Understanding New Jersey Roofing Codes: What Homeowners Need to Know

Are you preparing yourself — and your New Jersey home — for roofing work? It’s not uncommon to be a little stressed, confused, and overwhelmed, whether you’re planning a complete roof replacement or extensive roof repair work. Building codes and other roofing regulations often have a lot to do with that.

Some homeowners might even put planned work off because they don’t understand New Jersey roofing permit requirements, and aren’t sure where to get started gathering all the info they need. Don’t be one of them! We’ll get you up to speed, and by the time you understand what you need to know about New Jersey roofing codes, we’re sure you’ll feel a lot more prepared. Let’s start with the basics!

How Roofing Safety Standards in NJ Protect Homeowners and Roofers

New Jersey has some of the strictest roofing codes anywhere in the country, and they’re enthusiastically enforced, too. Roofing safety standards in NJ are designed to keep you and your property protected while roofing work is ongoing, and to maximize your roofers’ safety — because roofing is one of the riskiest professions in the construction industry.

NJ’s safety standards go beyond keeping everyone safe during the “work in progress” phase of your roofing project, though. They also make sure that the roof over your head will always be an asset, and never a hazard.

On a practical level, the state’s roofing safety standards:

• Make sure that your new or repaired roof is fit for purpose — minimizing the risk of fire, mold growth, leaks, and structural damage from weather conditions, and giving it proper load-bearing capacity.
• Keep your roofers safe by mandating the use of personal protective equipment, harnesses, scaffolding, and ground fault surface interrupters.
• Protect homeowners and passers-by from debris while contractors are up on the roof.

A whole mish-mash of regulations work together to make it happen. If you’re in the mood for an online rabbit hole, they include the New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code, OSHA, 2018 International Building Code (New Jersey Edition), and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. Taking a peek can give you interesting insights into what you can expect from your roofing company as the crew repairs or replaces your NJ roof.

When Do You Need a Building Permit in NJ? How to Apply for One?

You usually do not need a roofing permit if you’re gearing up for a complete roof replacement. If, on the other hand, you’re planning to carry out roof repair work, then permits are not necessary unless you are replacing a significant amount of roof decking.

While every municipality can set its own rules with the state’s broader frameworks, NJ roof repair code regulations usually mean you won’t need a building permit if you’re having 25 percent or less of your roofing materials replaced. (You still need to make sure the work is up to code, of course!) Any structural work, like replacing rafters, does call for a permit.

You can get further information about roofing permits in NJ from your local construction code enforcement office or from the Department of Community Affairs. The process is less painful than you might think, and some municipalities even offer express permits to speed things up for you.

Still lost? If you choose Fortified Roofing for your project, our seasoned roofers are happy to walk you through the process and assess whether a building permit is needed in your particular case! Seriously. We know paperwork can be intimidating and confusing, and we’re here to help.

How Do You Choose the Right Roofers?

Your roofers aren’t just responsible for making sure that your new or repaired roof is beautiful, safe, and energy efficient. In practice, they also make sure that all New Jersey roofing codes are met. That’s pretty important, since you, as the homeowner, are legally responsible for that part.

So, how do you choose? Besides all the usual steps — checking reviews, finding out how long the NJ roofing company has been in business, getting a quote, and asking for references — it’s always prudent to check that your roofer is properly licensed. You can do that via the license verification feature of the New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs website. Our license numbers in NJ and PA, for example are, NJ HIC #13VH00087700 and PA HIC # PA037543

How Do You Know You’re Compliant with All Relevant New Jersey Roofing Codes?

A building inspector certified by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs will come to your property to check whether all residential roofing codes that New Jersey implements have been met once all the work is complete. While Fortified Roofing carries out a final roof inspection after finishing the job, the building inspector gives the result a thorough once-over.

The roof inspection checklist New Jersey building inspectors use covers all aspects of your roof (including those we didn’t touch, if you had extensive roof repair work done), like:

• Your roofing materials and the quality of their installation
• Your underlayment
• Flashing quality and location
• The presence of ice barriers and crickets and saddles
• Drainage quality

Having a building inspector on your property to check whether you’ve complied with New Jersey roofing codes might sound a little scary, but the process is generally thorough, quick and non-invasive. When you work with a licensed and experienced roofing team like ours, these roof inspections are essentially just a rubber stamp and let you know that your roof is ready to serve you and your family well for decades to come!

Got Any More Questions About New Jersey Roofing Codes?

Stress level through the roof? We’ll help you fix that! If you’re looking for an experienced roofing contractor in Brick, NJ, Fortified Roofing will make sure your roof is up to code — and then some.

If you can’t wait to admire your shiny new roof, get a free (and hassle-free) quote today. Still in the planning phase? Our crew is always happy to answer any questions you might have about residential roofing codes NJ, licensing, and safety standards, so pick up the phone or shoot us a message.