Permit
Roofing is not exempt
Roofing is not on the Massachusetts list of work exempt from a permit (780 CMR 51.00, R105.2). Cohasset’s building department issues it, and the application carries the contractor’s HIC registration number.
Roof Replacement in Cohasset, MA
Cohasset has 3,244 homes, and half of them were standing by 1968. 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 Cohasset
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 Cohasset’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 Cohasset, as in every Massachusetts town
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
122 mph design wind, 35 psf ground snow
Cohasset’s code design values are a 122 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. Everything else the state requires: roof replacement in Massachusetts.
Homes and roofs in Cohasset
83% of the occupied homes in Cohasset are lived in by their owners: 2,522 households, the people this line is for. By year built, 28% before 1940, 45% before 1960, 63% before 1980; 21% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 80% detached houses, 3% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 7% buildings of two to four units.
Of the 28 Norfolk County municipalities on this site, Cohasset has the 16th largest share of homes built before 1980: 63%, against a county range of 41% to 86%.
ZIP codes: 02025
Cohasset and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cohasset | 1968 | 63% | 83% | 3% | 4 |
| Scituate | 1960 | 73% | 88% | 6% | 3 |
| Hingham | 1976 | 55% | 81% | 5% | 7 |
| Norwell | 1968 | 68% | 92% | 3% | 6 |
| Hull | 1946 | 73% | 80% | 2% | 6 |
| Weymouth | 1964 | 71% | 67% | 5% | 9 |
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 Cohasset
Within 10 miles of Cohasset, hail of an inch or more was reported on 4 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 1.75 in on July 24, 2012. The most recent was July 14, 2022.
That is fewer than most places in the state on this site (median 10 days).
Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (DR-4651, April 2022) is the latest of 8 federal storm declarations covering Norfolk County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Cohasset, 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; 80% of homes here are detached | Class G or H at 122 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; 28% 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
Two numbers to ask for in Cohasset: 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 Cohasset
Does a roof replacement in Cohasset 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). Cohasset’s building department issues it, and the application carries the contractor’s HIC registration number.
Can a new roof go over the old one in Cohasset?
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 Cohasset’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
How old are the houses in Cohasset?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Cohasset was built in 1968, 63% of homes were built before 1980, 83% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Cohasset?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 4 days within 10 miles of Cohasset 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 Cohasset?
Two numbers to ask for in Cohasset: 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 Cohasset
- 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 Cohasset
- That the house is yours and the decision is yours
The full list: before you call.