Roofing in Union Township (Union 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 of Union's Building Department page says "Building permits are issued in accordance with the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code" and names 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 Union Building Department, Town Hall, 1976 Morris Avenue, Union, 908-851-8509 (Construction Code Official). Where a roof permit is required, the Township's fee ordinance prices it. Ordinance No. 5917, passed July 28, 2026, amends Section 270-3 so that "The fee for roofing & siding for Use Groups R-5 shall be" $150 (it was $100), and "Renovations, alterations, repair and minor work fees" become $50 per $1,000 of estimated cost up to $50,000, $40 per $1,000 from $50,000 to $100,000 and $30 per $1,000 above $100,000; the minimum basic construction fee for building, plumbing and fire rises from $100 to $120. The online copy of Section 270-3 still showed the earlier fees when read on October 2, 2026. The Building Department says "All required forms are available at the main counter," and "All construction permit inspection requests must be submitted through the Township's online inspection request portal."