Ottawa, KS · Franklin County
Roof inspections in Ottawa.
Census Bureau estimates put the median year built for Ottawa’s housing at 1967.
The short answer
Ottawa requires roofers to hold a city Class R license, and its code requires removing all existing roof layers before a new covering goes on, with a few exceptions.
Since 2016, National Weather Service reports show hail 1 inch or larger within 5 miles of central Ottawa on 6 days and gusts of 58 mph or more on 20 days. The largest hail reported there was 2.75 inches on April 13, 2026 (a preliminary report).
A free, no-obligation inspection comes from an independent roofing partner that serves Ottawa, and checking storm history doesn’t file an insurance claim.
The Franklin County seat began with a town company founded in 1864 on the south side of the Marais des Cygnes River, and the city’s 2004 comprehensive plan calls the Ottawa University campus a landmark known for its historic stone buildings.
Start with your address to see how many significant storms are on record near your Ottawa home, explained in plain language. Being near a storm isn’t the same as roof damage. If you want a closer look, one local roofing partner will inspect your roof for free.
Storm record for Ottawa since 2016
NOAA/NWS storm reports through November 10, 2026.
These are records for the wider area, not for your address. A storm on record doesn’t mean your roof was damaged, and it doesn’t mean your insurance company will accept that storm or date. That’s why an inspection is worth having: a roofing professional looks at the roof itself.
- Hail-report days
- 6
- 1 in+, since 2016
- Wind-report days
- 20
- 58 mph+, since 2016
- Radar hail days
- 6
- 1 in+, since 2021
Severe-weather days per year
- Days with hail 1 in+
- Days with only wind 58 mph+
* Year to date, through November 10, 2026.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Hail days | Wind days | Radar days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 | 4 | — |
| 2017 | 1 | 2 | — |
| 2018 | 1 | 2 | — |
| 2019 | 0 | 4 | — |
| 2020 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2021 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2026to Nov 10preliminary | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Hail days: Weather Service reports of 1 inch or larger. Wind days: gusts of 58 mph or more. Radar days: radar estimates of 1 inch or larger, from 2021.
Biggest storm days within 5 miles of central Ottawa
Ranked by the largest hail reported, then the strongest wind.
April 13, 2026(preliminary)
Hail 2.75 in (baseball)2 severe reports
April 26, 2016
Hail 1.5 in (ping pong ball)Wind 64 mph3 severe reports
May 31, 2017
Hail 1.5 in (ping pong ball)4 severe reports
May 13, 2016
Hail 1.0 in (quarter)Wind 60 mph2 severe reports
April 13, 2018
Hail 1.0 in (quarter)3 severe reports
How we count. A hail day is a day with at least one National Weather Service hail report of 1 inch or larger within 5 miles of central Ottawa; a wind day has a measured or estimated gust of 58 mph or more. Data through November 10, 2026.
The full method and source
Several reports on the same day count once.
Our storm records come from NOAA radar estimates and National Weather Service reports. Radar can miss or misjudge hail, and a report marks a single spot, so records can be incomplete. Treat them as a starting point, not a verdict about your roof.
Radar hail days use NOAA’s radar estimates (MRMS) of 1 inch or larger over the same area, counted only when the Weather Service also logged hail within 15 miles that day. 2026 numbers come from preliminary reports and can change.
Source: NOAA / National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center storm reports and NOAA MRMS radar hail estimates, retrieved November 11, 2026. Data through November 10, 2026; 2026 reports are preliminary and can still change. Compiled by Roof Inspectors from public-domain NOAA data. How storm data works.
On our hail-by-place comparison (5-mile circles, 2016–2025), Ottawa is in the middle band.
Your own street can differ. Check the storm history for your address or see Kansas City hail history by year.
Was hail recorded near your street?
Hail falls in narrow swaths — see what the records show at or near your address.
- Doesn’t file an insurance claim
- One local partner, never a pile-on
Storms in and around Ottawa
- NWS Topeka: April 13, 2026 Ottawa tornado (opens in a new tab)
On the evening of April 13, 2026, an EF-2 tornado with estimated peak winds of 125 mph developed a few miles west of Ottawa before entering the southern side of the city, according to the National Weather Service in Topeka.
NWS says much of the damage was to businesses and homes in Ottawa and just east of town. Hail up to baseball size (2.75 inches) was also reported in and around Ottawa that evening.
- NOAA storm record, June 21, 2019 (opens in a new tab)
A severe thunderstorm produced an estimated 87-knot (about 100 mph) wind gust about 1.4 miles north of Ottawa Municipal Airport, according to NOAA’s Storm Events Database. The record, from a trained spotter, notes 15 to 20 power poles snapped along Rock Creek Road.
- NOAA storm record, April 2, 2014 (opens in a new tab)
A trained spotter reported 2-inch hail in Ottawa on the evening of April 2, 2014, according to NOAA’s Storm Events Database. The record notes that hail the size of quarters and golf balls was common with that day’s storms.
Before you hire a roofer in Ottawa
- Ottawa requires roofers to hold a city Class R (Roofing) occupational license unless they work under a general contractor, and its code bars permits for unlicensed contractors. The license calls for a current State of Kansas roofing certificate, five years of experience, and six hours of continuing education a year. KS
- Ottawa’s amendments to the residential code say new roof coverings can’t be installed without first removing all existing layers down to the roof deck. The code lists a few exceptions, such as standing-seam metal roof systems that don’t rely on the existing roof for support. KS
- Ottawa’s permit fee schedule lists residential roof permits at $50 for single-family homes and duplexes, with the fee based on valuation for jobs valued at $8,000 and up. Confirm permit requirements for your project with the City of Ottawa’s Community Development Department. KS
- Kansas requires roofing contractors to register with the Kansas Attorney General before doing residential or commercial roofing work for pay. Ask any roofer for their registration number — and look it up. KS
- City of Ottawa Municipal Code — Contractor licensing (opens in a new tab)KS
- City of Ottawa Municipal Code — Residential code amendments (opens in a new tab)KS
- City of Ottawa Municipal Code — Permit fees (opens in a new tab)KS
- Kansas Attorney General — Roofing Registration (opens in a new tab)KS
Rules change; confirm current requirements with the city before work begins. This isn’t legal advice.
ZIP codes we serve in Ottawa
- 66067
Not listed? Enter your address — we confirm service for your exact location.
Ottawa roof inspection questions
Does my roofer need an Ottawa city license?
Can new shingles go over my old roof in Ottawa?
Was my home near the April 13, 2026 tornado or hail?
If you file a claim, even after an inspection, your insurance company decides what’s covered and what it pays. Roof Inspectors and our roofing partners can’t make that decision or promise an outcome.
Nearby communities
Ottawa is in our service area, which covers homes within about 60 miles of Overland Park, Kansas. For every community we serve in Kansas and Missouri, see roof inspection in the Kansas City area.
See the storms on record near your Ottawa home.
Start with a free storm count for your address. It takes about 30 seconds.
Checking storm history doesn’t file an insurance claim, and no roofer gets your details unless you book an inspection.