Roofing in Hopewell Township (Mercer 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, the Construction Department page says the department "is responsible for enforcing the regulations of the State Uniform Construction Code," and Section 11-2.4 of the Township Code makes the construction permit fee "the sum of the subcode fees listed in the General Ordinances of the Township of Hopewell, Chapter 10."

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 a permit from the Hopewell Township Construction Department, 201 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Lower Level, Titusville, 609-737-0612. Where a roof permit is required, Section 10-3.1 of the Township Code (last amended March 25, 2024 by Ord. No. 24-1821) says "The fee for roofing and siding work as specified in N.J.A.C. 5:23-4:20(c)2i(6) shall be $65. The fee for commercial roofing and siding work shall be $20 per $1,000 of estimated cost, with submission of proposal of work to be done." The minimum building permit fee is $65. Construction permit applications are the State's forms, posted on the department's Forms, Permits & Documents page, which says "Permit Applications must be completed and submitted for all projects." The department recommends calling it before construction begins, and its FAQ says "First you should contact the Construction Department for a list of criteria required for each specific type of work." Inspections are requested through the Township's SDL Portal, which needs an account, or the inspection line, 609-737-0612, extension 6280.