Permit
Roofing is not exempt
The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. The application to Middleborough’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Roof Replacement in Middleborough, MA
Half of the 10,233 homes in Middleborough were built before 1979. 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 Middleborough
Layers
Two layers means a tear-off
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). 51% of Middleborough’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 Middleborough, as in every Massachusetts town
The state’s climate table marks the ice barrier “yes” statewide. 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
126 mph design wind, 30 psf ground snow
Middleborough’s code design values are a 126 mph ultimate design wind speed and a 30 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 Middleborough
Owners live in 7,579 of Middleborough’s occupied homes, or 77%. Counting by decade, 23% before 1940, 34% before 1960, 51% before 1980 of the housing was in place, and 26% dates from 2000 on. (ACS 2020–2024.)
The housing is 71% detached houses, 5% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 10% buildings of two to four units, 5% manufactured homes.
Of the 27 Plymouth County municipalities on this site, Middleborough has the 20th largest share of homes built before 1980: 51%, against a county range of 42% to 81%.
ZIP codes: 02346
Middleborough and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middleborough | 1979 | 51% | 77% | 5% | 5 |
| Lakeville | 1984 | 42% | 84% | 3% | 4 |
| Carver | 1980 | 51% | 89% | 2% | 6 |
| Plympton | 1981 | 48% | 93% | 1% | 7 |
| Rochester | 1984 | 46% | 88% | 2% | 6 |
| Bridgewater | 1984 | 45% | 76% | 8% | 9 |
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 Middleborough
Within 10 miles of Middleborough, hail of an inch or more was reported on 5 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 1.75 in on August 22, 2020. The most recent was August 15, 2024.
That is fewer than most places in the state on this site (median 10 days).
At the county level, Middleborough shares Plymouth County’s record of 8 storm disaster declarations since 2006, the newest DR-4651 (Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm, April 2022). (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; 71% of homes here are detached | Class G or H at 126 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; 23% 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
In Middleborough the contractor’s HIC registration (M.G.L. c. 142A) and the CSL of the supervisor licensed for roof covering are the two numbers to look up before signing.
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 Middleborough
Is a permit required for a new roof in Middleborough, MA?
Roofing is not exempt. The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. The application to Middleborough’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Do the old shingles have to come off in Middleborough?
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). 51% of Middleborough’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
When were most homes in Middleborough built?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Middleborough was built in 1979, 51% of homes were built before 1980, 77% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Middleborough?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 5 days within 10 miles of Middleborough 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 Middleborough have?
In Middleborough the contractor’s HIC registration (M.G.L. c. 142A) and the CSL of the supervisor licensed for roof covering are the two numbers to look up before signing.
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in Middleborough, or at least the ZIP code
- 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
- 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.