Roofing in Totowa, 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, Borough Code Section 153-3 incorporates "the latest edition of the Uniform Construction Code of New Jersey" as the Building Code of the Borough of Totowa and names no edition of its own.

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. The Borough of Totowa Building Department, 537 Totowa Road, 2nd Floor, Totowa, NJ 07512, is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm. Its page gives the Borough's main number, 973-956-1000, with staff extensions (Construction Code Official Allan Burghardt, ext. 1016), fax 973-956-8159, and says "if you are unsure please do not hesitate to call the Building Department to inquire if a permit is needed." Permit records can be viewed through the Borough's Construction Permit Self Service portal, for which the Building Department issues the username and ID, and inspections are booked by phone at least one day ahead. Where a roof permit is required, Borough Code Section 153-6K (fee section last amended April 9, 2019 by Ord. No. 04-2019) reads: "Roofing. The fee for roofing and siding work completed on a residential structure other than a one- or two-family home shall be $15 per $1,000 or a minimum of $85. For all other structures, the fee shall be $18 per $1,000 of estimated cost." Section 236-3 requires any applicant for a permit to "submit proof with such application that all real estate taxes and/or assessments for local improvement and/or water fees assessed against such real property have been paid."