Sheet-metal roofing work in Prešov

The Prešov heritage reserve

Prešov is one of the oldest heritage reserves in Slovakia – on 11 June 1950 the government included it among the first eight Slovak reserves. The Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic (Pamiatkový úrad SR) describes it, together with Bardejov, as one of the free towns of the Šariš region, which have kept their historic town layout since the 13th century.

In the Prešov Region, Bardejov, Kežmarok, Levoča, Spišská Sobota, Spišská Kapitula and Podolínec are also heritage reserves.

What this means for sheet-metal roofing work

The roofs of the town houses in the historic core can often be seen from the street and from neighbouring buildings, so changing the colour of the covering, flashings or gutters is an intervention in the appearance of the town that the monuments board assesses.

What to do before ordering work

1. Check where the house lies in the register of heritage zones and reserves, or ask the regional monuments board.
2. Prepare the proposal – what is changing, in what material, what shape and colour, and photos of the current state. The roofer will help you with the technical description.
3. Ask the Prešov Regional Monuments Board for a decision before you order materials. In its decision the board assesses the proposal from the point of view of protecting heritage values; the conditions in the decision then apply to the roofer.
4. Building authority. The building authority is the municipality (Section 15 of Building Act No. 25/2025 Coll.), in this case the City of Prešov. Check the notification requirements and procedure with the city’s building authority.
5. Enquiry. In your enquiry, state that the house is in the heritage reserve and attach the conditions from the decision.

Practical tips for historic houses

• With titanium-zinc and copper, expect soldered joints – not every firm has experience with them; ask for references from historic buildings.
• When gutters are replaced, the shape (half-round / box) and the downpipe positions are kept unless the decision says otherwise.
• Scaffolding in the narrow streets of the centre may require the use of public space – this is arranged with the city and affects both timing and price.
• Do not combine copper with galvanised steel, zinc or aluminium below it – see the material comparison.

More cities in preparation

Žilina, Nitra, Trnava, Trenčín, Banská Bystrica, Poprad and Martin. We will publish a city page only when we have verified local information. We do not publish firms or ratings.

This is information, not legal advice. If in doubt, contact the regional monuments board or the building authority.

Questions and answers

Do I need permission to replace gutters in Prešov?

Outside a heritage area, usually not – under Section 18(5)(a) of Building Act No. 25/2025 Coll., repairing and replacing a roof covering needs neither a decision on the building plan nor a notification, unless one of the exceptions in Section 18(4) applies. In the heritage reserve, the owner must ask the Prešov Regional Monuments Board for a decision before altering the building, under Section 32(5) of Act No. 49/2002 Coll.