Groton has 18,155 homes, and half of them were standing by 1974. Below: what the code asks of a replacement here, the permit, and the town’s own records.
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This number connects homeowners who are planning a new roof or a full roof replacement with independent local roofing contractors. It is not for leak repairs or patch jobs. The call must come from the homeowner who decides on the roof. Calls may be recorded.
The rules for a reroof in Groton
Permit
The 25 percent line
Without a permit, Connecticut allows only:
Repairs that are limited to 25 percent of roof covering and building siding within one calendar year.
2022 CSBC, (Amd) R105.2, item 11
A whole new roof is more than that, so it goes to Groton’s building official.
On a roof that already carries two layers, or slate or tile, the code allows no recover: it is a tear-off (IRC R908.3.1.1). 61% of Groton’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
The state’s climate table marks the ice barrier “yes” statewide. That is a self-adhering membrane, or two cemented layers of underlayment, from the eave to at least 24 inches inside the wall line (IRC R905.1.2).
Connecticut adds a 4-inch self-adhering strip over all joints of a plywood or OSB deck ((Amd) R905.1.1). It is not needed under a fully adhered membrane, or on board decks under 3 feet wide.
Groton’s code design values are a 128 mph ultimate design wind speed and a 30 psf ground snow load; it is in Connecticut’s hurricane-prone region. At that wind speed the code calls for asphalt shingles labeled ASTM D7158 Class G or H (Table R905.2.4.1).
Rules as read on October 24, 2026. Code edition, permit and contract rules for the whole state: roof replacement in Connecticut.
Homes and roofs in Groton
Of 16,374 occupied homes in Groton, 8,739 (53%) are owner-occupied. By year built, 15% before 1940, 29% before 1960, 61% before 1980; 14% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 48% detached houses, 11% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 15% buildings of two to four units.
Of the 21 New London County municipalities on this site, Groton has the 13th largest share of homes built before 1980: 61%, against a county range of 31% to 83%.
Median built: median year the homes were built. Before 1980: share of homes built then. Owners: share of homes that are owner-occupied. Row, twin: share of homes that are rowhouses, twins or townhouses. Census ACS 2020–2024. Hail days: days with hail of 1 inch or larger within 10 miles, 2006–2025, NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Storm record around Groton
NOAA’s storm reports show 6 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Groton, topping out at 1.75 in on September 3, 2013. The most recent was August 15, 2024.
That is fewer than most places in the state on this site (median 9 days).
Remnants of Hurricane Ida (DR-4629, October 2021) is the latest of 10 federal storm declarations covering New London County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
Useful life is HUD’s planning figure, not a warranty. More in the guides to shingles, metal, slate and flat roofs.
Material
HUD useful life
Fits a house like
Watch for
Asphalt shingles
20 years
Most pitched roofs; 48% of homes here are detached
Class G or H at 128 mph design wind (IRC Table R905.2.4.1)
Metal (standing seam, panels)
50 years
Roofs that will carry solar later
Standing seam that carries its own loads can skip the tear-off (R908.3.1)
Slate
75 years
Older houses; 15% here predate 1940
Never a base for a new layer (R908.3.1.1); heavy
Flat roof: EPDM or TPO
15 years
Porches, additions, low-slope rears
Seams at walls and drainage
Checking a contractor in Connecticut
Connecticut registers home improvement contractors and their salespeople with the Department of Consumer Protection (C.G.S. § 20-420); 24,065 contractor registrations were active in October 2026. Ask for the number of anyone pricing a roof in Groton.
The 25 percent line. A whole new roof is more than that, so it goes to Groton’s building official.
Is a roof-over allowed in Groton, or is it a tear-off?
On a roof that already carries two layers, or slate or tile, the code allows no recover: it is a tear-off (IRC R908.3.1.1). 61% of Groton’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
How old are the houses in Groton?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Groton was built in 1974, 61% of homes were built before 1980, 53% are owner-occupied.
Does Groton get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 6 days within 10 miles of Groton from 2006 through 2025 (NOAA Storm Prediction Center). A report means hail fell nearby, not that a roof was damaged.
How do I check a roofing contractor in Groton?
Connecticut registers home improvement contractors and their salespeople with the Department of Consumer Protection (C.G.S. § 20-420); 24,065 contractor registrations were active in October 2026. Ask for the number of anyone pricing a roof in Groton.
What they will ask on the phone
The street address in Groton, or at least the ZIP code
The number of stories, and whether the house stands alone
What covers the roof now and about when it went on
Whether there is one layer or more, if you know
That you want a new roof or a full replacement, and when you want the work done
Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Groton