Roofing in Bernardsville, 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 Office page says the office "is responsible for assuring compliance with the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code"; it and the Borough's Building and Housing chapter, Code Section 12-1, name no code edition of their own.

No permit is needed to reroof a detached one- or two-family house under the state rule, and the Bernardsville Construction Office FAQ says "A construction permit is required for everything that is not considered an ordinary repair or maintenance." A townhouse, other attached dwelling or any other building needs a permit from the Construction Office, 1 Anderson Hill Road, Suite 103, Bernardsville, open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm, phone 908-766-3000 extension 129, email [email protected]. Where a roof permit is required, the Borough's fee section, Code Section 12-1.2a3 (last amended February 26, 2024 by Ord. No. 2024-1989), prices "renovations, alterations, reroofing, repairs" on estimated cost: "$30 per $1,000 of estimated cost of work up to $100,000 of estimated cost of construction," and "The minimum fee shall be $80 for a single trade." It adds that "20% of the construction permit fee shall be considered as the plan review fee." The office's residential permit guide asks for the construction permit folder (UCC form F100-1), the construction permit form (F170) and the Building technical section (F110). Permits are picked up and inspections requested through the Borough's SDL online portal. The FAQ says "a minimum of 20 business days should be planned for processing applications" where no prior approvals are needed, and for work without a required permit "A penalty of $2000 is assessed and any work done may be required to be removed."