Roofing in Hillsborough 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, the Building Department's Current Codes and Regulations sheet, dated October 30, 2024, points designers to the Department of Community Affairs' "Current UCC Adopted Model Codes and Standards" and to "The Rehabilitation Subcode for Existing Buildings" (N.J.A.C. 5:23-6), and names no edition.

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 from the Township of Hillsborough Building Department, Peter J. Biondi Building, 379 South Branch Road, 908-369-5882, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (permit pickup 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.). Where a roof permit is required, the Township's construction fee schedule (Code Section 145-3) prices it: "All required roof permits shall have a flat fee charged of $80 for the R5 Use Group, and $200 for the R2 Use Group. All other use groups shall be charged fees based on the cost of the construction, at the same rate of Subsection B(1)(b) above." The minimum building subcode fee is "$80 for the R-3, R-4, and R-5 Use Groups." Permits "can be dropped off to the Construction Department Monday - Friday or mailed to the Municipal Building"; homeowners doing their own work may apply online through the SDL Portal (https://www.sdlportal.com/login), and inspections "must be scheduled either through the SDL portal or by completing the Inspection Request form." The Department says "It is important to check with the office before starting any work," and that contractors other than State-licensed plumbers, electricians and HVACR contractors "must possess a current State issued Home Improvement Contractor Registration in order to work on a residence."