Roofing in East Hanover 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, East Hanover Township Code Chapter 75 establishes the "Uniform Construction Code Department of the Township of East Hanover" as the enforcing agency under the State Uniform Construction Code Act.

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. The East Hanover Construction Department works from the Municipal Building, 411 Ridgedale Avenue, phone 973-888-6025, [email protected]. Its page says "A zoning permit is required for all building subcode permits." Where a roof permit is required, Township Code Section 79-7B(7) sets the zoning permit fee at $50, but "where the application for said permit is preliminary to applying for a construction permit to do roofing, siding or interior renovation work on an existing one-family dwelling, the fee shall be $10." The construction permit fee, Section 79-5, is based on estimated cost: "The Use Group R-5 fee shall be in the amount of $25 per $1,000, or part thereof, of estimated cost up to $50,000. For all other use groups, the fee shall be in the amount of $35 per $1,000," lower above $50,000, and "The minimum fee for renovations, alterations and repairs shall be $100." A plan review fee of "20% of the amount to be charged for the construction permit" is added, and the schedule lists "Certificate of approval for items such as woodburning stoves, fireplaces, siding, roofing, sheds, decks, pools, etc.: no fee." The page allows work Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on weekends and holidays, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and warns "A summons will be issued for any work performed outside of the above stated time frame." Building and fire inspections are made Monday to Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The page posts no online permit portal.