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Atlanta Cool Roof Ordinance: What It Means For Your Roof
Ordinance 25-O-1310 sets minimum solar reflectance requirements on new and replacement roofs inside Atlanta city limits. Check your product spec against the thresholds free, before you order material.
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Cool Roof Compliance Checker
Enter the aged solar reflectance and SRI from your product's data sheet. We will tell you whether the spec clears the city thresholds for your roof type — before you order material, not after plan review sends it back.
Where to find the numbers: every membrane, coating and metal finish manufacturer publishes a reflectance data sheet, usually on the submittal or technical page. Look for aged values rather than initial values, and for a CRRC (Cool Roof Rating Council) rating where one exists.
Not sure which slope category you are in? Low-slope generally means anything under 2:12 pitch — the flat and near-flat roofs found on most commercial buildings. Steep-slope covers conventional pitched residential roofs.
Check Your Roof Spec
The Thresholds, Plainly
| Roof type | Minimum aged solar reflectance | Minimum SRI |
|---|---|---|
| Low-slope (commercial, flat, under 2:12) | 0.70 | 85 |
| Steep-slope (pitched residential and commercial) | 0.21 | 20 |
What those terms mean
- Solar reflectance
- The fraction of solar energy the surface reflects rather than absorbs, on a 0 to 1 scale. A reading of 0.70 means the roof reflects seventy percent of the solar energy hitting it.
- Aged versus initial
- Roofs get dirty. Aged values reflect performance after three years of real-world weathering and are always lower than the day-one number. The ordinance measures against aged values, which is where most compliance mistakes happen.
- SRI
- Solar Reflectance Index combines reflectance and thermal emittance into a single figure representing how hot a surface gets in full sun. A standard black roof is roughly 0; a standard white roof is roughly 100. Values above 100 are possible.
Which Materials Typically Comply
General guidance, not a substitute for the actual product data sheet on the product you are buying.
| Material | Typical aged SR | Low-slope compliant? |
|---|---|---|
| White TPO membrane | 0.65 – 0.78 | Usually — verify the specific product |
| White PVC membrane | 0.68 – 0.80 | Usually |
| White silicone coating | 0.75 – 0.85 | Typically yes |
| White acrylic coating | 0.70 – 0.85 | Typically yes |
| Black EPDM | 0.06 – 0.10 | No |
| White EPDM | 0.55 – 0.70 | Borderline — verify carefully |
| Modified bitumen, granulated | 0.10 – 0.30 | No, unless coated |
| Bare or mill-finish metal | 0.30 – 0.55 | Generally no |
| Cool-pigment coated metal | 0.55 – 0.70 | Sometimes — verify |
A practical note for building owners
If you are replacing a black EPDM roof inside city limits, plan on a different system. The cheapest path to compliance on an existing sound roof is often a reflective restoration coating rather than a full membrane replacement — it clears the thresholds comfortably and costs substantially less.
This page summarizes publicly available information about Atlanta Ordinance 25-O-1310 as a planning resource. It is not a code interpretation. Final determinations rest with the City of Atlanta Office of Buildings, and you should confirm current requirements for your project before purchasing material.
Cool Roof Ordinance FAQs
What is the Atlanta cool roof ordinance?
Ordinance 25-O-1310, adopted by Atlanta City Council on June 2, 2025, requires new and replacement roofs within city limits to meet minimum solar reflectance standards. It takes effect in 2026. The purpose is reducing urban heat island effect and building cooling load across the city.
What are the reflectance requirements?
Low-slope roofs must achieve an aged solar reflectance of at least 0.70 and a Solar Reflectance Index of at least 85. Steep-slope roofs face lower thresholds: aged solar reflectance of at least 0.21 and an SRI of at least 20. The word aged matters — initial reflectance values on a product sheet are usually higher than the aged values the ordinance measures against.
Does this apply to my building?
Generally, if you are installing a new roof or replacing an existing one inside City of Atlanta limits. Buildings in surrounding jurisdictions such as Marietta, Decatur or unincorporated Cobb and Gwinnett are not covered by the city ordinance, though other energy code provisions may still apply. Confirm your parcel's jurisdiction before you specify material — addresses with Atlanta mailing addresses are frequently outside city limits.
What if I want a dark roof?
The ordinance typically allows compliance paths other than surface reflectance, most commonly increased insulation to offset the thermal gain. That path has to be documented at plan review rather than assumed. If a dark roof matters to you aesthetically, raise it early in the design rather than after material is ordered.
What happens if my roof does not comply?
The practical consequence is a permit problem: plan review flags the specification and the project stalls. On a commercial replacement where material has already been ordered and crews scheduled, that delay is expensive. Fifteen seconds with the checker above prevents it.
Do cool roofs actually save money in Atlanta?
On cooling-dominated buildings, yes. Atlanta runs cooling load seven-plus months a year, and a reflective low-slope roof measurably reduces rooftop surface temperature and the heat entering the building through it. The savings are largest on single-story buildings with big roof-to-floor ratios — warehouses, big-box retail, distribution facilities.
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Have Us Review Your Roof Spec
Send us the product data sheet and the building address. We will confirm whether the spec clears the thresholds and whether the parcel is inside city limits.