Roof Repair in Camden, New Jersey

Why does a Camden roof job run under New Jersey rules?

Camden is in New Jersey, so roofers working here register as home improvement contractors with the state Division of Consumer Affairs. Pennsylvania's registration and its Attorney General route do not apply. The registration can be checked through the Division's verification system by searching the business name.

The registration number should appear on the contract and in any advertising. Asking for it before work begins is a simple way to confirm the roofer is on the state's register.

Who issues the permit for a roof in Camden?

Permits for a Camden roof come from the city, not from Philadelphia's Licenses and Inspections office. The city's process, its forms and its timing are not set out on this page, so ask the city what it requires for your roof before the job is booked.

A permit that is missed can cause trouble later, especially at a sale or when the house is refinanced. Get the city's answer in writing for the scope you have in mind.

What do the rows across the river share with Philadelphia's?

Attached rowhouses in both cities can have low-slope roofs that drain to a drain or a rear gutter, and the same joints tend to fail: the parapet flashing, the seams around the drain and the edge where a roof meets a party wall. The checks are the same whichever side of the river the roof is on.

The difference is the rulebook. A roof in Camden is handled under New Jersey and city rules, so the same repair can need different paperwork. A roofer who works on both sides should be clear about which rules apply to your address.

How should a Camden owner handle a roof repair that crosses the river in its paperwork?

A Camden owner may be approached by a roofer whose office is across the river. The question to ask is whether the roofer is registered in New Jersey for work in Camden, and whether its office is in the state or not. The registration that matters is the one that covers the address of the house being repaired.

Ask for the registration number in writing before the crew is booked, and check it against the state's verification system. Keep the number with the contract, since it is the reference point if a complaint is ever raised with the state.

Permits, inspections and the paperwork for the job come from the city, not from Philadelphia's office. A roofer who has worked in Camden will know how the city handles the process and whom to call there.