Permit
Roofing is not exempt
Massachusetts exempts sheds, fences and finish work from permits (R105.2), not roofing. In Abington the building department takes the application, with the contractor’s home improvement registration on it.
Roof Replacement in Abington, MA
Abington has 6,479 homes, and half of them were standing by 1970. Below: what the code asks of a replacement here, the permit, and the town’s own records.
New Roofing Costs connects homeowners with independent local roofing contractors. We do not perform roofing work.
Call (833) 781-1806 Replacement and new roofs only · homeowners
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 Abington
Layers
Two layers means 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). 63% of Abington’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
Source: IRC 2021, Chapter 9 (Pennsylvania edition, UpCodes); 780 CMR 51.00, Chapter 9 amendments
Ice barrier
Required statewide
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).
Source: 780 CMR 51.00, Chapter 3 amendments (Tables R301.2(1) and R301.2(2)); IRC 2021, Chapter 9 (Pennsylvania edition, UpCodes)
Wind and snow
123 mph design wind, 35 psf ground snow
Abington’s code design values are a 123 mph ultimate design wind speed and a 35 psf ground snow load (30 psf minimum flat-roof snow load). At that wind speed the code calls for asphalt shingles labeled ASTM D7158 Class G or H (Table R905.2.4.1).
Source: 780 CMR 51.00, Chapter 3 amendments (Tables R301.2(1) and R301.2(2)); IRC 2021, Chapter 9 (Pennsylvania edition, UpCodes) (780 CMR 51.00, Table R301.2(2))
Rules as read on October 24, 2026. Code edition, permit and contract rules for the whole state: roof replacement in Massachusetts.
Homes and roofs in Abington
Of 6,388 occupied homes in Abington, 4,641 (73%) are owner-occupied. By year built, 21% before 1940, 41% before 1960, 63% before 1980; 20% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 63% detached houses, 8% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 11% buildings of two to four units.
Of the 27 Plymouth County municipalities on this site, Abington has the 11th largest share of homes built before 1980: 63%, against a county range of 42% to 81%.
ZIP codes: 02351
Abington and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abington | 1970 | 63% | 73% | 8% | 9 |
| Rockland | 1962 | 68% | 77% | 11% | 9 |
| Whitman | 1957 | 73% | 71% | 11% | 10 |
| Holbrook | 1957 | 80% | 84% | 2% | 8 |
| Brockton | 1960 | 81% | 57% | 3% | 9 |
| Avon | 1954 | 77% | 76% | 5% | 10 |
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 Abington
NOAA’s storm reports show 9 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Abington, topping out at 1.5 in on August 14, 2025.
Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (DR-4651, April 2022) is the latest of 8 federal storm declarations covering Plymouth County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Abington, not that it damaged a roof. When wind or hail damage means a new roof.
What goes on the roof next
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; 63% of homes here are detached | Class G or H at 123 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; 21% here predate 1940 | Sound slate can be reused (R908.5); broken slate cannot |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Porches, additions, low-slope rears | Coating is not a replacement |
Checking a contractor in Massachusetts
Two numbers to ask for in Abington: the HIC registration (M.G.L. c. 142A, for owner-occupied homes of one to four units) and the construction supervisor license (CSL) with the roof covering specialty.
The price side is in what a new roof costs in Massachusetts; the paperwork side in checking a roofing contractor.
Questions about a new roof in Abington
Does a roof replacement in Abington need a permit?
Roofing is not exempt. Massachusetts exempts sheds, fences and finish work from permits (R105.2), not roofing. In Abington the building department takes the application, with the contractor’s home improvement registration on it.
Can a new roof go over the old one in Abington?
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). 63% of Abington’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
How old are the houses in Abington?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Abington was built in 1970, 63% of homes were built before 1980, 73% are owner-occupied.
How many hail days has Abington had?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 9 days within 10 miles of Abington 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 Abington?
Two numbers to ask for in Abington: the HIC registration (M.G.L. c. 142A, for owner-occupied homes of one to four units) and the construction supervisor license (CSL) with the roof covering specialty.
What they will ask on the phone
- Your address or ZIP code in Abington
- How many stories the house has, and whether it is detached or attached
- The roof you have today, shingle, metal, slate, tile or flat, and its rough age
- The number of layers, if anyone has counted
- Your timing for a complete replacement
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Abington
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.