Permit
Roofing is not exempt
The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. The application to Marblehead’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Roof Replacement in Marblehead, MA
Half of the 9,095 homes in Marblehead were built before 1944. 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 Marblehead
Layers
One old layer can stay; two cannot
A new roof may go over one existing layer; with two or more, or over slate, clay or cement tile, everything comes off to the deck (IRC R908.3.1.1). 87% of Marblehead’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 Marblehead, 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
119 mph design wind, 40 psf ground snow
Marblehead’s code design values are a 119 mph ultimate design wind speed and a 40 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))
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 Marblehead
Of 8,289 occupied homes in Marblehead, 7,061 (85%) are owner-occupied. Counting by decade, 47% before 1940, 67% before 1960, 87% before 1980 of the housing was in place, and 4% dates from 2000 on. (ACS 2020–2024.)
The housing is 77% detached houses, 4% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 13% buildings of two to four units.
Older houses hide their history: ask the contractor to confirm the deck (board or sheet) and every layer above it before pricing, because slate or two layers mean a full tear-off.
Of the 34 Essex County municipalities on this site, Marblehead has the 2nd largest share of homes built before 1980: 87%, against a county range of 41% to 89%.
ZIP codes: 01945
Marblehead and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marblehead | 1944 | 87% | 85% | 4% | 5 |
| Salem | 1938 | 76% | 50% | 6% | 8 |
| Swampscott | 1955 | 75% | 76% | 5% | 8 |
| Beverly | 1956 | 72% | 60% | 4% | 5 |
| Manchester-by-the-Sea | 1955 | 74% | 75% | 5% | 4 |
| Lynn | 1946 | 78% | 48% | 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.
Hail and storms near Marblehead
NOAA’s storm reports show 5 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Marblehead, topping out at 3 in on July 11, 2006. The most recent was September 30, 2017.
That is fewer than most places in the state on this site (median 10 days).
At the county level, Marblehead shares Essex County’s record of 9 storm disaster declarations since 2006, the newest DR-4379 (Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm, July 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; 77% of homes here are detached | Class G or H at 119 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; 47% 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 | Seams at walls and drainage |
Checking a contractor in Massachusetts
Two numbers to ask for in Marblehead: 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 Marblehead
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Marblehead?
Roofing is not exempt. The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. The application to Marblehead’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Can a new roof go over the old one in Marblehead?
A new roof may go over one existing layer; with two or more, or over slate, clay or cement tile, everything comes off to the deck (IRC R908.3.1.1). 87% of Marblehead’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
When were most homes in Marblehead built?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Marblehead was built in 1944, 87% of homes were built before 1980, 85% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Marblehead?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 5 days within 10 miles of Marblehead 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 Marblehead have?
Two numbers to ask for in Marblehead: 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 Marblehead address or ZIP
- One story or two (or more), detached or attached
- The roof you have today, shingle, metal, slate, tile or flat, and its rough age
- The number of layers, if anyone has counted
- That you want a new roof or a full replacement, and when you want the work done
- 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.