This guide covers what the code section says, how local adoption changes it, where manufacturer instructions come in, and how to document drip edge so a reviewer can check the line without calling you. It's about the scope of the work you perform. Whether an item is covered is the carrier's decision.
What 2021 IRC R905.2.8.5 requires, unit: LF
2021 IRC R905.2.8.5, where adopted, opens with one sentence: "A drip edge shall be provided at eaves and rake edges of shingle roofs." The rest of the section sets how it goes on.
- Where
- The eaves and the rake edges of shingle roofs. Both edges, not just the eaves.
- Laps
- Adjacent pieces overlap at least 2 inches.
- Extension
- At least 1/4 inch below the roof sheathing, and at least 2 inches back onto the roof deck.
- Fastening
- Mechanically fastened to the roof deck at no more than 12 inches on center, with the fasteners specified in Section R905.2.5.
- Underlayment order
- Underlayment goes over the drip edge along the eaves and under the drip edge along the rakes.
Those details matter on a supplement because they describe a separate piece of metal with its own fastening and its own place in the install sequence. It isn't part of the shingle or starter line, so it needs its own line, its own quantity and its own support.
Since which IRC edition
Drip edge first appeared in the IRC in the 2012 edition. The International Code Council's summary of 2012 changes lists R905.2.8.5 as an addition, and notes that before it, drip edge wasn't required for asphalt shingles unless the manufacturer's installation instructions called for it.
The 2012 wording said "eaves and gables". The 2021 wording says "eaves and rake edges". ICC's 2012 summary explains that the rake edges are the sloped edges the 2012 text called gables, so the two wordings point at the same edge.
This history explains why an older roof may have no drip edge at all, or only at the eaves. It isn't a citation on its own. Cite the edition adopted now where the house is.
Why the adopted edition and local amendments matter
The IRC is a model code: it only applies where a state or local government adopts it, and that government chooses the edition and can amend or delete sections. For drip edge, that means R905.2.8.5 can read differently from one jurisdiction to the next.
For example, a 2021 roof replacement FAQ from the building division of Prince William County, Virginia said the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code "does not prescriptively require 'drip edge'", but that it would be required where the shingle manufacturer requires it. That FAQ dates from 2021, and Virginia's code may have changed since, so treat it as an illustration of a local difference, not as current Virginia guidance.
Permit offices can also add their own documentation steps. For example, the City of New Orleans' re-roofing permit specifications (created August 2023) ask for geotagged photos of the drip edge nailing pattern before it's concealed, with at least one photo of each side of the roof. Where a permit office asks for photos like these, the same photos support the line on your estimate.
Checklist / Adopted editions4 items
Find out for the jurisdiction
- Which government issues the permit (city, county or state)
- Which IRC edition, or which state code, is adopted
- Whether R905.2.8.5 is amended, deleted or tied to the manufacturer's instructions
- Whether the permit office asks for photos or an inspection of the edge metal
If you can't confirm a local rule, write "confirm with the building department" in your notes rather than guessing. See code and permit notes for what to record on every file.
When manufacturer instructions call for drip edge
Manufacturer instructions matter even where the drip edge section is amended, because 2021 IRC R905.1, where adopted, requires roof coverings to be applied in line with the manufacturer's installation instructions. Instructions differ between manufacturers and product lines, so cite the ones for the product you're installing, in the exact words they use.
- Owens Corning (example)
- The current Duration Series installation instructions on Owens Corning's website have the starter course overhang the drip edge along the rake and eaves edge by 1/4 to 3/4 inch, and say shingles may be left flush with the drip edge if it is "D, F, or T"-style. Those are install details that assume drip edge is there. They aren't a statement that drip edge is mandatory, so quote them as written.
Other manufacturers word their instructions differently, and some tie edge metal to their warranty terms. Save the instructions for the exact product and version (the PDF, or a photo of the bundle wrapper) and attach them to the file. Manufacturers revise their instructions, so check the current version before you cite it.
Documenting drip edge on a supplement, unit: LF
Drip edge is documented with four things: eave and rake lengths kept separate, photos of both edges, the gutter condition at the eave, and the condition of any existing drip edge.
- Eave and rake lengths
- Take both from the same measurement report and keep them as separate figures, so the reviewer can see the rakes weren't dropped. Example (hypothetical numbers): a report shows 150 LF of eaves and 100 LF of rakes; the estimate shows 250 LF of drip edge, with a note reading "eaves 150 LF + rakes 100 LF".
- Photos of both edges
- A wide shot that places each edge on its slope, then a close-up showing what's there now: drip edge or none, its profile, and any rust, bends or gaps. Shoot rakes as deliberately as eaves.
- Gutters at the eave
- Where gutters are fastened through or tight against the eave edge, replacing the drip edge can mean detaching and resetting them. Photograph the hanger type, how the gutter meets the edge and any gutter apron, and take the gutter length from the eave measurement.
- Existing drip edge
- If there is drip edge, photograph its condition close up, with a tape on the flange where it can be seen. If there isn't, photograph the bare edge so the photo shows nothing is there.
- Citation
- The section adopted where the house is, and the manufacturer's instructions for the product you're installing. Name the edition.
Photograph the roof as you find it. Never mark, alter or stage a condition. For the full photo order, see the file checklist; for how drip edge sits alongside the other edge items, see roof scope line items and detach and reset. To check that the eave and rake totals are right before you rely on them, see reviewing a measurement report.
Common reviewer questions and the documentation that addresses each
The questions a reviewer may ask about drip edge cover whether it's needed, where it goes, how much, whether the old metal can stay, what else has to move, and whether it's already in another line.
| Reviewer question | Documentation that addresses it |
|---|---|
| "The existing roof had no drip edge." | Photos of the bare edges, the section adopted where the house is, and the manufacturer's instructions for the product being installed |
| "Drip edge is listed for eaves only." | Rake length from the measurement report, rake photos, and the code or instruction text that names rake edges |
| "Reuse the existing drip edge." | Close-ups showing its condition and profile, with a tape on the flange, and the manufacturer's instructions on edge metal for the product |
| "The quantity looks high." | Eave and rake figures from the same report, listed separately, and a note on any edge left out and why |
| "Gutters don't need to come off." | Photos of the hanger type and how the gutter meets the eave edge |
| "That's already in another line." | Which line the reviewer means, checked against the item description in your platform's current price list |
| "Drip edge isn't required here." | The jurisdiction's adopted edition and any amendment; if it's tied to the manufacturer, the manufacturer's instructions |
The documentation answers the question. The reviewer still decides what the carrier includes. Coverage questions go to the carrier, a licensed public adjuster or an attorney.
Before drip edge goes on the estimate
Checklist / Checklist7 items
Check before you add the line
- It's work your company will actually perform
- Eave and rake lengths come from the measurement report, as separate figures
- Photos show both edges, as they are now
- The gutter attachment at the eave is photographed, if gutters are there
- The citation names the code edition adopted where the house is, or the manufacturer's instructions for the product installed
- The manufacturer's instructions are saved to the file, in the current version
- Drip edge isn't already counted in another line
Rather hand the file to a team that works this way? Our Supplementers document only the trades you perform, working inside your CRM, from the photos and measurement report your team sends. Our standard: an item goes on a supplement only with a photo, a measurement or a document behind it. Request an intro call or see how we work roofing supplements.
Common questions
Is drip edge required by code?
Where the 2021 IRC is adopted without a change to this section, yes: R905.2.8.5 requires drip edge at the eaves and rake edges of shingle roofs. Some jurisdictions amend the section, for example so drip edge is required only where the shingle manufacturer requires it. Check the edition and amendments adopted where the house is, and the manufacturer's instructions for the shingle you install.
Does the IRC require drip edge on rakes, or only on eaves?
Both. 2021 IRC R905.2.8.5, where adopted, names "eaves and rake edges of shingle roofs". Measure the rakes from the report, list them separately from the eaves, and photograph both edges.
When did drip edge become part of the IRC?
In the 2012 edition. ICC's summary of 2012 changes lists R905.2.8.5 as an addition and notes that drip edge was previously required for asphalt shingles only where the manufacturer's instructions called for it. That's one reason older roofs may have none.
Does underlayment go over or under drip edge?
Under 2021 IRC R905.2.8.5, where adopted, underlayment goes over the drip edge along the eaves and under it along the rakes. Check the manufacturer's instructions for the products you install as well. Where an ice barrier runs along the eave, check the instructions for both products; see the ice and water shield guide.
Is drip edge required if the old roof didn't have any?
What the new installation needs comes from the code adopted where the house is and the manufacturer's instructions for the product you install, not from what the old roof had. If you're not sure how the local code treats roof replacements, ask the building department. Photograph the bare edges either way.
Sources
- International Code Council, 2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 9 (Roof Assemblies), Section R905.2.8.5 Drip edge, and Section R905.1 Roof covering application. Check the edition and amendments adopted where the house is. codes
.iccsafe (opens in a new tab).org - International Code Council, Significant Changes to the IRC, 2012 Edition: R905.2.8.5 Roof Drip Edge (change type: addition). iccsafe
.org (opens in a new tab) - Prince William County, Virginia, Department of Development Services, Building Development Division, Residential Roof Replacements FAQ (version 2021-06-24). pwcva
.gov (opens in a new tab) - City of New Orleans, Department of Safety and Permits, Re-Roofing Permit: Technical Specifications (created 8/4/2023). nola
.gov (opens in a new tab) - Owens Corning, Duration Series Shingles Installation Instructions (web page, checked October 21, 2026). owenscorning
.com (opens in a new tab) - The manufacturer's installation instructions for each shingle, starter and edge metal product installed (on the bundle wrapper or the manufacturer's website).
These guides document the scope of work a contractor performs. They aren't coverage or legal advice.