Roofing in Bernards Township, 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, the Construction Code Division says it "is responsible for assuring compliance with the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code," and Section 12-1 of the Township's Revised General Ordinances establishes the Township's State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency.

No permit is needed under state law to reroof a detached one- or two-family house; a townhouse, other attached dwelling or any other building needs one from the Bernards Township Construction Code Division, Engineering Services Building, 277 South Maple Avenue, Basking Ridge, 908-204-3172, open 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Where a roof permit is required, the Township's fee schedule (Revised General Ordinances section 12-1.3) prices it: "(j) Roofing or siding: $90. (Use Groups R-2, R-3 and R-4) including Use Group U that is an accessory to R-2, R-3 and R-4. All other Use Groups charged per Subsection 12-1.3.a.1.(b) of this chapter." That subsection charges renovations, alterations and repairs "$35 per $1,000 for the first $50,000, $27 per $1,000 from $50,000 to $100,000 and $24 per $1,000 over $100,001 of the estimated cost of the work," and the minimum fee for a basic construction permit is $90. Ordinance #2598, adopted June 23, 2026, amends other lines of the fee schedule and carries the roofing line at the same $90. For work done without a permit, the division says "A penalty of $2000 is assessed and any work done may be required to be removed." Applications use the State's standard construction permit forms, permits "can only be picked up between the hours of 7:30am and 3:00pm," and inspections are requested online through the SDL portal or by phone.