The short answer: usually, no.
Since March 2018, reroofing a 1- or 2-family home in New Jersey is classified as ordinary maintenance under N.J.A.C. 5:23 and does not require a building permit, as long as you're not altering the roofline, rafters, or structural framing.
What Changed in 2018
In March 2018, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) updated the Uniform Construction Code to reclassify residential reroofing as ordinary maintenance. This eliminated the permit requirement for the vast majority of homeowner roof replacements statewide — including throughout Bergen County and Northern NJ.
When You DON'T Need a Permit
- Full tear-off and replacement on a 1- or 2-family home (most common)
- Re-roofing (overlay) on a 1- or 2-family home
- Repairing damaged shingles, flashing, or a small section
- Replacing gutters and downspouts
When You DO Still Need a Permit
- Structural changes: replacing rafters, trusses, or altering the roofline
- Multi-family (3+ units) or commercial buildings
- Adding or relocating a skylight
- Stricter local ordinances: a small number of NJ municipalities have local rules layered on top of state code
How iHome Designs Handles This
Even though most reroofs in Bergen County and Northern NJ no longer require a permit, we always verify with your specific municipality before starting work. If a permit is required for your project — because of structural changes, a local ordinance, or a skylight install — we file the application, pay the fee, and coordinate the inspection. You don't have to think about it.
We Verify Every Job
iHome Designs confirms permit requirements with your town before every project, and pulls any permits needed at no extra cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Source: New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23), 2018 ordinary-maintenance amendment. Always confirm current requirements with your local building department.