The Atlanta cool roof ordinance, explained for homeowners

• What the ordinance is
• The numbers, by roof type
• Who it applies to, and who it doesn't
• Do I have to get a white roof?
• What it costs
• How compliance is checked
• Why the city did it

What the ordinance is

The Atlanta City Council passed Ordinance 25-O-1310 unanimously on June 2, 2025. It amends the city's building code to require reflective roofing on new construction and full roof replacements, with a one-year lead-in that brought it into force in June 2026. Unlike many cool-roof rules that cover only flat commercial roofs, Atlanta's applies to all building types and zoning districts, which includes the pitched roofs on single-family homes. It also created a simplified permitting procedure so the city can enforce it.

The numbers, by roof type

Both standards use 3-year aged values, meaning the roof has to perform after three years of weathering, not just on the day it goes on. Steep-slope roofs, the pitched roofs on most houses, need an aged solar reflectance of at least 0.21 and an aged Solar Reflectance Index of at least 20. Low-slope roofs are held to a much higher bar, summarized by the ordinance tracker as an aged reflectance of 0.70 and an SRI of 85.

One caution: some code summaries list lower low-slope figures, so for flat roofs the permit reviewer's reading on your project is what counts. For a typical pitched house roof, the steep-slope numbers are the ones that matter.

Who it applies to, and who it doesn't

The rule applies inside City of Atlanta limits. It is a city law, so separate jurisdictions such as Marietta in Cobb County and Woodstock in Cherokee County are not governed by it, and neither are other independent cities around the metro. If you are not sure whether your address is inside city limits, check before you sign a contract.

It covers full replacements and new construction. Minor repairs are not held to the replacement standard, although the city's permitting threshold decides when a project counts as a replacement, so splitting a full re-roof into small repair jobs is a bad idea.

Do I have to get a white roof?

No. The steep-slope threshold was set to be achievable. Cool-roof rated architectural shingles use reflective granules and come in a range of grays, browns and darker tones that meet it, and metal roofs with rated finishes meet it easily. The ordinance also allows darker materials when added insulation achieves equivalent thermal performance, although that route takes more paperwork.

What it costs

For most homes, very little extra. Cool-roof rated architectural shingles are generally priced in line with standard architectural shingles from the same manufacturers, and on flat roofs white membranes were already the common choice. The practical cost is making sure the quote names a rated product, because an older unrated shingle can fail inspection.

How compliance is checked

Compliance is shown through a product rating from the Cool Roof Rating Council or an ENERGY STAR roof-product listing. The permit names the product, and the final inspection confirms the installed roof matches what was permitted. Ask your roofer for the rated spec sheet for the exact shingle and color going on your house, and keep it with your permit records for resale and insurance.

Why the city did it

Atlanta runs hot. Georgia Tech researchers have measured intown neighborhoods up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the city's most forested areas on summer afternoons, and dark roofs are part of the reason. The ordinance is projected to cool the city by about 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit in peak summer, and a cooler roof also means a cooler attic for the house underneath it.