Roofing in Montgomery 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, the Township's Current Construction Codes page lists "International Residential Code 2024, New Jersey Edition" among its adopted codes in effect (a listing that holds both before and after the grace period closes) and repeats the State's six-month grace period.

No permit is needed under state law to reroof a detached one- or two-family house, and the Township's fee schedule (Code Section 8-1.3, amended by Ordinance 25-1765, adopted December 4, 2025) says "One- and two-family dwellings do not require a permit for the repair or replacement (including total replacement) of any amount of existing roofing." A townhouse, other attached dwelling or any other building needs a permit under state law from the Construction Office, Montgomery Municipal Center, 100 Community Drive, 2nd Floor, Skillman, 908-359-8211, open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm; payments are accepted only until 3:30 pm, by check or cash in the exact amount. Where a roof permit is required, the same section sets the roofing and siding permit fee at $45 per $1,000 of the estimated cost of the work, "except for the R-5 Use Group and as set forth immediately herein." The Township links the State's standard construction permit forms. Inspection requests for all work other than minor work must be made in writing by email, with the permit number, project address, contact number and desired inspection date. The Township's brochure says plan review may take up to twenty business days.