Every roof in Aurora is supposed to be built to numbers most homeowners never see: a design wind speed, a ground snow load, a weathering rating. They live in the city's design criteria, they decide what a correct roofing scope looks like, and out here on the open plains they are not academic. This guide puts the numbers in plain English and shows what they mean when you are choosing shingles and reading bids.
Aurora Roof Design Criteria in Plain English
The City of Aurora publishes design criteria alongside its adopted 2021 building codes, and every roofing permit in the city is issued against them. The headline numbers for houses:
| Criterion | Aurora value |
|---|---|
| Basic wind speed | 105 to 110 mph (Vult, Risk Category II homes) |
| Ground snow load | 40 psf |
| Weathering | Severe |
| Frost depth | 36 inches |
| High wind fastening | 6 nails per shingle in designated areas over 90 mph |
Ice barrier underlayment is also required city-wide, a rule unusual enough on the south metro that we gave it its own guide.
What a 105 to 110 mph Wind Rating Means for Shingles in Colorado
Vult is an ultimate design wind speed, a short-gust engineering value, not a weather forecast. Aurora does not see 110 mph on a normal afternoon, but the roof has to be detailed as if it might, because Front Range downslope wind events and thunderstorm gust fronts routinely produce shingle-lifting gusts with nothing east of the city to slow them down.
For shingle choice, that means asking about the wind rating and, more importantly, the installation that the rating depends on. Most architectural shingles carry their high wind ratings only when installed with the fastening pattern the manufacturer specifies, commonly six nails per shingle, driven on the nailing line, with the sealant strips given time and warmth to bond. A big number on the wrapper means nothing if the crew nails high and races on.
Six Nails Per Shingle in Aurora's High Wind Areas
Aurora's criteria call for 6 nails per shingle in designated high wind areas, those mapped over 90 mph. In practice we treat six nails as the default on every Aurora roof regardless of the map. The extra cost is a few boxes of nails and a slower pace, and the wind does not read maps.
The 40 psf Snow Load and Severe Weathering on Aurora Roofs
The 40 psf ground snow load is a structural design value: the framing under your roof is expected to carry a serious, wet Front Range snow without distress. Homeowners rarely need to think about it until something changes the math, a heavy spring dump on a saturated roof, an old second layer of shingles that never came off, or equipment added without a load check. It is one reason Aurora's tear-off rule exists, which we cover in our guide to roof overlay rules in Aurora.
The severe weathering rating matters more day to day. It reflects our freeze-thaw cycling: sun-warmed shingles thaw and refreeze dozens of times each winter, which fatigues asphalt, granule adhesion and sealant bonds faster than milder climates ever would.
Why E-470 Corridor Exposure Ages Builder-Grade Roofs Faster
Southeast Aurora's master plans, the Southlands corridor, Saddle Rock and Southshore among them, sit on open plains with young trees and a long, clear run for the wind. There is no terrain between the weather and your ridge cap. Builder-grade shingles installed quickly during construction booms take that exposure on the chin, and lifted tabs, creased shingles and early granule loss commonly show up well before the warranty age. We wrote more on that pattern in our builder-grade shingle guide.
What to Ask For in an Aurora Roofing Scope
- Wind rating tied to fastening. The scope should state the shingle's wind rating and the nailing pattern that earns it. Six nails per shingle, in writing.
- Ice barrier, drip edge and kick-out flashing. All required on Aurora permits. If the bid does not name them, ask why.
- Impact resistance considered. Class 4 shingles earn commonly reported Colorado insurance discounts of 5 to 25 percent; the math lives in our Class 4 shingle guide.
- A permit against the city's criteria. The inspection is your independent check that the numbers above actually made it onto the roof.
Not sure what your current roof was built to? Book a free documented inspection and we will photograph the fastening, flashing and wear patterns, then match any replacement scope to Aurora's criteria line by line.
Wind and Snow Roof Requirements in Aurora, CO: FAQ
- What wind speed are roofs in Aurora designed for? Aurora's design criteria set a basic wind speed of 105 to 110 mph (Vult) for Risk Category II homes. That is an ultimate short-gust design value, not typical weather. For shingles it means choosing a high wind rating and installing with the fastening pattern that rating requires, commonly six nails per shingle on the nailing line.
- What is the snow load requirement for roofs in Aurora, Colorado? The city's design criteria use a 40 psf ground snow load, along with a severe weathering rating and a 36 inch frost depth. The snow load is a structural value for the framing. The severe weathering rating is why freeze-thaw cycling ages shingles, sealant and flashing faster here than in milder climates.
- Are six nails per shingle required in Aurora? Aurora's criteria require 6 nails per shingle in designated high wind areas, mapped above 90 mph. Many local roofers, ourselves included, use six nails on every Aurora roof regardless, since the added cost is minor and most manufacturer high wind ratings depend on a six-nail pattern anyway.
More Aurora Roofing Guides
We inspect, photograph and give it to you straight. (720) 729-9514 or book online.
