--- title: "Malibu Roofing & Roof Repair | Global Green Roofing" description: "Malibu roofing and roof repair under the city's re-roof policy: a pre-cover inspection, Class A and CRRC-rated materials, and no wood shakes." source: https://globalgreenroofing.com/service-areas/malibu-ca/ --- # Roofing and Roof Repair in Malibu, CA Global Green Roofing offers Malibu roofing and roof repair: leak repairs, re-roofs, tile, metal and flat roofs. Three city rules shape every job: any roofing installation needs a building permit and at least two inspections, the city sits wholly in a Very High fire hazard zone so every covering must be Class A, and wood shakes are banned. Malibu also adds a cool-roof rating requirement through the Los Angeles County green building code, and beachfront or bluff-top lots can bring coastal permit questions. The sections below quote the city's own documents on each point. - **Permit office:** City of Malibu Building Safety, 23825 Stuart Ranch Road; permits requested through the Development Portal - **Inspections:** At least two on every re-roof: one before the new covering goes on, and a final - **Fire hazard zone:** Entire city Very High (city); about 91% of its land by our calculation, the rest mostly federal land - **Title 24 climate zone:** 6 in every Malibu ZIP code (90263, 90264, 90265) - **Housing age:** Median year built 1976; about 60% built before 1980, 75% owner-occupied ## What Malibu's re-roofing policy requires Malibu publishes a one-page Re-Roofing Policy. "All roofing installations, either as a new roof or re-roof, require a building permit prior to beginning any work," and the application carries the product's ICC, UL or other approved listing report. The city then inspects twice at minimum: "New roof covering materials shall not be applied without first obtaining an inspection and written approval from the City." That first visit checks drainage, flashing and the soundness of the substrate; a final inspection closes the permit. The policy's material rules decide how much tear-off a job needs: - Wood shakes and shingles: "strictly prohibited within city limits." - Asphalt shingles: "Only one overlay of asphalt shingles may be applied over an existing asphalt shingle roof." - Built-up roofing: removed completely before the new covering, unless the city approves otherwise. - Lightweight tile (six pounds per square foot or less): may not require plan check, but the old roof comes off to the sheathing. - Normal-weight tile (over six pounds), or tile laid over an existing roof: plans and calculations stamped by a California registered engineer or licensed architect. - Metal panels, including standing seam: full removal to the original sheathing first. Requests go through the city's Development Portal, where a permit technician reviews them. Malibu has enforced the 2025 California codes, as amended by Los Angeles County, under Ordinance No. 531 (adopted January 12, 2026). The city lists no roofing item among work exempt from a permit and gives no square-foot threshold for repairs, so ask Building Safety before a small patch. Malibu's construction hours are 7 AM to 7 PM on weekdays and 8 AM to 5 PM on Saturdays, with no work on Sundays or city holidays, and an issued permit expires 365 days after issuance, or after the work is suspended or abandoned for 365 days. Our [California roofing permit guide](https://globalgreenroofing.com/roofing-guides/roofing-permit-california/) covers the statewide side of the permit. ## All of Malibu is a Very High fire hazard zone The 2007 state maps placed the entire City of Malibu in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and the city's 2025 review of the new map, received March 24, 2025, found "the entire City is still designated as being in a VHFHSZ." Measuring CAL FIRE's 2025 map against Census land area, we calculate that about 11,550 acres, roughly 91% of the city's land, is zoned Very High; most of the remainder is federal land, which the local map does not zone. That is why the re-roof policy states flatly that "All roofing material must be rated Class A." On top of that, once at least half the roof is replaced within a 12-month period, the state's 2025 Wildland-Urban Interface Code requires the new covering to meet its new-construction rule for a Class A roof assembly, including how the voids under profiled tile are closed. Our [Class A roof guide](https://globalgreenroofing.com/roofing-guides/class-a-fire-rated-roofing/) covers the rest of a fire-rated roof, from valleys to gutters and vents. ## Cool-roof ratings: Malibu's rule goes past the state's Every Malibu ZIP code (90263, 90264 and 90265) is in Title 24 climate zone 6. Under the state energy code alone, zone 6 re-roofs need a cool roof only on flat and low-slope roofs (aged solar reflectance 0.63, or an SRI of 75); the [state cool-roof rules](https://globalgreenroofing.com/roofing-guides/cool-roof-requirements-california/) have the details. Malibu's policy adds a local layer: "All roofing materials shall also comply with the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) requirements per the 2026 County of Los Angeles Green Building Standards Code. No exceptions will be allowed." The county code sets a minimum three-year aged solar reflectance of 0.25 for low-rise residential roofs steeper than 2:12 and 0.65 for roofs at 2:12 or flatter (or an SRI of 20 and 78). The county text lists exceptions, such as replacing half the roof or less, while the city policy says none apply, so we confirm the target with Building Safety before ordering cool-rated roofing. ## Does a Malibu re-roof need a coastal development permit? Generally not for a like-for-like re-roof, unless the house sits on the beach, near a bluff or near the water. Malibu's Local Coastal Program, as published in its Local Implementation Plan, exempts "repair or maintenance activities that do not result in an addition to, or enlargement or expansion of" what is repaired. The exemption does not cover work on any sand area, within 50 feet of the edge of a coastal bluff, or within 20 feet of coastal waters or streams when it involves "the presence, whether temporary or permanent, of mechanized equipment or construction materials." On a beachfront lot, ask the Planning Department before materials are staged. One neighborhood has roof rules of its own. In the Malibu Country Estates Overlay District, "Roof materials shall be limited to clay tile, concrete tile or similar material," flat roofs may not exceed 20% of the total roof area, and roof-mounted air conditioning units are prohibited. ## Fire rebuilds in Malibu: Woolsey deadlines and Palisades rules Rebuilding is still under way from three recent fires. The city's Ordinance No. 524 records that the Palisades Fire of January 2025 "destroyed structures on over 700 properties in Malibu," and the Franklin Fire of December 2024 on at least 38. A roof on any of those rebuilds goes through the same Class A, cool-roof and inspection rules described above. For Palisades rebuilds, Executive Order N-20-25 (February 13, 2025) keeps the Coastal Act permit suspension for rebuilt primary structures in substantially the same location and within 110% of the prior footprint and height. The city notes that the order "does not waive building standards or fire-safety code compliance", so a rebuilt roof still has to meet current Class A and wildfire rules. Under Resolution No. 25-29, the city waives its own planning and building permit fees for owner-occupied houses and duplexes that the Broad, Franklin or Palisades fires damaged or destroyed, when they are rebuilt like-for-like or like-for-like plus 10% and were the owner's primary residence. The handout does not mention roofs by name, so ask the Malibu Rebuild Center (23805 Stuart Ranch Road, Suite 240) whether roof work qualifies; applications are due by June 30, 2028. Woolsey Fire (2018) rebuilds face nearer dates. The city's Fee Waiver and Deadlines page, read October 1, 2026, says owners with a Planning Verification approval "have until November 8, 2026, to obtain building permits," the same date is the last day to request a time extension, and "all required building permits must be pulled by December 30, 2026 and no fees will be waived after December 30, 2026." ## How we run a roofing job in Malibu A Malibu job begins with a visit to the house, and the written proposal comes after it. For a re-roof here, the city requires a Class A product with a Cool Roof Rating Council rating, and the product's listing report goes with the permit application. You see the photos we take on that visit, and on steep or hillside roofs a [roof inspection](https://globalgreenroofing.com/our-services/roof-inspection/) can include drone photos. No new covering may go on before the city's initial inspection passes. Standing-seam metal panels and lightweight tile mean a tear-off down to the original sheathing, and the city requires that "\[e\]xisting spaced sheathing must be covered" to the tile maker's specification before lightweight tile goes on. A lift and relay keeps your existing tiles (see [tile roofing](https://globalgreenroofing.com/our-services/tile-roofing/)), and leaks on any roof type go through [roof repair](https://globalgreenroofing.com/our-services/roof-repair/). Where rooftop solar is in the way of a re-roof, we arrange taking the panels down and putting them back. The site is cleaned at the close of each workday, with a nail magnet run over the ground, and a final walkthrough with you closes the job. ## Services and guides for roofs in Malibu - [Roof Replacement](https://globalgreenroofing.com/our-services/roof-replacement/): Class A re-roofs scheduled around Malibu's pre-cover inspection. - [Tile Roofing](https://globalgreenroofing.com/our-services/tile-roofing/): Tile re-roofs on either side of the city's six-pound weight line, or lift and relay. - [Metal Roofing](https://globalgreenroofing.com/our-services/metal-roofing/): Standing-seam and stone-coated steel, which Malibu requires down to the sheathing. - [Roof Inspection & Maintenance](https://globalgreenroofing.com/our-services/roof-inspection/): Photos, including drone photos of steep or hillside roofs, before a proposal. - [What Is a Class A Fire Rated Roof, and When Does California Require One?](https://globalgreenroofing.com/roofing-guides/class-a-fire-rated-roofing/): What a Class A assembly includes in a city that is all Very High zone. - [Cool Roof Requirements in California: What Title 24 Asks of a Re-Roof](https://globalgreenroofing.com/roofing-guides/cool-roof-requirements-california/): The state's zone 6 rule that sits under Malibu's CRRC requirement. ## Roofing in Malibu: common questions ### Can I put a new roof over my old one in Malibu? Only in limited cases. The city allows one overlay of asphalt shingles over an existing asphalt shingle roof; tile over an existing roof needs stamped engineering plans and plan review, and metal panels and lightweight tile require removal down to the original sheathing. ### Are wood shake roofs allowed in Malibu? No. Malibu's policy says wood shakes and shingles are "strictly prohibited within city limits," and every roofing material must be rated Class A. ### When does a tile roof in Malibu need an engineer? When the tile weighs over six pounds per square foot, or when tile goes over an existing roof. The city then requires plans and calculations stamped by a California registered engineer or licensed architect; lighter tile may not require plan check. ### Does a beachfront re-roof need a coastal permit? Ordinary repair and maintenance is exempt under Malibu's Local Coastal Program, but staging equipment or materials on sand, within 20 feet of the water or within 50 feet of a bluff edge is not. Ask the Planning Department before work is scheduled. ### Are city fees waived to fix a fire-damaged roof? Possibly. Resolution No. 25-29 waives City planning and building permit fees for like-for-like rebuilding of primary-residence homes and duplexes damaged or destroyed in the Broad, Franklin or Palisades fires; applications are due by June 30, 2028, and the Malibu Rebuild Center confirms whether roof work qualifies. Other cities we cover are listed on our [service areas](https://globalgreenroofing.com/service-areas/) page. ## Sources for this page 1. [City of Malibu, Re-Roofing Policy](https://www.malibucity.org/DocumentCenter/View/6188/Residential-Re-Roof-Policy-) 2. [City of Malibu, Building Safety Division (permits and Development Portal)](https://www.malibucity.org/252/Building-Safety) 3. [City of Malibu, Building Safety FAQs (construction hours, permit expiry)](https://www.malibucity.org/Faq.aspx?QID=127) 4. [City of Malibu, Council agenda report: Ordinance No. 531, 2025 California Building Standards Code (January 12, 2026)](https://www.malibucity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/7821?fileID=85288) 5. [Malibu Municipal Code, Chapter 15.04 Building Code (Ord. 531)](https://ecode360.com/44335445) 6. [County of Los Angeles, Title 31 Green Building Standards Code ordinance (Section 4.106.6 cool roofs)](https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/208800.pdf) 7. [City of Malibu, Council agenda report: 2025 Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map (June 9, 2025)](https://www.malibucity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/7406?fileID=78869) 8. [CAL FIRE, 2025 local responsibility area hazard map viewer; Malibu acreage calculated by us against Census land area](https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6a9cb66bb1824cd98756812af41292a0) 9. [CAL FIRE, State and federal responsibility areas (SRA25\_1 layer)](https://services1.arcgis.com/jUJYIo9tSA7EHvfZ/arcgis/rest/services/SRA_for_FHSZ_in_LRA/FeatureServer/0) 10. [U.S. Census Bureau, TIGERweb: Malibu city land and water area](https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/4) 11. [2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, Chapter 5 (504.2, 507.1), via UpCodes](https://up.codes/viewer/california/ca-wuic-2025/chapter/5/special-building-construction-regulations) 12. [Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones and map viewer](https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/community-wildfire-preparedness-and-mitigation/fire-hazard-severity-zones) 13. [California Energy Commission, Climate Zone Assignments by ZIP Code](https://www.energy.ca.gov/media/3560) 14. [California Energy Commission, 2025 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, Section 150.2(b)1I](https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/CEC-400-2025-010-F_0.pdf) 15. [City of Malibu, Local Coastal Program Local Implementation Plan (Sections 3.4.1, 13.4)](https://www.malibucity.org/DocumentCenter/View/4421/Malibu-Local-Implementation-Plan-LIP-) 16. [City of Malibu, Fee Waiver and Deadlines (Woolsey Fire rebuilds)](https://www.malibucity.org/958/Fee-Waiver-Deadlines) 17. [City of Malibu, Rebuild Guide (includes Ordinance No. 524)](https://maliburebuilds.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Start-to-Finish-Rebuilding-Guide-in-Malibu.pdf) 18. [City of Malibu, Fee Waiver Program: Broad, Franklin and Palisades Fires (Resolution No. 25-29)](https://malibucity.org/DocumentCenter/View/36197/Fee-Waiver-Handout_8625) 19. [Office of the Governor, Executive Order N-20-25 (February 13, 2025)](https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/State-Permitting-and-Housing-Laws-EO-ATTESTED.pdf) 20. [U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year: housing in Malibu (tables B25035, B25034, B25003, via Census Reporter)](https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US0645246/) Public sources read on October 1, 2026. Climate zones and fire hazard maps are drawn by address; check yours with the tools linked above. ## Book a roof assessment in Malibu We inspect, photograph what we find and send a written proposal before anything is decided. Contact us ## Let's talk roofs Tell us what is going on with your roof. We will schedule an on-site assessment and send a written proposal before anything is decided. **Call**(323) 760-7835**Email**info@globalgreenroofing.com **Serving**Los Angeles and Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties **Hours**Every day: 8 AM to 9 PM