Roofing in Montclair 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 Montclair Building Department's Roof Installation Certification form has the installer certify that the roof "will be installed in accordance with all New Jersey adopted CODES and Manufacturers installation instructions"; the Department's pages name no code 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 Montclair Building Department, Montclair Municipal Building, Second Floor, 205 Claremont Avenue, 973-509-4951, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Department asks applicants to "call the Building Department first for instructions concerning your specific project," and says "ALL COMPLETED APPLICATIONS MUST BE HAND-DELIVERED TO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT FOR PROCESSING," with payments accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Where a roof permit is required, the Department's forms page lists a Roof Installation Certification form, which carries the permit number and has the installer certify that the roof "will be installed in accordance with all New Jersey adopted CODES and Manufacturers installation instructions." Montclair's construction fee ordinance (Township Code section 121-4, last amended by Ordinance O-25-04) has no roofing line; its fee for "Renovations, alteration and repairs" is $34 per $1,000 of estimated cost, $26 per $1,000 from $50,001 to $100,000 and $22 per $1,000 above $100,000, and "The minimum permit fee for a basic construction permit covering any or all of the building, plumbing, electrical and fire protection work shall be $85." After approval "the applicant will receive a phone call to pick up and pay for the permit," and a placard must be posted where it is visible from the street.