Roofing in Bergenfield, New Jersey

Not required

Required

The 2024 International Residential Code, New Jersey edition, adopted by the State, with the Rehabilitation Subcode for work on existing buildings. New Jersey has one construction code, the Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23), which every municipality enforces; municipalities do not adopt building codes of their own (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-123.1 and 52:27D-139). N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.21(a)1 adopts the International Code Council's "2024 International Residential Code known as the IRC/2024 as the one- and two-family dwelling subcode in New Jersey subject to the modifications stated at (c) below," and 3.21(b) applies it to "detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories above grade plane in height." The section was rewritten by R.2026 d.086, "effective August 17, 2026," in the Department of Community Affairs' print of the rules "adopted and published through the New Jersey Register, Vol. 58 No. 16," and the Department's Current Construction Codes page lists the "International Residential Code/2024, NJ ed" with an adoption date of Aug 17, 2026. Other buildings fall under the building subcode, the International Building Code/2024, NJ edition (N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.14). Roof work on an existing building is held to the Rehabilitation Subcode: "Existing structures, when repaired, renovated, altered or reconstructed, shall conform to the requirements of N.J.A.C. 5:23-6, Rehabilitation Subcode" (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.4(a)). A six-month grace period follows the adoption. N.J.A.C. 5:23-1.6(a): "For a period of six months following the operative date of a subcode revision, applicants may submit a complete permit application, including all prior approvals, to be reviewed under the code in force immediately preceding the subcode revision." The rule history gives R.2026 d.086 no date other than its effective date, so on that reading the window runs from August 17, 2026 until about February 17, 2027: a complete application filed inside it may be reviewed under either the prior edition or the 2024 edition, at the applicant's choice, and one filed after it closes is reviewed under the 2024 edition. Everything above is New Jersey state law, the same in every municipality. Locally, Chapter 136 of the Borough Code establishes the "Bergenfield Construction Code Department" as the enforcing agency and sets its fees. The Building Department's FAQ says "All construction in the State of New Jersey is regulated under The Uniform Construction Code Act"; the model-code list on that FAQ names earlier editions, including "the 2009 International Residential Code/2015, (New Jersey Edition)," and refers readers to the State's codes site for current codes.

No permit is needed under state law to reroof a detached one- or two-family house, and the Bergenfield Building Department's list of work requiring building permits names commercial roofs but no residential roofing; a townhouse, other attached dwelling or any other building needs a permit from the department, Municipal Building, 198 N. Washington Avenue, 2nd Floor, Room 223, 201-387-4055, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The department's FAQ also says "a permit is required for almost all home and business improvements except for interior and exterior painting, flooring and replacement windows and doors of the same size," and the department says "If you have any doubt whether a permit is needed," call it at 201-387-4005, extension 4. Where a roof permit is required, Chapter 136 of the Borough Code (section 136-4, last amended July 7, 2009 by Ord. No. 09-2417) names no separate roofing fee; "renovation, alteration and repair" is charged on estimated cost, $25 per $1,000 up to $50,000, $23 per $1,000 from $50,001 to $100,000 and $19 per $1,000 above $100,000, and the minimum fee for a basic construction permit "shall be $60 for Use Groups R-3 and R-5" and $100 for other use groups. The department says "if anyone is found doing work without the proper permits, they can be fined up to $2000.00." Permits are issued between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Construction permit applications use the State's forms, which the department links. Bergenfield also requires contractors to register with the Building Department under Chapter 118 of the Borough Code, which has a roofing and siding class.