Permit
A permit from Dover
The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. The application to Dover’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Roof Replacement in Dover, MA
Dover has 1,998 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 Dover
Layers
One old layer can stay; two cannot
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). 61% of Dover’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 Dover
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
120 mph design wind, 40 psf ground snow
Dover’s code design values are a 120 mph ultimate design wind speed and a 40 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 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 Dover
Of 1,917 occupied homes in Dover, 1,877 (98%) are owner-occupied. By year built, 10% before 1940, 23% before 1960, 61% before 1980; 18% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 96% detached houses.
Of the 28 Norfolk County municipalities on this site, Dover has the 19th largest share of homes built before 1980: 61%, against a county range of 41% to 86%.
ZIP codes: 02030
Dover and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | 1970 | 61% | 98% | 2% | 9 |
| Medfield | 1970 | 64% | 86% | 5% | 11 |
| Westwood | 1968 | 64% | 87% | 2% | 10 |
| Needham | 1965 | 64% | 83% | 5% | 10 |
| Sherborn | 1968 | 73% | 89% | 5% | 14 |
| Natick | 1968 | 61% | 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 Dover
Within 10 miles of Dover, hail of an inch or more was reported on 9 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 2 in on June 28, 2020. The most recent was August 15, 2024.
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 Dover, 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; 96% of homes here are detached | Class G or H at 120 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; 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 | Where the roof meets a wall or parapet |
Checking a contractor in Massachusetts
Two numbers to ask for in Dover: 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 Dover
Is a permit required for a new roof in Dover, MA?
A permit from Dover. The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. The application to Dover’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Is a roof-over allowed in Dover, or is it 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). 61% of Dover’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
How old are the houses in Dover?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Dover was built in 1970, 61% of homes were built before 1980, 98% are owner-occupied.
Does Dover get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 9 days within 10 miles of Dover 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 Dover?
Two numbers to ask for in Dover: 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 Dover, or at least the ZIP code
- The number of stories, and whether the house stands alone
- What covers the roof now and about when it went on
- 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 Dover
- That you are the owner and the one who decides
The full list: before you call.