This guide covers what carriers ask for, how to ask for the credit, and the state rule that starts in January 2027.
What the Class 4 credit is
Class 4 is the top rating under UL 2218, the standard impact test for roofing. A two-inch steel ball is dropped from 20 feet onto the same spot twice, and the product passes if the mat doesn't crack. Asphalt shingles, stone-coated steel, standing seam metal and some synthetics can all earn it.
Each insurer sets its own credit. Many apply it to the wind and hail part of the premium, not the whole bill, which is one reason the savings can look smaller than expected.
Hail is a big share of what Coloradans pay. In February 2026 the Division of Insurance published data from 20 carriers covering 80 percent of the market. Hail accounted for 26 to 54 percent of the average premium in the 11 counties studied, and the Division estimated that hail mitigation could save consumers an average of $82 to $387 a year (DOI hail data summary). Those are county averages. Your figure comes from your carrier.
Why the credit often never shows up
These are the gaps we see most often when we review a homeowner's renewal paperwork:
- The carrier never received the documents. Nobody sent them, or they went to a general inbox and were never matched to the policy.
- The paperwork didn't name the product. An invoice that says "Class 4 shingles" without the brand, line and color often isn't enough.
- The permit is still open. No final inspection means no proof the roof was finished.
- The credit was applied, but the base rate rose at renewal. The bill went up anyway, so it looked like nothing happened.
- The policy changed at the same time. Some carriers pair a roof credit with a cosmetic damage exclusion.
The credit packet
| Document | What it proves | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer certificate or product listing showing UL 2218 Class 4 | The product carries the rating | The manufacturer, through your roofer |
| Contract or final invoice naming brand, product line and color | That exact product went on your house | Your roofer |
| Closed permit showing a passed final inspection | The roof was finished and inspected | Your building department |
| Photos of bundle wrappers with the rating label, plus install photos | Ties the product to your address | Your roofer |
| Completion date | When the credit should start | Your contract or invoice |
Alta puts this packet together on every impact-resistant roof we install and sends it to the carrier. If your Class 4 roof went on years ago, much of it can usually be rebuilt from your contract, the manufacturer's listing and the building department's permit record.
Which office closes your permit
The closed permit is the piece most often missing. Colorado Springs, Fountain, Monument, Woodland Park, Green Mountain Falls and unincorporated El Paso County permit through the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department. The City of Pueblo uses the Pueblo Regional Building Department. Pueblo West moved to the Pueblo County Building Division on 1 January 2026. Our claim guide explains why carriers treat an open permit as an unfinished roof.
What to ask your agent
Call before you sign for the roof if you can, and again once the packet is ready. Write down who you spoke to and when.
- Do you offer a credit for an impact-resistant roof on my policy, and which rating do you require?
- Which documents do you need, and where should they go?
- Which part of my premium does the credit reduce, and what's the dollar amount on my current policy?
- Will accepting the credit change how my roof is settled after a storm, such as a cosmetic damage exclusion or actual cash value terms?
- Does the credit start now or at renewal?
- Will it be listed on my declarations page?
The last answer is the one to check. When the next declarations page arrives, look for the credit by name. If it isn't there, call back with the date of your earlier conversation.
The cosmetic exclusion trade-off
A Class 4 shingle resists cracking. It can still lose granules and show dents in a large storm. A growing number of Colorado policies carry a cosmetic damage exclusion, which refuses to pay for damage that changes how the roof looks without affecting how it sheds water.
So a policy can carry the Class 4 credit and a cosmetic exclusion on the same roof. That isn't necessarily a bad deal, but you should know both terms before the next storm. Our team at Alta reads the declarations page with you during the free inspection for exactly this reason.
What changes in 2027
Senate Bill 26-155 adds a reporting rule. Beginning with rate filings submitted on or after 1 January 2027, insurers writing multiperil homeowners policies must show the Division of Insurance that savings from resilient roofs reach policyholders through discounts or lower premiums. Each year they also have to report:
- How many policies they have in force
- How many insured homes have a resilient roof, and the discount those homes receive
- How often, and how expensively, homes with and without resilient roofs file wind and hail claims
One detail in the wording is easy to miss. The law defines a "resilient roof system" as one certified under the IBHS FORTIFIED program or a similar standard the new Strengthen Colorado Homes board approves. A standard Class 4 shingle installation isn't automatically in that category. How carriers treat ordinary Class 4 roofs in these filings may depend on the standard the board adopts, so keep your packet complete either way.
Turning the rating into a lower premium
The rating on the bundle is only half of the job. The credit depends on a closed permit, a named product and a carrier that has the documents in hand, and from 2027 it will also depend on how your insurer reports resilient roofs to the state.
Alta Roofing quotes standard and Class 4 roof replacements side by side, closes the permit and sends the credit packet to your carrier. If you already have a Class 4 roof and never saw the discount, contact us and we'll help you work out which document is missing.
