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 Sunderland the building department takes the application, with the contractor’s home improvement registration on it.
Roof Replacement in Sunderland, MA
Half of the 1,775 homes in Sunderland were built before 1979. 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 Sunderland
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 53% of Sunderland’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 Sunderland, 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, 40 psf ground snow
Sunderland’s code design values are a 113 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 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. The state’s code edition and the rest of its rules: roof replacement in Massachusetts.
Homes and roofs in Sunderland
Of 1,695 occupied homes in Sunderland, 712 (42%) are owner-occupied. By year built, 9% before 1940, 16% before 1960, 53% before 1980; 23% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 42% detached houses, 5% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 15% buildings of two to four units.
Of the 19 Franklin County municipalities on this site, Sunderland has the 18th largest share of homes built before 1980: 53%, against a county range of 52% to 83%.
ZIP codes: 01375
Sunderland and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunderland | 1979 | 53% | 42% | 5% | 11 |
| Leverett | 1973 | 60% | 87% | 3% | 9 |
| Deerfield | 1972 | 65% | 78% | 9% | 7 |
| Whately | 1974 | 60% | 88% | 2% | 12 |
| Montague | 1951 | 79% | 63% | 2% | 8 |
| Hatfield | 1967 | 66% | 75% | 7% | 13 |
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 Sunderland
NOAA’s storm reports show 11 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Sunderland, topping out at 1.75 in on July 14, 2021.
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 Sunderland, not that it damaged a 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; 42% 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; 9% 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 | Coating is not a replacement |
Checking a contractor in Massachusetts
Two numbers to ask for in Sunderland: 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 Sunderland
Is a permit required for a new roof in Sunderland, 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 Sunderland the building department takes the application, with the contractor’s home improvement registration on it.
Do the old shingles have to come off in Sunderland?
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 53% of Sunderland’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
How old are the houses in Sunderland?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Sunderland was built in 1979, 53% of homes were built before 1980, 42% are owner-occupied.
Does Sunderland get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 11 days within 10 miles of Sunderland 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 Sunderland?
Two numbers to ask for in Sunderland: 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 Sunderland
- 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 Sunderland
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.