft rule and the $115 and $135 flat fees
- Hiring a siding contractor: 5 red flags and 8 questions, checked against siding permits in 8 cities
- Do I need a siding permit in Minneapolis? Yes: the building permit, the WRB inspection, the electrical permit and fees
- Siding replacement cost in 2026: what siding permits were filed at in 6 cities
- Do I need an electrical permit in Vancouver, WA? City permits, the owner exemption, 2026 fees and 12,023 permits
- Do I need an electrical permit in Virginia Beach? The city's list, owner permits, fees and 6,621 permits
For one city
- Construction work exempt from permit — City of Minneapolis (accessed 2026-10-23)
- When is a permit required? — City of Saint Paul DSI (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Permit Not Required — Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Homeowner Permits — Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Work Exempt from Building Permits — City of Austin Development Services (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Work requiring permits — City of Bellevue, WA (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Typical Residential Projects (BA 3/26) — City of Columbus, OH (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Guide to Building Permits (rev. 10/31/2022) — City of Naperville, IL (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Quick Permits — City and County of Denver CPD (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Frequently Asked Questions — Sacramento County Building Permits and Inspection (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Projects Requiring a Building Permit (CHB0600, rev. 08/23) — City of Citrus Heights, CA (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Get an OTC permit for your exterior residential project — San Francisco DBI (accessed 2026-10-23)
- When is a Building Permit Required? — City of Anaheim, CA (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Siding — City of Denton, TX (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Work Exempt from Permit (rev. 05/20/2015) — City of Palo Alto, CA (accessed 2026-10-23)