Every region has unique requirements when it comes to making major exterior improvements to your property. These requirements vary from different insurance costs, permitting, even special approvals depending on the district you live in and it’s important for you to be aware of all the necessary requirements before construction begins on your home.
Saratoga Springs Overview
Overview of Infinite Roofing Saratoga Branch Offerings
Saratoga Roofing Services
Overview of our Saratoga Roofing Services: including Commercial, Residental, Shingle Roofs, Flat Roofs and Metal Roofs
Metal Roofing Saratoga
Metal Roofing Pros, Cons and different metal roofing specific options in Saratoga.
Saratoga Siding Saratoga
Siding Services from James Hardie Fiber Cement to Certainteed Vinyl Siding and more, plus side by side comparison.
Saratoga Local Law Roofing Requirements
Do you need to obtain a building permit for your roof?
For Saratoga, this requirement depends on how much work is being done. Small jobs like repairs, patch work or replacing existing shingles (for example, if some of your shingles blew off the roof, or became damaged in a storm and need a couple replacements), then you do not need to obtain a building permit.
However, if you are replacing a major section of your roof, or adding an addition to your home or building, or replacing the whole roof, a building permit must be obtained.
It’s important to know: whether you are hiring a roofing contractor to do the work, or if you’re doing it yourself, you will need to obtain a permit for re roofing.
What kind of insurance is required for a proper re-roofing job?
Saratoga requires all contractors who are working on the project to be properly insured to New York State (NYS) specifications. This means a properly insured contractor has workers comp and liability insurance in place.
Permits are not issued to a contractor or roofing company who does not meet all of NYS insurance requirements.
This is important, because if you hire an uninsured contractor, or do not see proof of the contractor’s insurance, then the State will generally treat you, the homeowner as “the contractor,” and hold you liable for paying into workers comp and liability insurance.
Unique Saratoga Re-Roofing Requirements
Because Saratoga Springs has special “Historic Review” and “Architectural Review” districts, if you live in one of these zones, any changes to the exterior must be approved by the Design Review Commission. Exterior changes includes roofing.
For your convenience here is the list of review requirements that apply to roofing for each district:
Architectural Review District:
- All exterior changes that require a building permit must be approved.
- Any change to the material used on the exterior (so for example, changing from EPDM to TPO on flat roofs, changing shingle types on shingle roofs or going from shingles to metal roofing).
Historic Review District:
- Exterior changes which require permits have to be approved.
- Material changes to the exterior of the structure, specifically including:
- Adding or removing exterior architectural features
- Installation, removal or material change to elements like the roof, siding, windows, doors and porches.
- Installation of utility features like HVAC or solar panels.
The city states that “ordinary maintenance or repair work” that does not feature changes to materials, design or appearance do not need to have a Historic or Architectural review.
While there are more requirements for different types of construction projects, the above listed apply mostly to roofing.
Saratoga Design Guidelines for Roof Replacements
Applies to Historic and Architectural Review Districts
When the design review commission is looking at changes to your roofing structure, they are going to be evaluating the suggested new changes, relative to how it looks compared to the other buildings and whether or not the design fits in with the surrounding architecture.
For roofing, the most important considerations are:
- Height: Is it consistent with the “historic form” of the property and surrounding properties.
- Scale: the relationship of the structure and it’s “architectural elements” to human size and form perceptions.
- Directional expression: how the vertical and horizontal expressions match with the surrounding properties.
- Setback: compatibility with the surrounding structures
- Compatibility with the surrounding properties of the roof, the roofing materials and the color (for non-residential or mix zones only).
How much does Saratoga charge in fees for roof design approvals?
For residential structures, the fee is $50, with a $50 approval extension fee and a $50 administrative action fee.
Non residential structures that are mix use (for example if there’s a storefront on your first floor), the fee is $360 principal fee, $120 for sketch and $120 for signs, awnings, accessory structures and $120 for an approval extension and administrative actions.
You can download the form here from the city of Saratoga’s main page.
Does Infinite Roofing help with the design and approval process?
Yes, we have considerable experience in working in special districts, such as the Historic and Architectural Design districts in Saratoga, and we can help you through the process to ensure that your new roof’s design meets all of the specifications of the approval process.
Infinite Roofing & Construction
63 Putnam St, Ste 202
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
(office) 518-350-7663
(mobile) 518-221-1003
(email) scheduling@infiniteroofingny.com
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