Permit
Expect a building permit
Roofing is not on the Massachusetts list of work exempt from a permit (780 CMR 51.00, R105.2). In Montague the building department takes the application, with the contractor’s home improvement registration on it.
Roof Replacement in Montague, MA
Half of the 4,015 homes in Montague were built before 1951. 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 Montague
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). With 79% of Montague’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 Montague, as in every Massachusetts town
The state’s climate table marks the ice barrier “yes” statewide. 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
113 mph design wind, 50 psf ground snow
Montague’s code design values are a 113 mph ultimate design wind speed and a 50 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))
Rules as read on October 24, 2026. Everything else the state requires: roof replacement in Massachusetts.
Homes and roofs in Montague
Of 3,793 occupied homes in Montague, 2,379 (63%) are owner-occupied. By year built, 45% before 1940, 60% before 1960, 79% before 1980; 6% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 55% detached houses, 25% 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 19 Franklin County municipalities on this site, Montague has the 3rd largest share of homes built before 1980: 79%, against a county range of 52% to 83%.
ZIP codes: 01347 · 01349 · 01351 · 01376
Montague and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montague | 1951 | 79% | 63% | 2% | 8 |
| Gill | 1968 | 62% | 82% | 3% | 9 |
| Deerfield | 1972 | 65% | 78% | 9% | 7 |
| Greenfield | 1947 | 83% | 56% | 5% | 7 |
| Erving | 1957 | 67% | 82% | 5% | 11 |
| Leverett | 1973 | 60% | 87% | 3% | 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.
Storm record around Montague
NOAA’s storm reports show 8 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Montague, topping out at 1.75 in on May 22, 2013. The most recent was July 14, 2021.
That is fewer than most places in the state on this site (median 10 days).
Federal major-disaster declarations for storms in Franklin County since 2006: 5, most recently DR-4110, Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding, declared April 2013. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Montague, 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 Montague’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; 55% of homes here are detached | Class D, G or H at 113 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; 45% here predate 1940 | Can’t be roofed over; check the framing for the weight |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Porches, additions, low-slope rears | Seams at walls and drainage |
Checking a contractor in Massachusetts
Two numbers to ask for in Montague: 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 Montague
Is a permit required for a new roof in Montague, MA?
Expect a building permit. Roofing is not on the Massachusetts list of work exempt from a permit (780 CMR 51.00, R105.2). In Montague the building department takes the application, with the contractor’s home improvement registration on it.
Do the old shingles have to come off in Montague?
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). With 79% of Montague’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
How old are the houses in Montague?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Montague was built in 1951, 79% of homes were built before 1980, 63% are owner-occupied.
Does Montague get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 8 days within 10 miles of Montague 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 Montague?
Two numbers to ask for in Montague: 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 Montague
- The number of stories, and whether the house stands alone
- What covers the roof now and about when it went on
- How many layers are on it, if you know
- That the job is a full replacement or a new roof, and your timing
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Montague
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.