Roofing in Washington Township (Bergen 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 Washington Building Department page says the Department "is the agency that enforces the NJ State Uniform Building Code and local building and zoning codes," and Section 175-1 of the Township Code establishes "a State Uniform Construction Code Enforcing Agency." Neither names an edition.

No permit is needed under state law to reroof a detached one- or two-family house, and the Township of Washington Building Department page says the same of roofs; a townhouse, other attached dwelling or any other building needs one. The Building Department is in Room 4 on the lower level at 350 Hudson Avenue, phone 201-666-0462, open Monday 8:30 am to 7 pm, Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 am to 4 pm, Wednesday 8 am to 3 pm and Friday 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. "Permits that have been approved are to be picked up in the building department during office hours." Where a roof permit is required, Section 212-9 of the Township Code has no roofing line: "For renovations, alterations and repairs: $25 per $1,000 of estimated cost of work, provided that the minimum fee shall be $100," plus the State permit surcharge. The page also says "Regardless if a Construction Permit is required to do work on your home, Zoning and/or Engineering approval may be required," and "No work is to begin before 7:00 AM or to continue after sunset." Inspection requests go through the Township's online Construction Permit Inspection Request Form; the forms page says "NO requests will be taken over the phone."