Is Drip Edge Required on a New Roof in Texas?

The short answer

Under the current residential code, yes. The 2021 International Residential Code requires a drip edge at the eaves and rake edges of asphalt shingle roofs. Whether your East Texas city enforces that edition is a separate question, so check which code it has adopted.

What the code requires

You might think drip edge is an optional upgrade a roofer adds for looks. In the 2021 IRC, Section R905.2.8.5 makes it part of a shingle roof. The code text says:

• Where: at eaves and rake edges of shingle roofs.
• Overlap: adjacent pieces overlap at least 2 inches.
• Size: it extends at least 1/4 inch below the roof sheathing and at least 2 inches back onto the roof deck.
• Fastening: mechanically fastened to the deck no more than 12 inches apart.
• Underlayment: goes over the drip edge along the eaves and under it along the rakes.

The code also says roof coverings go on according to the manufacturer's installation instructions, so the shingle maker's directions apply too.

Why the edition your city uses matters

The drip edge requirement was added in the 2012 IRC, according to the ICC's summary of significant changes. Texas law, in Local Government Code Section 214.212, makes the 2008 IRC the baseline residential code for cities, and cities can adopt newer editions. So the rule your roof is held to depends on the city. Outside city limits, there may be no local code inspection at all.

That's one reason to ask before you sign:

1. Is drip edge included at both the eaves and the rakes?
2. Does the bid follow the shingle manufacturer's instructions?
3. Does your city need a permit? Our post on roof replacement permits in Tyler and Longview explains how to check.

If you're deciding between a full tear-off and a second layer, our guide to whether a new roof can go over old shingles covers the code limits.

This article is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Local amendments can change these rules.

Bottom line

Current code calls for drip edge at the eaves and rakes of a shingle roof, with set overlap, size and fastening. Ask your roofer to put it in writing, and check which code edition your city uses.

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