Roofing in Camden, 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 City of Camden Building Bureau says it is responsible for ensuring that all construction work in the City "complies with the requirements of the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code (UCC)." An older fee sheet the Bureau still links refers readers to "the 2018 International Building Code" for its use-group descriptions; it does not say which edition the Bureau enforces.

Where a roof permit is required, the City of Camden Building Bureau charges by the cost of the work. Under state law that is a reroof of a townhouse or other attached dwelling or of any other building, or roof work that reaches the structure; reroofing a detached one- or two-family house is ordinary maintenance with no permit. The Bureau's fee sheet for business, educational, mercantile and residential groups, linked from its Permit fees page, has no separate roofing fee; it prices "Rehabilitation" by cost, at $32.00 per $1,000 for the first $50,000, $24.00 per $1,000 for the second $50,000 and $20 per $1,000 above $100,000. The Bureau takes applications by email ("All permit applications must be sent by email") and sees visitors only by appointment: "APPOINTMENTS MUST BE MADE BEFORE COMING TO THE BUILDING BUREAU," and "You must call the day before to schedule your appointment." The Bureau is in City Hall, Room 403, 520 Market Street; the City lists its number as 856-757-7032 and its email as [email protected].