Permit
Roofing is not exempt
Roofing is not on the Massachusetts list of work exempt from a permit (780 CMR 51.00, R105.2). In Bernardston the building department takes the application, with the contractor’s home improvement registration on it.
Roof Replacement in Bernardston, MA
The median home in Bernardston was built in 1972; there are 988 of them. 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 Bernardston
Layers
One old layer can stay; two cannot
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. 60% of Bernardston’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 in Bernardston, as in every Massachusetts town
There is no local exception: the state table says “yes.” 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
112 mph design wind, 60 psf ground snow
Bernardston’s code design values are a 112 mph ultimate design wind speed and a 60 psf ground snow load (35 psf minimum flat-roof snow load). At that wind speed the code calls for asphalt shingles labeled ASTM D7158 Class D, 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 Bernardston
Owners live in 714 of Bernardston’s occupied homes, or 78%. By year built, 24% before 1940, 41% before 1960, 60% before 1980; 13% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 78% detached houses, 3% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 7% buildings of two to four units, 7% manufactured homes.
Of the 19 Franklin County municipalities on this site, Bernardston has the 14th largest share of homes built before 1980: 60%, against a county range of 52% to 83%.
ZIP codes: 01337
Bernardston and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernardston | 1972 | 60% | 78% | 3% | 11 |
| Gill | 1968 | 62% | 82% | 3% | 9 |
| Northfield | 1962 | 62% | 85% | 3% | 14 |
| Greenfield | 1947 | 83% | 56% | 5% | 7 |
| Colrain | 1963 | 72% | 87% | 1% | 9 |
| Shelburne | 1938 | 72% | 68% | 4% | 8 |
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 Bernardston
NOAA’s storm reports show 11 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Bernardston, topping out at 1.5 in on July 14, 2020. The most recent was June 6, 2025.
Federal major-disaster declarations for storms in Franklin County since 2006: 5, most recently DR-4110, Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding, declared April 2013. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Bernardston, not that it damaged a roof. When wind or hail damage means a new roof.
What goes on the roof next
HUD’s useful-life figures are for planning; a warranty is a separate promise. For Bernardston’s houses: 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; 78% of homes here are detached | Class D, G or H at 112 mph design wind (IRC Table R905.2.4.1) |
| Metal (standing seam, panels) | 50 years | Simple roofs with long, unbroken slopes | Standing seam that carries its own loads can skip the tear-off (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 24% here predate 1940 | Can’t be roofed over; check the framing for the weight |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Porches, additions, low-slope rears | Where the roof meets a wall or parapet |
Checking a contractor in Massachusetts
For an owner-occupied home of one to four units in Bernardston, the contractor must be registered under the home improvement law (M.G.L. c. 142A), and a construction supervisor licensed (CSL) for roof covering supervises a permitted reroof. Ask for both numbers.
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 Bernardston
Does a roof replacement in Bernardston need a permit?
Roofing is not exempt. Roofing is not on the Massachusetts list of work exempt from a permit (780 CMR 51.00, R105.2). In Bernardston the building department takes the application, with the contractor’s home improvement registration on it.
Is a roof-over allowed in Bernardston, or is it a tear-off?
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. 60% of Bernardston’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
How old are the houses in Bernardston?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Bernardston was built in 1972, 60% of homes were built before 1980, 78% are owner-occupied.
How many hail days has Bernardston had?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 11 days within 10 miles of Bernardston 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 Bernardston?
For an owner-occupied home of one to four units in Bernardston, the contractor must be registered under the home improvement law (M.G.L. c. 142A), and a construction supervisor licensed (CSL) for roof covering supervises a permitted reroof. Ask for both numbers.
What they will ask on the phone
- Where the house is: the Bernardston address or ZIP
- 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
- 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 Bernardston
- That the house is yours and the decision is yours
The full list: before you call.