Roofing in Hawthorne, 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 Hawthorne Building Department page says "The State's Uniform Construction Code governs construction within Hawthorne and the rest of the state."

No permit is needed to reroof a detached one- or two-family house, under state law and on the Building Department's own Permit Requirements page, which lists "Roofing on a detached one and two-family dwelling" among projects without permits and "Commercial roofing" among projects requiring them. A townhouse, other attached dwelling or any other building in Hawthorne needs a permit from the Building Department, 445 Lafayette Avenue, 2nd Floor, Suite 202, 973-427-4889, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the page says "NO PERMITS ISSUED AFTER 3PM MONDAY-FRIDAY." Where a roof permit is required, the Borough's fee ordinance (Code section 220-9, last amended February 7, 2024 by Ord. No. 2331-24) lists "Roofing, per $1,000 of total cost" at $32.50, with a "Minimum fee for all work unless otherwise stated" of $90. The page warns "If required permits are not obtained, penalties will be imposed," and says "Permit placard must be visible at all times from the street." It also says "Permits will not be issued to contractors without a license issued by the state."