Permit
A permit from Wellesley
Roofing is not on the Massachusetts list of work exempt from a permit (780 CMR 51.00, R105.2). Wellesley’s building department issues it, and the application carries the contractor’s HIC registration number.
Roof Replacement in Wellesley, MA
Half of the 9,400 homes in Wellesley were built before 1955. 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 Wellesley
Layers
No third layer
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 Wellesley’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 Wellesley
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
119 mph design wind, 40 psf ground snow
Wellesley’s code design values are a 119 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. The state’s code edition and the rest of its rules: roof replacement in Massachusetts.
Homes and roofs in Wellesley
84% of the occupied homes in Wellesley are lived in by their owners: 7,742 households, the people this line is for. By year built, 34% before 1940, 57% before 1960, 72% before 1980; 19% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 82% detached houses.
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 28 Norfolk County municipalities on this site, Wellesley has the 7th largest share of homes built before 1980: 72%, against a county range of 41% to 86%.
ZIP codes: 02457 · 02481 · 02482
Wellesley and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellesley | 1955 | 72% | 84% | 3% | 9 |
| Needham | 1965 | 64% | 83% | 5% | 10 |
| Natick | 1968 | 61% | 68% | 4% | 8 |
| Weston | 1964 | 65% | 88% | 2% | 8 |
| Newton | 1942 | 80% | 70% | 8% | 9 |
| Dover | 1970 | 61% | 98% | 2% | 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 Wellesley
Since 2006 the National Weather Service has logged hail of 1 inch or larger on 9 separate days within 10 miles of Wellesley; the largest was 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 Wellesley, not that it damaged a roof. When wind or hail damage means a new roof.
What goes on the roof next
Lifespans come from HUD’s capital-needs table, not from a brochure. 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; 82% of homes here are detached | Class G or H at 119 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; 34% 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 Wellesley: 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 Wellesley
Does a roof replacement in Wellesley need a permit?
A permit from Wellesley. Roofing is not on the Massachusetts list of work exempt from a permit (780 CMR 51.00, R105.2). Wellesley’s building department issues it, and the application carries the contractor’s HIC registration number.
Can a new roof go over the old one in Wellesley?
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 Wellesley’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
How old are the houses in Wellesley?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Wellesley was built in 1955, 72% of homes were built before 1980, 84% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Wellesley?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 9 days within 10 miles of Wellesley 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 Wellesley?
Two numbers to ask for in Wellesley: 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 Wellesley
- How many stories the house has, and whether it is detached or attached
- The roof you have today, shingle, metal, slate, tile or flat, and its rough age
- 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 Wellesley
- That the house is yours and the decision is yours
The full list: before you call.