Tile Roof Cost in Upland

Upland sits at the foot of the hills. Here is a sunny, practical look at what that means for a tile roof.

Homes and owners

The Census Bureau counts about 28,300 homes in Upland. The median year built is 1978. About 17 percent were built before 1960, and nearly 56 percent before 1980. Owners live in about 57 percent of the homes, which means a larger share of renters than in many nearby cities, and the median value is $739,400 (ACS 2020-2024).

Because the median home dates to the late 1970s, many roofs here have been replaced at least once. Tile may be one of the materials on older streets, as it is common in Southern California, but check your own paperwork. If you rent out a home or manage a property, your tenants and neighbors will thank you for catching small issues early.

The rain factor

A NOAA station about 3 kilometers away averages about 21 inches of rain a year (1991 to 2020), the most of the places we looked at. That is still a dry-summer climate, but it means water has more chances to find a gap. Good flashing, intact ridge pieces and healthy underlayment matter. Fixr lists one leak repair at $150 to $500 and one cracked tile at $25 to $50 (January 2025), so catching a small problem before the wet season is a smart habit.

Heat and the energy code

Upland is in California climate zone 10. The California Energy Commission's 2022 fact sheet gives new homes with steep roofs in zones 10 to 15 a minimum aged solar reflectance of 0.20 and thermal emittance of 0.75, or an SRI of 16. When more than half the roof is replaced, rules can apply to re-roofs too. Ask the building office which cool roof requirements apply.

Fire zones

Upland has a light mapped share: about 4.8 percent of the city is in CAL FIRE's very high zone, and about 12.6 percent in any zone (our estimate, around 480 acres in the very high zone). Most homes are outside the zones, but check your own address.

What the city says about permits

The city's "Do I need a Building Permit?" handout (Rev 11/24). It lists re-roofing as a project that requires a permit. It also says an owner can pull permits as an owner-builder, though the city highly recommends a licensed California contractor. A signed, notarized authorization letter is needed when someone else gets the permit for you. The city's permit line is (909) 931-4110.

The handout lists no fee.

Costs, in plain numbers

National estimates only. No Upland price guide is published.

• Typical full tile roof: about $8,200 to $24,600 (This Old House, April 2026).
• Clay installed: $8 to $22 per square foot. Concrete installed: $7 to $19 per square foot (same page).
• Repairs overall: $900 to $2,300, averaging $1,800 (Fixr, January 2025).

See the cost guide for details on keeping versus replacing your tiles.

Renters, landlords and shared roofs

With a bigger share of renters in Upland, many homes have one person paying the bills and another living under the roof. If that is you, put every roof request in writing, with dates and photos. Landlords can then act faster, and tenants have a record. The state's license check works for everyone, so a tenant can look up a roofer too.

If you own a rental, a lift and relay can be a smart way to refresh a tile roof without buying all new tile. Ask roofers to price it both ways, and compare.

Your game plan

Walk the roof line from the ground after the first rain. Look for dark stains on ceilings and loose tiles near the ridge. If you find something, take a photo. Next, request written bids, ask the roofers to list permit and tear-off costs, and verify each license at cslb.ca.gov. A friendly little checklist beats a rushed decision every time.