Home › Guides › San Mateo roofers

How do I choose a roofing company in the city of San Mateo?

Short answerChoose a roofing company with an active C-39 license, and ask it to inspect before pricing. In the city of San Mateo, homes are mostly 1940s to 60s, from Baywood and San Mateo Park to the Eichler Highlands, where low-slope roofs need membrane experience. The city Building Division issues the permit. Get a free written estimate below.

Every roofer we work with is licensed, insured and highly reviewed by Bay Area homeowners.

Updated · Sources reviewed November 12, 2026 · By San Mateo Roof Replacement

  • Active C-39 roofing license, checked on CSLB
  • Contractor's bond and workers' comp on file
  • Tear-off, permit and warranty paperwork handled
  • Free written estimate, no obligation

What kinds of roofs does San Mateo have?

The city's median home was built in 1965, and roughly 20,000 homes are owner-occupied (ACS B25035, B25003). In older neighborhoods such as Baywood, San Mateo Park and Aragon, steep roofs, dormers and big trees are the norm, and tear-offs often find two layers. Up the hill, the Eichler Highlands and nearby Eichler tracts have flat and low-slope roofs that need a foam or single-ply system (Peninsula Eichler guide). Ask any company which of these it does day to day.

How do I check a San Mateo roofer's license?

Search the business on the CSLB license lookup. For a reroof you want an active license with the C-39 Roofing classification (CSLB: C-39), a bond on file and, if the company has employees, a workers' compensation policy. The name on your estimate should match the CSLB record exactly.

City or county: who issues my permit?

Inside city limits, the City of San Mateo Building Division issues reroof permits. The San Mateo Highlands and Baywood Park, just west of the city, are unincorporated, so San Mateo County handles those. The roofer should pull the right one and list it on the estimate. San Mateo is in climate zone 3 (CEC), so no cool-roof product is required on a home reroof.

How should I compare San Mateo bids?

Line them up item by item: tear-off layers, the deck-repair unit price, the product and underlayment, flashing at chimneys and walls, ventilation, gutters, the permit, cleanup and the warranty. A low total that leaves out decking or flashing usually comes back as a change order. Our quote checker walks through it.

Where do I find San Mateo roof prices?

This page is about who replaces your roof. Price lives on our San Mateo cost guide, which covers what moves the number on local homes. We don't publish dollar figures, because a written estimate after an inspection is the only number that fits your roof.

Which local conditions should a San Mateo reroof plan for?

CAL FIRE's 2025 recommended map puts San Mateo at Moderate at most. Look up your own parcel on CAL FIRE's map.

More roofer guides on this site: Daly City roofers, Redwood City roofers, South San Francisco roofers, Burlingame, San Carlos & Belmont roofers, Pacifica & Half Moon Bay roofers.

More town guides: Hillsborough, Foster City.

Every roofer we work with is licensed, insured and highly reviewed by Bay Area homeowners.

Get a free replacement quote

Frequently asked questions

Does the city of San Mateo require a reroof permit?

Yes. The City of San Mateo Building Division issues reroof permits for homes inside city limits; unincorporated areas such as the Highlands go through the County.

Can any roofer replace an Eichler roof in San Mateo?

Only one that installs low-slope systems. Much of an Eichler roof is too flat for shingles, so ask about foam or single-ply membrane experience.

How many quotes should I get?

Two or three written estimates for the same scope is a sensible number; more makes comparison harder.

Related questions

Sources

Sources reviewed November 12, 2026. Figures are published estimates and official fees, not quotes. Confirm prices, permits and requirements with your contractor and building department. This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice.