Roofing in North Caldwell, 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, Section 34-1 of the North Caldwell Borough Code establishes the "North Caldwell Uniform Construction Code Agency." The Building Department's page says it "enforces the provisions of the Uniform Construction Code, the Borough Property Maintenance Code, and such other codes as may be required to be enforced within the Borough," and adds "The present BOCA (Basic Building Code) was adopted by ordinance in 1977 along with a National Plumbing Code and the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, with ongoing updates approved regularly by the State of New Jersey."

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 in North Caldwell needs one from the Borough's Building Department. The Department's page says "Permits are required for almost all building and renovation projects" and names no roof work. The Borough's fee schedule, Section 34-3, has no roofing line; its line for "Renovations, alterations and repairs" reads "$30.00 per $1,000 or part thereof for the first $3,000 of the estimated cost of the work and $25.00 per $1,000 or part thereof in excess of $3,000," and the same section lists "Basic Fee for new Construction R5 - $60.00" and "All other basic fee - $100.00." Under the Borough Code, "The public shall have the right to do business with the enforcing agency at one office location." The Construction Official and Building Inspector, Paul Milani, is listed at 973-228-6410, ext. 120.