Permit
Roofing is not exempt
Massachusetts exempts sheds, fences and finish work from permits (R105.2), not roofing. Holbrook’s building department issues it, and the application carries the contractor’s HIC registration number.
Roof Replacement in Holbrook, MA
The median home in Holbrook was built in 1957; there are 4,398 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 Holbrook
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. With 80% of Holbrook’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 Holbrook, 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
123 mph design wind, 35 psf ground snow
Holbrook’s code design values are a 123 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. The state’s code edition and the rest of its rules: roof replacement in Massachusetts.
Homes and roofs in Holbrook
84% of the occupied homes in Holbrook are lived in by their owners: 3,681 households, the people this line is for. By year built, 19% before 1940, 62% before 1960, 80% before 1980; 5% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 84% detached houses.
Of the 28 Norfolk County municipalities on this site, Holbrook has the 3rd largest share of homes built before 1980: 80%, against a county range of 41% to 86%.
ZIP codes: 02343
Holbrook and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holbrook | 1957 | 80% | 84% | 2% | 8 |
| Abington | 1970 | 63% | 73% | 8% | 9 |
| Avon | 1954 | 77% | 76% | 5% | 10 |
| Randolph | 1966 | 70% | 71% | 10% | 15 |
| Brockton | 1960 | 81% | 57% | 3% | 9 |
| Braintree | 1957 | 75% | 78% | 4% | 13 |
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 Holbrook
NOAA’s storm reports show 8 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Holbrook, topping out at 1.5 in on August 14, 2025.
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 Holbrook, 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; 84% of homes here are detached | Class G or H at 123 mph design wind (IRC Table R905.2.4.1) |
| Metal (standing seam, panels) | 50 years | Low pitches and long runs | Standing seam that carries its own loads can skip the tear-off (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 19% 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
For an owner-occupied home of one to four units in Holbrook, the contractor must be registered under the home improvement law (M.G.L. c. 142A), and a construction supervisor licensed (CSL) for roof covering supervises a permitted reroof. Ask for both numbers.
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 Holbrook
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Holbrook?
Roofing is not exempt. Massachusetts exempts sheds, fences and finish work from permits (R105.2), not roofing. Holbrook’s building department issues it, and the application carries the contractor’s HIC registration number.
Do the old shingles have to come off in Holbrook?
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. With 80% of Holbrook’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
How old are the houses in Holbrook?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Holbrook was built in 1957, 80% of homes were built before 1980, 84% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Holbrook?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 8 days within 10 miles of Holbrook 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 Holbrook?
For an owner-occupied home of one to four units in Holbrook, the contractor must be registered under the home improvement law (M.G.L. c. 142A), and a construction supervisor licensed (CSL) for roof covering supervises a permitted reroof. Ask for both numbers.
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in Holbrook, 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 Holbrook
- That you are the owner and the one who decides
The full list: before you call.