Permit
Roofing is not exempt
Massachusetts exempts sheds, fences and finish work from permits (R105.2), not roofing. Eastham’s building department issues it, and the application carries the contractor’s HIC registration number.
Roof Replacement in Eastham, MA
The median home in Eastham was built in 1975; there are 6,546 of them. The rules below decide how much of the old roof has to come off and what goes under the new one.
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 Eastham
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. 59% of Eastham’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
Source: IRC 2021, Chapter 9 (Pennsylvania edition, UpCodes); 780 CMR 51.00, Chapter 9 amendments
Ice barrier
Required in Eastham, as in every Massachusetts town
Massachusetts answers “yes” to the ice barrier for every town. 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
130 mph design wind, 25 psf ground snow
Eastham’s code design values are a 130 mph ultimate design wind speed and a 25 psf ground snow load (25 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))
Checked against the code text on October 24, 2026. The state’s code edition and the rest of its rules: roof replacement in Massachusetts.
Homes and roofs in Eastham
Of 3,041 occupied homes in Eastham, 2,672 (88%) are owner-occupied. Counting by decade, 9% before 1940, 30% before 1960, 59% before 1980 of the housing was in place, and 13% dates from 2000 on. (ACS 2020–2024.)
The housing is 93% detached houses, 6% buildings of two to four units.
53% of the homes in Eastham are seasonal or occasional-use homes (ACS 2020–2024). If yours is one of them and you live elsewhere, the call still has to come from you as the owner.
Of the 15 Barnstable County municipalities on this site, Eastham has the 6th largest share of homes built before 1980: 59%, against a county range of 25% to 73%.
ZIP codes: 02642
Eastham and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastham | 1975 | 59% | 88% | 2% | 3 |
| Orleans | 1979 | 53% | 81% | 4% | 2 |
| Wellfleet | 1975 | 60% | 86% | 2% | 3 |
| Brewster | 1983 | 42% | 85% | 7% | 1 |
| Harwich | 1976 | 55% | 85% | 3% | 1 |
| Truro | 1980 | 50% | 84% | 5% | 3 |
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.
Hail and storms near Eastham
NOAA’s storm reports show 3 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Eastham, topping out at 1 in on May 8, 2024.
That is fewer than most places in the state on this site (median 10 days).
Barnstable County has had 6 federal major-disaster declarations for storms since 2006; the latest was DR-4372, Severe Winter Storm and Flooding (June 2018). (OpenFEMA.)
Storm reports are what observers logged, not a measure of damage to any 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; 93% of homes here are detached | Class G or H at 130 mph design wind (IRC Table R905.2.4.1) |
| Metal (standing seam, panels) | 50 years | Low pitches and long runs | A complete standing-seam system may go over the old roof (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 9% here predate 1940 | Never a base for a new layer (R908.3.1.1); heavy |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Additions and porch roofs | Coating is not a replacement |
Checking a contractor in Massachusetts
Two numbers to ask for in Eastham: 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.
Contracts, deposits and the right to cancel: checking a roofing contractor. What moves the price: new roof cost in Massachusetts.
Questions about a new roof in Eastham
Is a permit required for a new roof in Eastham, MA?
Roofing is not exempt. Massachusetts exempts sheds, fences and finish work from permits (R105.2), not roofing. Eastham’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 Eastham?
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. 59% of Eastham’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
When were most homes in Eastham built?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Eastham was built in 1975, 59% of homes were built before 1980, 88% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Eastham?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 3 days within 10 miles of Eastham from 2006 through 2025 (NOAA Storm Prediction Center). A report means hail fell nearby, not that a roof was damaged.
What license or registration should a roofer in Eastham have?
Two numbers to ask for in Eastham: 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
- Where the house is: the Eastham address or ZIP
- The number of stories, and whether the house stands alone
- What is on the roof now (asphalt shingles, metal, slate, tile, or a flat membrane) and roughly how old it is
- Whether there is one layer or more, if you know
- That the job is a full replacement or a new roof, and your timing
- Whether the house is in a historic district or an HOA
- That the house is yours and the decision is yours
The full list: before you call.