Roofing in Franklin Township (Somerset County), 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 146 of the Township Code (Construction Codes, Uniform) establishes the Township's enforcing agency, the "Division of Code Enforcement," and sets its fees; its only roofing provisions are permit fees, described in the permit process note.

Under state law a reroof needs a permit on a townhouse or other attached dwelling, on any other building, and wherever the work reaches the roof structure; reroofing a detached one- or two-family house is ordinary maintenance with no permit (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7(c)1.x, "The repair or replacement of existing roof covering on detached one- and two-family dwellings"). The Township of Franklin Construction Code page says the Uniform Construction Code no longer requires construction permits for roof replacements on one- and two-family detached dwellings, and that "all siding and roof replacements for all structures located in a Historic District still require Historic Commission review and approval before the work can commence." Its permit guideline sheet lists "ROOF: if more than 25% of roof area" with "NO PERMIT REQUIRED FOR 1&2 FAMILY DETACHED HOMES." Where a roof permit is required, Township Code Section 146-2, as amended through Ordinance No. 3901 of October 12, 2010, sets a flat building subcode fee, "Reroof (R3 and R5), residential: $50"; the Department's posted fee sheet (revised October 6, 2014) lists "Re-roofing (Use Groups R-3 and R-5): $50.00." The ordinance does not say which reroofs need the permit it prices. Applications go to the Construction Code Department at the Municipal Complex, 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset, main number 732-873-7283; "Permits are only processed 7:30AM - 2:30PM," payment is by check or cash ("if you pay with cash, exact change is required"), and the Department says to plan on "a minimum of twenty (20) business days" for an application that needs no prior approvals. Inspection requests and application status are on the Township's SDL portal.