Is drip edge required by code?
What the code requires
- Drip edge at all eaves and rake edges of shingle roofs.
- Adjacent pieces overlapped at least 2 inches.
- A face that extends at least 1/4 inch below the roof sheathing.
- A roof flange that extends at least 2 inches back onto the deck.
- Fasteners no more than 12 inches apart.
- Underlayment over the drip edge at the eaves and under it along the rakes.
How it applies in Georgia
Georgia adopts the IRC as a statewide minimum residential code with state amendments, and cities and counties enforce it through permits and inspections. Exact wording can differ slightly between code editions, so your building department is the final word on which version applies.
Older roofs without it
A house built or reroofed before the requirement is not in violation just because it lacks drip edge. The rule applies when the roof is replaced, because new work must meet current code. That is why many Georgia homes get drip edge for the first time at their next replacement.
Insurance and code upgrades
When a storm claim pays for a new roof, code-required items the old roof lacked, like drip edge, may fall under ordinance or law coverage, depending on your policy. Check your declarations page for that coverage and its limit.
Beyond the code
Even where an inspector might not check, manufacturers expect drip edge, and it protects the fascia and deck edge from rot.