Permit
A permit from Norwood
The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. The application to Norwood’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Roof Replacement in Norwood, MA
Half of the 13,815 homes in Norwood were built before 1960. 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 Norwood
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). 72% of Norwood’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 Norwood
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
121 mph design wind, 40 psf ground snow
Norwood’s code design values are a 121 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 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. Code edition, permit and contract rules for the whole state: roof replacement in Massachusetts.
Homes and roofs in Norwood
Owners live in 7,155 of Norwood’s occupied homes, or 54%. By year built, 25% before 1940, 50% before 1960, 72% before 1980; 13% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 47% detached houses, 7% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 19% buildings of two to four units.
Of the 28 Norfolk County municipalities on this site, Norwood has the 8th largest share of homes built before 1980: 72%, against a county range of 41% to 86%.
ZIP codes: 02062
Norwood and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwood | 1960 | 72% | 54% | 7% | 11 |
| Westwood | 1968 | 64% | 87% | 2% | 10 |
| Canton | 1980 | 50% | 74% | 7% | 14 |
| Walpole | 1977 | 53% | 84% | 8% | 10 |
| Dedham | 1956 | 76% | 73% | 5% | 13 |
| Sharon | 1970 | 63% | 88% | 3% | 10 |
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 Norwood
Within 10 miles of Norwood, hail of an inch or more was reported on 11 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 2 in on August 4, 2015. The most recent was August 15, 2024.
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 Norwood, 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 Norwood’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; 47% of homes here are detached | Class G or H at 121 mph design wind (IRC Table R905.2.4.1) |
| Metal (standing seam, panels) | 50 years | Simple roofs with long, unbroken slopes | Standing seam that carries its own loads can skip the tear-off (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 25% here predate 1940 | Never a base for a new layer (R908.3.1.1); heavy |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Porches, additions, low-slope rears | Seams at walls and drainage |
Checking a contractor in Massachusetts
For an owner-occupied home of one to four units in Norwood, 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 Norwood
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Norwood?
A permit from Norwood. The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. The application to Norwood’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Do the old shingles have to come off in Norwood?
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). 72% of Norwood’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
How old are the houses in Norwood?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Norwood was built in 1960, 72% of homes were built before 1980, 54% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Norwood?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 11 days within 10 miles of Norwood 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 Norwood?
For an owner-occupied home of one to four units in Norwood, 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 Norwood, 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 Norwood
- That you are the owner and the one who decides
The full list: before you call.