Bell County roofs: the Salado stone, the Temple tornado and a mid-job inspection

Bell County by the numbers

NOAA's Storm Events Database records 122 hail events in Bell County from 2016 through 2025, including 105 of an inch or larger and 12 of 2 inches or more, on 38 separate days. Over the same decade it logs 51 thunderstorm wind events, 47 flash floods and nine tornadoes, one rated EF3 and one EF2 (NCEI).

April 12, 2022: the Salado hailstone

A social media picture of a hailstone more than 5.6 inches across in Salado prompted the National Weather Service in Fort Worth and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety to preserve and document it. IBHS measured a maximum diameter of 5.676 inches, a mass of 409.3 grams and a volume of 29.5 cubic inches (NCEI event 1020551). Around Salado, many reports described hail up to 4 inches falling for several minutes (NCEI event 1020559), and a trained spotter reported 3-inch hail just southwest of Belton (NCEI event 1020947).

The same storm produced an EF3 tornado that began in northern Williamson County and crossed into Bell County, where the record lists 23 injuries (NCEI event 1022969).

May 22, 2024: the Temple tornado

An EF2 tornado formed near Texas 317 between FM 2483 and West Adams Avenue, where it significantly damaged at least a dozen power poles. It then moved east-southeast across the Terrace at Lake Pointe subdivision, damaging many homes, especially roofs and windows, with significant roof and tree damage in the neighborhood south of Tarver Elementary School. The record lists 30 injuries (NCEI event 1180126). The same day, likely rear-flank downdraft winds destroyed a metal building near I-35 and Loop 363 (NCEI event 1187965).

Killeen: a permit and an inspection before the shingles go on

The City of Killeen's notice to roofing contractors, dated July 28, 2023, sets out its rules:

1. A building permit is required for re-roofing and for repairs totaling more than 100 square feet.
2. Structural damage to the roof deck or the framing beneath it requires a permit regardless of size.
3. The roof must be inspected mid-job, after the old shingles are off and the felt paper is fully installed, but before the final shingles go on.
4. Emergency repairs done after hours must be permitted the next business day, and after-hours and emergency jobs must email photos of the roof before work, with the felt installed and after completion to the chief building inspector by the next business day.

The city's list of projects that require permits confirms that fixing a leak or replacing blown-off shingles over no more than 100 square feet needs no permit, and says re-roof permits are generally approved in three days.

That felt-stage visit matters. It means a city inspector sees the deck and underlayment before they disappear under new shingles, which is exactly the part of a roof a homeowner cannot check afterward. Ask your roofer when the inspection is scheduled and whether it passed.

Temple: permits for new roofs and repairs

The City of Temple's building permits and inspections page lists new roofs and repairs among the projects that need a permit, and says work may not begin until the permit application has been paid for and approved. The city has adopted the 2015 International Codes, and inspections can be requested by phone or through its online portal.

Credentials to check in Bell County

With no state roofing license in Texas, as a 2025 House committee bill analysis confirms, the permit record is the closest thing to an official check on the work itself. For the company, search the statewide RCAT directory, which covers its membership and its voluntary license program, and NRCA's member directory. If an inspector assesses your hail damage, ask whether that person holds a current Haag certification, which Haag says must be kept active through renewal.

Roofers in Killeen

The National Roofing Directory lists roofers by city for Killeen roofers.

For hail claims after a storm like Salado's, see the National Roofing Directory's guide to documenting roof damage for a claim.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Killeen?

Yes. Killeen requires a building permit for re-roofing and for repairs over 100 square feet in total, and for any work involving structural damage to the deck or framing (City of Killeen). The roof is inspected after the felt is installed and before the shingles.

How big was the Salado hailstone?

IBHS measured it at a maximum diameter of 5.676 inches and a mass of 409.3 grams after the April 12, 2022 storm (NCEI event 1020551).

Does Temple require a permit for a new roof?

Yes. The City of Temple lists new roofs and repairs among the projects that need a building permit, and work may not start until the permit is paid for and approved (City of Temple).