Williamson County: one hail belt, two very different permit rules

Williamson County's hail record

NOAA's Storm Events Database logs 203 hail events in Williamson County from 2016 through 2025, including 163 of an inch or more, 57 of at least 1.75 inches and 32 of 2 inches or larger, spread over 35 days. That is the highest count of inch-plus hail in the database among the Central Texas counties this site covers. The county also recorded 12 tornadoes in the window, three of them rated EF2 (NCEI).

• September 24, 2023: four-inch hail fell in Round Rock, in a storm complex NOAA says did its most damaging work in Austin, Georgetown and Round Rock (NCEI event 1140534); a separate Round Rock report measured 3.75 inches (NCEI event 1140570).
• May 30, 2024: four-inch hail fell off County Road 460 in Coupland (NCEI event 1182825).
• February 20, 2017: gusts estimated at 115 mph north of Thrall damaged a metal building system, at least 10 homes, farm buildings, mobile homes and RVs (NCEI event 674880), and a pair of EF2 tornadoes ran on nearly parallel tracks south of Highway 79 (NCEI event 674553).
• April 12, 2022: an EF3 tornado that began in northern Williamson County went on into Bell County, where 23 people were injured (NCEI event 1022969).

Flooding is the other risk. On July 5, 2025, the San Gabriel River flooded across the county and two apartment complexes in Georgetown were evacuated (NCEI event 1288021); FEMA's DR-4879 includes Williamson County.

Georgetown: a permit, a registered roofer and a public list

The City of Georgetown's re-roofing permit page says a permit is required for a new roof or re-roof on residential or commercial property inside city limits. Roofing contractors must register with the city through its online permit portal, apply online, and request a final roof inspection when the job is done. The city posts a list of currently registered roofing contractors, updated as of August 1, 2026.

The same page sets out when old roofing has to come off before new covering goes on:

• when the existing roof is water-soaked or deteriorated to the point that it cannot serve as a base;
• when the existing covering is wood shake, slate, clay or cement tile;
• when the roof already has two or more layers of any type.

It adds that the city estimates ten to fifteen business days to process a residential roofing permit, and that processing time may change after a hailstorm. Its FAQ confirms that drip edge is required under the 2021 International Residential Code.

Round Rock: no permit for a residential re-roof

Round Rock takes the opposite approach. The city's building permits page says it does not require a permit for a residential re-roof, but that modifying the roof calls for a residential remodel permit. The city still requires drip edge. For commercial buildings, it asks for a re-roof permit only when a flat roof is replaced, or when decking is replaced on a pitched roof.

What the difference means when you hire

In Georgetown, the city does part of the vetting: check the roofer's name against the city's registered list, and ask for the permit number before tear-off. In Round Rock, no permit record will exist for a standard re-roof, so the checks fall to you. The Texas Department of Insurance's contractor scam tips recommend written bids on company letterhead with a phone number and address, and TDI warns that it is illegal for a contractor to waive your deductible. The Central Texas chapter of the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas offers a contractor search, and the National Roofing Directory's Texas licensing page explains why neither city's rules amount to a state license.

Roofers in Round Rock and Georgetown

The National Roofing Directory lists roofers by city for Round Rock roofers and Georgetown roofers.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to re-roof my house in Round Rock?

No. The City of Round Rock does not require a permit for a residential re-roof, though modifying the roof requires a residential remodel permit and drip edge is required.

Does Georgetown require roofers to register with the city?

Yes. Georgetown says contractors must register through its online permit system before applying for a re-roof permit, and it publishes a list of currently registered roofing contractors.

Can new shingles go over old ones in Georgetown?

Not if the existing roof already has two or more layers, is wood shake, slate, clay or cement tile, or is too water-soaked or deteriorated to serve as a base, according to the city's re-roofing page.