Conventional green roof systems provide many ecological services and are an effective solution for reintroducing green space into urban centers. However, wetland roofs are a new type of green roof with hydric ecology aimed to provide a greater amount of ecosystem services to humans while delivering diverse community of species. As cities demand further environmental infrastructure, wetland roofs may have the potential to become an effective green roof type. To begin, three studies explore to understand if wetlands are a viable ecosystem to emulate in green roofs. First, common criteria between wetlands and roof environments must be explored for translation into design guidelines and construction parameters. Second, local wet novel ecosystem can be studied for informing guidelines in wetland roof design. Finally, a field experiment testing a blue-green roof’s hydrologic and nutrient behavior will assess for additional and unique ecosystem services. Results of the research will aid in the definition, design, and construction of wetland roofs. Understanding the performance of wetland roofs will allow them to be used in urban areas for decentralized water management, conservation efforts, and additional ecosystem services in built environments.