Short answer: yes. A full roof replacement in Hartford, and in the towns around it, normally requires a building permit. The more useful questions are who pulls it, and whether your house needs any approval before the permit.
Who issues the permit
In the City of Hartford, building permits are handled by the Building Inspection Division of the Department of Development Services. Each surrounding town, from West Hartford to Rocky Hill, has its own building department with its own forms and inspection schedule. Many now take applications online.
Who should pull it
Usually the roofer. A registered home improvement contractor pulling the permit is normal practice, and it puts the contractor's name on the record with the town. Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection recommends two things:
- Agree in advance, in writing, on who is responsible for obtaining the permit.
- If the contractor pulls it, check with the building official that it was actually issued before work starts.
What a re-roof permit usually involves
- An application naming the property, the owner and the contractor, with the contractor's registration number
- A short description of the work: tear-off, number of layers removed, new material
- In many towns, an inspection during or after the work, for example of the ice-barrier membrane at the eaves or of the finished roof
- Closing out the permit after the final inspection
Ask the roofer to give you a copy of the closed permit for your house records.
The extra step in historic districts
If your house is in a local historic district, a change of roofing material, color or roof shape usually needs a certificate of appropriateness from the historic district commission before the building permit is issued. That applies in parts of Hartford and in districts such as Old Wethersfield, and to protected properties in towns like Glastonbury and Windsor.
Replacing like with like, such as asphalt with asphalt in a similar color, is often handled simply. Switching from slate to shingles, or shingles to metal, is the kind of change commissions consider at a meeting. Allow time for that in your schedule.
Related reading
- How to check a Connecticut roofer before you sign
- Slate or asphalt for an older Hartford-area house
- Roof replacement in Hartford
Want a roofer who handles the permit as part of the job? Call to be connected with one who works in your town.Mon–Fri 8:30 am–7 pm, Sat 9 am–4 pm (Eastern)
(844) 505-0987Related questions
- What if the roofer says a permit is not needed?
- For a full replacement, be cautious. Building departments across Connecticut generally require a permit to re-roof, and an unpermitted roof can cause problems when you sell or file an insurance claim. Call your building department and ask.
- How long does a roofing permit take?
- Simple residential re-roof permits are often issued quickly, but timing varies by town and season. Historic district approval, when needed, adds weeks because commissions meet on a schedule.