Townhome Roof Replacement and the HOA — Who Owns the Roof
Your townhome roof is leaking or hail went through the neighborhood, and first you need to know whether this is your roof or the association's, and how a reroof works when your roof is attached to four others.
Townhome roof replacement starts with one question: does the association own the roof or do you? The declaration and the master insurance policy answer it. JMB Builders replaces roofs on both kinds across the Twin Cities metro: whole rows and buildings for associations, and single detached or owner-maintained townhomes for the owner, matched to the row and tied in at the party walls. Priced per project, with one scope per building.
- Declaration and master policy say who owns the roof
- Whole rows for associations, single units for owners
- Matched shingle, tied in at party walls
- Send photos, reply within one business day
- Licensed MN contractor BC809005
Send photos and hear back within one business day — or book a free in-home estimate.
Townhomes in the metro come in two legal kinds, and they look the same from the street. In most attached rows the association owns and maintains the roof: it is a common element, your dues pay for it, and the association's master policy insures it. In many detached or 'villa' townhome developments, and in some attached ones, the owner maintains the roof and the master policy covers only the structure as built, or nothing above the studs. The declaration and bylaws say which; the association's insurance agent can tell you what the master policy covers and what the deductible is.
For an association, a reroof is a whole-row or whole-building job and the scope is one document: squares per building, the shared valleys and party-wall details, every unit's vents and skylights counted, the dumpster plan for a shared driveway and a notice schedule for the residents. After a hail storm it is usually a master-policy claim, and the association's deductible is divided among the units under the declaration; ask the association's agent how yours handles it. We write the line-item scope and meet the adjuster the same way as on a house.
For an owner who maintains their own roof, the job is a normal roof replacement with two extra details. The new shingle has to match the row as closely as the market allows, and the association usually has a say in the color and line; check the architectural rules before ordering. And where your roof meets the neighbor's at a party wall, the tie-in has to be done without disturbing their shingles beyond what the flashing needs. We photograph the joint before and after.
What you supply
- The association's declaration or a note from the manager on who maintains the roof, and the master policy's agent if it is a claim
- The association's approved shingle color and line, or a photo of a neighbor's roof to match
- For an association job: a contact for notices, the shared-driveway plan for the dumpster, and access to each unit's attic if possible
- Your own deductible share if the master policy is paying, as the declaration divides it
What JMB supplies
- One line-item scope per building: squares, layers, decking, vents, skylights, party-wall and valley details
- The adjuster meeting and supplement on a master-policy hail claim, written to the adjuster's format
- Matched architectural shingles for the row, with the association's color approval in hand before the order
- Tear-off, decking repair quoted per sheet, ice and water shield, synthetic underlayment, flashing, ridge vent
- Party-wall tie-ins photographed before and after, neighbor's roof disturbed only as far as the flashing needs
- Resident notice schedule, shared-driveway dumpster plan, the city's permit and inspection, magnet sweep
How it is priced: per project
Quoted in writing from your photos, with a reply within one business day. What moves the number:
- Whole row or building vs. a single unit; per-square cost drops when several roofs are done in one setup
- Number of units, each with its own vents, bath fan caps and sometimes a skylight
- Party-wall and shared-valley details between units
- Shared-driveway access and where the dumpster can sit without blocking garages
- Matching a discontinued shingle on a single unit vs. choosing the row's new line
- Master-policy claim scope vs. owner-paid roof, and the deductible share per unit
- Decking condition, layers and pitch as on any roof
Send the declaration page on roof maintenance and a photo of the building; we tell you which kind of job it is before anything else.
How long it takes
Single owner-maintained unit: one to two days. A row of four to six attached units: usually one week on site, with units dried in as they are opened so no unit sits exposed overnight.
How your project works
- 1
Send photos, get a written quote
Send three photos of the space and a sentence about what you want. You get a clear, itemized reply within one business day. Prefer a look in person? A free in-home estimate is always an option.
- 2
Pick materials, or bring your own
We help you choose profiles and materials that fit the house and the budget, or match your existing millwork exactly — or you buy the door or trim yourself and we install it. Everything is confirmed before the crew is scheduled.
- 3
Clean, precise installation
The crew shows up on time, protects floors and furniture, and installs with tight joints and consistent reveals. Photos of the finished work go in your job folder.
- 4
Walkthrough and invoice
We walk the finished work with you. If anything is not right, we fix it before we call the job done. Then one invoice, paid by check or direct deposit — no card fees, no payment links.
Situations and options
Association-owned roof, whole row
One scope per building for the board, one setup, every unit's details counted. After hail it is a master-policy claim and we meet the adjuster for the association.
Owner-maintained attached unit
Your roof, your claim or your check, but attached to the neighbors. Shingle matched to the row and approved by the association, party-wall tie-ins done cleanly.
Detached villa townhome
A freestanding house on an association lot. The owner usually maintains the roof. A normal roof replacement with the association's color rules applied.
Hail claim on a mixed row
When some units are hit and others are not, the matching question comes up: can the undamaged units be left in the old shingle? We document the match and the board and the adjuster decide.
Townhome Roof Replacement and the HOA — Who Owns the Roof: questions, answered
Who is responsible for the roof on a townhome, the HOA or the owner?
The association's declaration says. In most attached rows the roof is a common element the association maintains and insures under its master policy. In many detached villa developments, and some attached ones, the owner maintains the roof and insures it under their own policy. Read the maintenance section of the declaration or ask the manager, and ask the association's insurance agent what the master policy covers. We can read the page with you but the document decides.
Can one townhome in a row get a new roof by itself?
Yes, if the owner maintains the roof. The new shingle is matched to the row as closely as the current lines allow and approved by the association's architectural rules before it is ordered. At the party walls the new roof is tied into the neighbors' shingles with flashing, disturbing theirs only as far as that needs. We photograph the joints before and after. Expect the new roof to look newer than the row; that is unavoidable.
How does a hail claim work on a townhome with a master policy?
The association files the claim under the master policy, the adjuster scopes the building, and we meet the adjuster and write the line-item scope the same way as on a house. The master policy has its own deductible, often large, and the declaration says how it is divided among the units or paid from reserves. Your own policy may cover your share; ask your agent. Minnesota law does not allow us to waive or pay any part of a deductible.
Will the new shingles match the rest of the row?
As closely as the market allows. If the row's shingle line is still made, we match it. If it has been discontinued, the closest current line and color is chosen and approved by the association. On an association reroof of the whole row the question goes away because every unit gets the same shingle at the same time, which is one reason boards prefer to do whole buildings.
What happens at the wall between two townhome units during a reroof?
At a party wall the two roofs usually run together as one slope with the wall below the deck, or step at a parapet. On a continuous slope, the new shingles are woven into the neighbor's at the unit line with the courses kept in step, or the tear-off stops at a cut line and the joint is flashed. On a stepped wall, the wall gets new step and counter flashing. Either way the neighbor's roof is disturbed only as far as the flashing needs.
How long does it take to reroof a whole townhome row?
A row of four to six attached units is usually about a week on site, working unit by unit so each one is torn off and dried in the same day. Residents get a notice schedule with the day their garage and driveway need to be clear and when the noise will be over their unit. Larger buildings and rows with skylights and many penetrations take longer; the scope lists the days.
Recent JMB work, from our job log
59 installs recorded across 30 Twin Cities communities since Dec 2025. Window and door installs for homeowners, builders and dealers. Counts come straight from our job log; no customer names.
Get a written quote for this job
Three photos and a sentence is enough: a reply within one business day, or ask for a free in-home estimate. Or text the photos to 763-333-4066.
Related jobs we do
Roof Replacement Contractor — Full Roof Replacement, Start to Finish
Your roof is at the end of its life and you want one contractor for the whole job: inspection, materials, tear-off, deck, flashing, permit and cleanup, with the number written down before the first shingle comes off.
Read moreRoof Replacement Through an Insurance Claim — Adjuster to Final Check
Hail or wind took your roof, the claim is open or about to be, and you want to know what happens between the adjuster's visit and the finished roof, and who sends what to whom.
Read moreDuplex and Rental Roof Replacement — One Scope, Tenants in Place
You own a duplex or a few rental houses, the roof on one is due or the hail got it, and you want it done without a dozen phone calls, with tenants told what to expect and paperwork that fits your file.
Read moreHail Damage Roof Inspection and Insurance Claim Repair
After a hailstorm the question is simple: is there real damage, and is it enough to matter? We look, we document, and we tell you straight before anyone calls your insurance company.
Read moreClass 4 Impact-Resistant Shingles — Hail-Rated Roof Replacement
Your roof has been through two hail claims in ten years and you want the next one to shrug it off, or your insurer is offering a discount for an impact-rated roof and you want to know what you are buying.
Read moreAdd Drip Edge to an Existing Roof — Retrofit at Eaves and Rakes
Water drips behind the gutter instead of into it, the fascia is going soft, and the roofer who put the shingles on never installed drip edge.
Read morePage reviewed October 2, 2026 · JMB Builders LLC, MN license BC809005 · All roofing pages
Where we work
Roofing near you
Based in Zimmerman, scheduling across the Twin Cities metro. Closest first: