Permit
A permit from Burlington
Roofing is not on the Massachusetts list of work exempt from a permit (780 CMR 51.00, R105.2). Burlington’s building department issues it, and the application carries the contractor’s HIC registration number.
Roof Replacement in Burlington, MA
Burlington has 10,371 homes, and half of them were standing by 1972. 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 Burlington
Layers
No third layer
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). 62% of Burlington’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 Burlington
Massachusetts answers “yes” to the ice barrier for every town. It runs from the eave to 24 inches inside the exterior wall, more on steep roofs (IRC R905.1.2); check that the quote lists it.
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
118 mph design wind, 50 psf ground snow
Burlington’s code design values are a 118 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. Everything else the state requires: roof replacement in Massachusetts.
Homes and roofs in Burlington
74% of the occupied homes in Burlington are lived in by their owners: 7,402 households, the people this line is for. By year built, 6% before 1940, 30% before 1960, 62% before 1980; 24% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 71% detached houses, 3% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses).
Of the 54 Middlesex County municipalities on this site, Burlington has the 28th largest share of homes built before 1980: 62%, against a county range of 29% to 87%.
ZIP codes: 01803
Burlington and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | 1972 | 62% | 74% | 3% | 9 |
| Woburn | 1968 | 63% | 56% | 9% | 10 |
| Bedford | 1976 | 54% | 69% | 11% | 8 |
| Lexington | 1965 | 65% | 81% | 9% | 8 |
| Winchester | 1954 | 78% | 82% | 9% | 10 |
| Wilmington | 1979 | 51% | 88% | 3% | 11 |
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 Burlington
Within 10 miles of Burlington, hail of an inch or more was reported on 9 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 2 in on August 4, 2015. The most recent was August 23, 2020.
Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (DR-4379, July 2018) is the latest of 8 federal storm declarations covering Middlesex County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Burlington, 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; 71% of homes here are detached | Class G or H at 118 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; 6% 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 | Seams at walls and drainage |
Checking a contractor in Massachusetts
In Burlington the contractor’s HIC registration (M.G.L. c. 142A) and the CSL of the supervisor licensed for roof covering are the two numbers to look up before signing.
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 Burlington
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Burlington?
A permit from Burlington. Roofing is not on the Massachusetts list of work exempt from a permit (780 CMR 51.00, R105.2). Burlington’s building department issues it, and the application carries the contractor’s HIC registration number.
Do the old shingles have to come off in Burlington?
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). 62% of Burlington’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
How old are the houses in Burlington?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Burlington was built in 1972, 62% of homes were built before 1980, 74% are owner-occupied.
Does Burlington get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 9 days within 10 miles of Burlington 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 Burlington?
In Burlington the contractor’s HIC registration (M.G.L. c. 142A) and the CSL of the supervisor licensed for roof covering are the two numbers to look up before signing.
What they will ask on the phone
- Your address or ZIP code in Burlington
- 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
- How many layers are on it, if you know
- That the job is a full replacement or a new roof, and your timing
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Burlington
- That the house is yours and the decision is yours
The full list: before you call.