Permit
Roofing is not exempt
The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. The application to Fairhaven’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Roof Replacement in Fairhaven, MA
The median home in Fairhaven was built in 1952; there are 7,619 of them. What the code requires when that roof is replaced, and who signs off, is below.
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 Fairhaven
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. With 81% of Fairhaven’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
Source: IRC 2021, Chapter 9 (Pennsylvania edition, UpCodes); 780 CMR 51.00, Chapter 9 amendments
Ice barrier
Required in Fairhaven, as in every Massachusetts town
There is no local exception: the state table says “yes.” 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
130 mph design wind, 30 psf ground snow
Fairhaven’s code design values are a 130 mph ultimate design wind speed and a 30 psf ground snow load (30 psf minimum flat-roof snow load); the town is in the windborne debris region. 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 Fairhaven
Owners live in 5,307 of Fairhaven’s occupied homes, or 74%. By year built, 40% before 1940, 62% before 1960, 81% before 1980; 7% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 69% detached houses, 16% buildings of two to four units.
On a house built before 1940, ask what the deck is (boards or plywood) and whether slate sits under the later layers: slate can’t be roofed over.
Of the 20 Bristol County municipalities on this site, Fairhaven has the 2nd largest share of homes built before 1980: 81%, against a county range of 37% to 84%.
ZIP codes: 02719
Fairhaven and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairhaven | 1952 | 81% | 74% | 2% | 6 |
| Mattapoisett | 1971 | 61% | 85% | 4% | 5 |
| New Bedford | 1938 | 84% | 40% | 2% | 6 |
| Acushnet | 1968 | 70% | 85% | 2% | 5 |
| Dartmouth | 1973 | 62% | 76% | 2% | 6 |
| Marion | 1962 | 68% | 91% | 0% | 2 |
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 Fairhaven
NOAA’s storm reports show 6 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Fairhaven, topping out at 1.75 in on August 19, 2008. The most recent was August 26, 2024.
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 7 federal storm declarations covering Bristol County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Fairhaven, not that it damaged a roof. When wind or hail damage means a new roof.
What goes on the roof next
HUD’s useful-life figures are for planning; a warranty is a separate promise. For Fairhaven’s houses: 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; 69% 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 | 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; 40% 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 Fairhaven: 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 Fairhaven
Does a roof replacement in Fairhaven need a permit?
Roofing is not exempt. The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. The application to Fairhaven’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Can a new roof go over the old one in Fairhaven?
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. With 81% of Fairhaven’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
How old are the houses in Fairhaven?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Fairhaven was built in 1952, 81% of homes were built before 1980, 74% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Fairhaven?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 6 days within 10 miles of Fairhaven 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 Fairhaven?
Two numbers to ask for in Fairhaven: 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 Fairhaven, 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
- The number of layers, if anyone has counted
- Your timing for a complete replacement
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Fairhaven
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.