Permit
Expect a building permit
The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. The application to Winthrop’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Roof Replacement in Winthrop, MA
Winthrop has 8,361 homes, and half of them were standing by 1938. Below: what the code asks of a replacement here, the permit, and the town’s own records.
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 Winthrop
Layers
One old layer can stay; two cannot
On a roof that already carries two layers, or slate or tile, the code allows no recover: it is a tear-off (IRC R908.3.1.1). 87% of Winthrop’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
Source: IRC 2021, Chapter 9 (Pennsylvania edition, UpCodes); 780 CMR 51.00, Chapter 9 amendments
Ice barrier
Required in Winthrop
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
120 mph design wind, 40 psf ground snow
Winthrop’s code design values are a 120 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. Code edition, permit and contract rules for the whole state: roof replacement in Massachusetts.
Homes and roofs in Winthrop
Of 7,899 occupied homes in Winthrop, 4,498 (57%) are owner-occupied. Counting by decade, 55% before 1940, 72% before 1960, 87% before 1980 of the housing was in place, and 6% dates from 2000 on. (ACS 2020–2024.)
The housing is 31% detached houses, 4% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 37% 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 4 Suffolk County municipalities on this site, Winthrop has the largest share of homes built before 1980: 87%, against a county range of 65% to 87%.
ZIP codes: 02152
Winthrop and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winthrop | 1938 | 87% | 57% | 4% | 11 |
| Revere | 1965 | 65% | 46% | 8% | 11 |
| Chelsea | 1941 | 69% | 26% | 4% | 13 |
| Boston | 1947 | 72% | 36% | 6% | 12 |
| Nahant | 1938 | 89% | 79% | 3% | 10 |
| Everett | 1938 | 77% | 37% | 6% | 12 |
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 Winthrop
NOAA’s storm reports show 11 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Winthrop, topping out at 2 in on August 4, 2015. The most recent was August 23, 2020.
At the county level, Winthrop shares Suffolk County’s record of 8 storm disaster declarations since 2006, the newest 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; 31% of homes here are detached | Class G or H at 120 mph design wind (IRC Table R905.2.4.1) |
| Metal (standing seam, panels) | 50 years | Roofs that will carry solar later | A complete standing-seam system may go over the old roof (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 55% 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 | Coating is not a replacement |
Checking a contractor in Massachusetts
Two numbers to ask for in Winthrop: 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.
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 Winthrop
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Winthrop?
Expect a building permit. The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. The application to Winthrop’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Can a new roof go over the old one in Winthrop?
On a roof that already carries two layers, or slate or tile, the code allows no recover: it is a tear-off (IRC R908.3.1.1). 87% of Winthrop’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
When were most homes in Winthrop built?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Winthrop was built in 1938, 87% of homes were built before 1980, 57% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Winthrop?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 11 days within 10 miles of Winthrop 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 Winthrop have?
Two numbers to ask for in Winthrop: 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
- Where the house is: the Winthrop address or ZIP
- One story or two (or more), detached or attached
- The roof you have today, shingle, metal, slate, tile or flat, and its rough age
- The number of layers, if anyone has counted
- That you want a new roof or a full replacement, and when you want the work done
- Whether the house is in a historic district or an HOA
- That the house is yours and the decision is yours
The full list: before you call.