Permit
Expect a building permit
Roofing is not on the Massachusetts list of work exempt from a permit (780 CMR 51.00, R105.2). The application to Hadley’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Roof Replacement in Hadley, MA
The median home in Hadley was built in 1971; there are 2,347 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 Hadley
Layers
No third layer
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. 63% of Hadley’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 Hadley, as in every Massachusetts town
The state’s climate table marks the ice barrier “yes” statewide. 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
114 mph design wind, 40 psf ground snow
Hadley’s code design values are a 114 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 D, 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. Code edition, permit and contract rules for the whole state: roof replacement in Massachusetts.
Homes and roofs in Hadley
Owners live in 1,675 of Hadley’s occupied homes, or 73%. Counting by decade, 24% before 1940, 35% before 1960, 63% before 1980 of the housing was in place, and 15% dates from 2000 on. (ACS 2020–2024.)
The housing is 77% detached houses, 13% buildings of two to four units.
Of the 16 Hampshire County municipalities on this site, Hadley has the 11th largest share of homes built before 1980: 63%, against a county range of 42% to 73%.
ZIP codes: 01035
Hadley and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hadley | 1971 | 63% | 73% | 2% | 15 |
| Amherst | 1975 | 61% | 44% | 7% | 16 |
| Hatfield | 1967 | 66% | 75% | 7% | 13 |
| Northampton | 1955 | 73% | 57% | 8% | 11 |
| Whately | 1974 | 60% | 88% | 2% | 12 |
| South Hadley | 1961 | 68% | 77% | 9% | 19 |
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 Hadley
Since 2006 the National Weather Service has logged hail of 1 inch or larger on 15 separate days within 10 miles of Hadley; the largest was 1.75 in on July 14, 2021. The most recent was June 6, 2025.
That is more hail days than 84% of the places in the state on this site.
Hampshire County has had 6 federal major-disaster declarations for storms since 2006; the latest was DR-4110, Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding (April 2013). (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
HUD’s useful-life figures are for planning; a warranty is a separate promise. For Hadley’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; 77% of homes here are detached | Class D, G or H at 114 mph design wind (IRC Table R905.2.4.1) |
| Metal (standing seam, panels) | 50 years | Roofs that will carry solar later | A complete standing-seam system may go over the old roof (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 24% here predate 1940 | Can’t be roofed over; check the framing for the weight |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Additions and porch roofs | Where the roof meets a wall or parapet |
Checking a contractor in Massachusetts
Two numbers to ask for in Hadley: 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 Hadley
Is a permit required for a new roof in Hadley, MA?
Expect a building permit. Roofing is not on the Massachusetts list of work exempt from a permit (780 CMR 51.00, R105.2). The application to Hadley’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Can a new roof go over the old one in Hadley?
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. 63% of Hadley’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
When were most homes in Hadley built?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Hadley was built in 1971, 63% of homes were built before 1980, 73% are owner-occupied.
Does Hadley get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 15 days within 10 miles of Hadley 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 Hadley have?
Two numbers to ask for in Hadley: 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 Hadley
- One story or two (or more), detached or attached
- The roof you have today, shingle, metal, slate, tile or flat, and its rough age
- 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.