Permit
Roofing is not exempt
Massachusetts exempts sheds, fences and finish work from permits (R105.2), not roofing. The application to Boxford’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Roof Replacement in Boxford, MA
The median home in Boxford was built in 1979; there are 2,889 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 Boxford
Layers
Two layers means a tear-off
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. 51% of Boxford’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
Massachusetts answers “yes” to the ice barrier for every town. Membrane or doubled underlayment, eave to 24 inches inside the wall line (IRC R905.1.2), is a line on every quote here.
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
117 mph design wind, 50 psf ground snow
Boxford’s code design values are a 117 mph ultimate design wind speed and a 50 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 Boxford
95% of the occupied homes in Boxford are lived in by their owners: 2,622 households, the people this line is for. By year built, 10% before 1940, 24% before 1960, 51% before 1980; 11% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 89% detached houses, 4% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses).
Of the 34 Essex County municipalities on this site, Boxford has the 28th largest share of homes built before 1980: 51%, against a county range of 41% to 89%.
ZIP codes: 01921
Boxford and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boxford | 1979 | 51% | 95% | 4% | 9 |
| North Andover | 1979 | 51% | 70% | 11% | 12 |
| Georgetown | 1974 | 59% | 84% | 4% | 10 |
| Groveland | 1983 | 47% | 90% | 8% | 11 |
| Middleton | 1986 | 41% | 93% | 10% | 10 |
| Topsfield | 1969 | 69% | 90% | 6% | 7 |
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 Boxford
Since 2006 the National Weather Service has logged hail of 1 inch or larger on 9 separate days within 10 miles of Boxford; the largest was 1.5 in on July 12, 2010. The most recent was September 8, 2023.
Federal major-disaster declarations for storms in Essex County since 2006: 9, most recently DR-4379, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm, declared July 2018. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Boxford, 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; 89% of homes here are detached | Class G or H at 117 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; 10% 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 Boxford: 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 Boxford
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Boxford?
Roofing is not exempt. Massachusetts exempts sheds, fences and finish work from permits (R105.2), not roofing. The application to Boxford’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Can a new roof go over the old one in Boxford?
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. 51% of Boxford’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
How old are the houses in Boxford?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Boxford was built in 1979, 51% of homes were built before 1980, 95% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Boxford?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 9 days within 10 miles of Boxford 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 Boxford?
Two numbers to ask for in Boxford: 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
- The street address in Boxford, or at least the ZIP code
- One story or two (or more), detached or attached
- What is on the roof now (asphalt shingles, metal, slate, tile, or a flat membrane) and roughly how old it is
- The number of layers, if anyone has counted
- Your timing for a complete replacement
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Boxford
- That you are the owner and the one who decides
The full list: before you call.