Bexar County's hail record, from the April 2016 storm to the 2021 east-side stones

The county's numbers

NOAA's Storm Events Database gives these Bexar County totals for 2016 through 2025:

April 12, 2016: the storm that set the county's damage total

On April 12, 2016, a thunderstorm produced 4.5-inch hail near Tezel Road and Bandera Road in northwest San Antonio, a stone the NOAA entry says tied for the largest ever reported in Bexar County. The storm moved across northern Bexar County and the northern half of the city, and damage costs in San Antonio were estimated at $1.36 billion (NCEI event 623870). The same day, 1.75-inch hail was logged near New Berlin in Guadalupe County (NCEI event 623892).

A storm that size brings a rush of roofers, and the Texas Department of Insurance's advice after a disaster is blunt: out-of-town scam artists may be the first to arrive. TDI suggests getting at least three bids, since that helps show which offers may be too high or too good to be true, and being wary of any contractor who asks for a large or full payment up front.

May 3, 2021: the east-side stones

Five years later the biggest hail of the decade fell on the other side of town. A thunderstorm produced 5.5-inch hail near Sayers and the China Grove area on the east side (NCEI event 961040), and a broadcast media partner relayed a 4.5-inch report near I-410 and Paula Drive (NCEI event 961017). Neither entry carries a damage estimate, a reminder that the database's dollar figures do not capture every damaging storm.

Wind and tornadoes

• February 19, 2017: a tornado formed near San Pedro Avenue at the San Pedro golf course and moved northeast, strengthening near Jackson-Keller Road; along Linda Drive and Sharon Drive its path widened to about 600 yards and its peak winds reached near 120 mph, an EF2 (NCEI event 674529).
• May 30, 2017: estimated 85 mph gusts in Elmendorf snapped power poles, and more than 100 houses had some damage, mostly from trees (NCEI event 697950).
• May 6, 2001: 4-inch hail in San Antonio carries a $120 million estimate, the county's second-largest hail damage figure since 2000 (NCEI event 5243267).

FEMA's major disaster declaration for Hurricane Harvey, DR-4332, includes Bexar County, as does the flooding emergency declaration EM-3649 of July 18, 2026.

What San Antonio's re-roof permit asks for

The city's home remodeling FAQ says re-roofing your home needs a permit, and that changes in pitch or materials need an engineer's inspection report. The re-roof permit application asks for the contractor's company name and city registration number, and states that a final building inspection will be performed by the city.

Homeowners can pull their own permit only by attesting that they own the house and will occupy or rent it for 12 months after the work is finished, and they then take responsibility for the inspections. The same form says that if a contractor signs, the permit belongs to the property owner and the contractor acts as the owner's authorized agent. A bid that is low because the roofer expects you to pull the permit yourself is shifting that responsibility onto you.

Roofers in San Antonio, Converse and Helotes

The National Roofing Directory lists roofers by city for San Antonio roofers, Converse roofers and Helotes roofers.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to re-roof a house in San Antonio?

Yes. The City of San Antonio's home remodeling FAQ says re-roofing your home needs a permit, and a change in pitch or roofing material also needs an engineer's inspection report.

What is the biggest hailstone recorded in Bexar County?

In the 2016 to 2025 window of NOAA's database, the largest was 5.5 inches, near Sayers on May 3, 2021 (NCEI event 961040). The April 12, 2016 entry described its 4.5-inch stone as tied for the largest ever reported in the county up to then.

Can I pull my own re-roof permit in San Antonio?

Only as an owner-occupant or landlord who attests to owning and occupying or renting the home for 12 months after the project, according to the city's re-roof permit application. You then become responsible for scheduling the required inspections.