Permit
A permit from Quincy
The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. In Quincy the building department takes the application, with the contractor’s home improvement registration on it.
Roof Replacement in Quincy, MA
The median home in Quincy was built in 1958; there are 48,072 of them. 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 Quincy
Layers
Two layers means a tear-off
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. 69% of Quincy’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 statewide
Massachusetts answers “yes” to the ice barrier for every town. 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
121 mph design wind, 40 psf ground snow
Quincy’s code design values are a 121 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. Everything else the state requires: roof replacement in Massachusetts.
Homes and roofs in Quincy
Of 45,285 occupied homes in Quincy, 20,491 (45%) are owner-occupied. Counting by decade, 37% before 1940, 52% before 1960, 69% before 1980 of the housing was in place, and 17% dates from 2000 on. (ACS 2020–2024.)
The housing is 33% detached houses, 5% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 21% 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 28 Norfolk County municipalities on this site, Quincy has the 12th largest share of homes built before 1980: 69%, against a county range of 41% to 86%.
ZIP codes: 02169 · 02170 · 02171
Quincy and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quincy | 1958 | 69% | 45% | 5% | 11 |
| Braintree | 1957 | 75% | 78% | 4% | 13 |
| Milton | 1945 | 82% | 85% | 5% | 13 |
| Weymouth | 1964 | 71% | 67% | 5% | 9 |
| Boston | 1947 | 72% | 36% | 6% | 12 |
| Randolph | 1966 | 70% | 71% | 10% | 15 |
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 Quincy
Within 10 miles of Quincy, 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 14, 2025.
Norfolk County has had 8 federal major-disaster declarations for storms since 2006; the latest was 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; 33% 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 | Low pitches and long runs | A complete standing-seam system may go over the old roof (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 37% 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
In Quincy 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 Quincy
Is a permit required for a new roof in Quincy, MA?
A permit from Quincy. The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. In Quincy the building department takes the application, with the contractor’s home improvement registration on it.
Can a new roof go over the old one in Quincy?
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. 69% of Quincy’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
When were most homes in Quincy built?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Quincy was built in 1958, 69% of homes were built before 1980, 45% are owner-occupied.
Does Quincy get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 11 days within 10 miles of Quincy 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 Quincy have?
In Quincy 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 Quincy, or at least the ZIP code
- How many stories the house has, and whether it is detached or attached
- What covers the roof now and about when it went on
- How many layers are on it, if you know
- Your timing for a complete replacement
- Whether the house is in a historic district or an HOA
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.