InstaBidsHow much does it cost to replace a roof in Boston?
$14,172 was the median declared permit value for data years 2023-2026 in Boston, MA. One- to four-family home roof replacement permits issued in Boston declared a typical range (middle half of 1,291 City of Boston permit data points, Boston, MA, 2023-2026) of $10,000 to $19,750.
Updated 2026-10-28
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| What was measured | Median declared value | Declared value range (middle half) |
|---|---|---|
| One- to four-family home roof replacement permits issued in Boston declared | a median declared value on building permits of $14,172 | the typical range (middle half of 1,291 City of Boston permit data points, Boston, MA, 2023-2026) was $10,000 to $19,750 |
Declared permit values are what applicants reported to the city; final contract prices can differ.
How measured: residential single-job permits; declared values below the low-value floor for the same job removed (10 rows). Source: City of Boston, 'Approved Building Permits' (Analyze Boston), data read 22 October 2026.
These figures are estimates from City of Boston, 'Approved Building Permits' (Analyze Boston), data years 2023-2026, read 22 October 2026, for Boston, MA. They are not a quote, and they are not a promise of what any contractor on InstaBids will charge. Your price depends on your home, the materials and the contractor. Get written bids before you decide.
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What the job includes, the line items to ask for and how to compare bids: the national roof replacement cost guide.
What do Boston roof permits declare?
Boston’s existing-home selection retains 1,291 roof permits after removing ten low declared values from 1,301 matched records. Every matched permit had a value; none of these records is a paid invoice.
The City of Boston records describe one- to four-family homes. The filter excludes 86 mixed-job permits, four legalisation or revision-related records, two records outside existing homes and one demolition-only record.
Roofing survey reports for Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Area or whole-house size | Typical middle | Middle half range | n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | a median of $10,000 | the typical range (middle half of 80 American Housing Survey data points, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, 2021-2023) was $6,000 to $15,000 | 80 |
How measured: hired-out finished jobs, survey-weighted, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data read 16 October 2026.
These figures are estimates from U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data years 2021-2023, read 16 October 2026, for Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH. They are not a quote, and they are not a promise of what any contractor on InstaBids will charge. Your price depends on your home, the materials and the contractor. Get written bids before you decide.
Full national guide: How much does it cost to replace a roof?
How does Boston compare with the national survey?
For the national picture, the Census Bureau's American Housing Survey asked households about the work done on their home and whether they hired it out. Its roofing item reads "Added or replaced roofing", so full tear-offs and smaller partial replacements share one range.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, read 16 October 2026.
| What was measured | Median | Typical range (middle half) |
|---|---|---|
| Households in the American Housing Survey that hired out a roof replacement reported | a median of $10,000 | the typical range (middle half of 1,820 American Housing Survey data points, the United States, 2021-2023) was $5,800 to $16,000 |
| When the household did the roofing itself | a median (260 American Housing Survey data points, the United States, 2021-2023) of $5,600 | — |
How measured: hired-out finished jobs, survey-weighted, not adjusted for inflation; do-it-yourself jobs the same way. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data read 16 October 2026.
These figures are estimates from U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data years 2021-2023, read 16 October 2026, for the United States. They are not a quote, and they are not a promise of what any contractor on InstaBids will charge. Your price depends on your home, the materials and the contractor. Get written bids before you decide.
Full national guide: How much does it cost to replace a roof?
The Boston median declared value sits above the national survey median for hired-out roof jobs.
The two are different kinds of record: a survey answer is what a household remembers paying, while a permit value is what an applicant wrote down before the work began. This page keeps them apart and never blends them into one number.
When does Boston use the short-form roof repair route?
Example rule, Boston Inspectional Services roof permit: short-form applicants: “Homeowners and contractors can apply for the Short-form Permit.”
Source: Boston Inspectional Services, read 7 November 2026.
Example rule, Boston Inspectional Services roof permit: short-form scope: “For repairing an existing roof when no other structural changes need to be made.”
Source: Boston Inspectional Services, read 7 November 2026.
Example rule, Boston roof repair: owner-occupied dwelling scope: “Homeowners and contractors can repair a roof if the work is being done on a 1-2 unit owner-occupied home.”
Source: Boston Inspectional Services, read 9 November 2026.
Example rule, Boston roof repair: larger dwelling requirement: “You must hire a contractor to perform the work if it’s being done on a three-family or bigger dwelling, such as:”
Source: Boston Inspectional Services, read 9 November 2026.
Which roof details does Boston protect in the South End?
Example rule, Boston South End Landmark District: original roof profile: “The original roof configuration and cornice line shall be retained.”
Source: Boston Landmarks Commission, read 9 November 2026.
Example rule, Boston South End Landmark District: contiguous cornice lines: “Additional floors visible from the public streets and avenues may be permissible in special circumstances provided the addition does not interrupt a contiguous row of even cornice lines.”
Source: Boston Landmarks Commission, read 9 November 2026.
Example rule, Boston South End Landmark District: restoring a roofline: “Raising or lowering the existing roofline will only be allowed for the purpose of restoring the roof to its original profile.”
Source: Boston Landmarks Commission, read 9 November 2026.
Example rule, Boston South End Landmark District: mansard skylights: “Skylights are never allowed on mansard roofs.”
Source: Boston Landmarks Commission, read 9 November 2026.
Example rule, Boston South End Landmark District: other visible skylights: “Visible skylights on other roofs are discouraged, unless original to the building, but may be approved, provided that the projection is less than one foot above the roof and at least one foot back from the visible edges of the roof; framing of the skylights should also be dark and non-reflective.”
Source: Boston Landmarks Commission, read 9 November 2026.
Example rule, Boston South End Landmark District: original dormers: “Original dormers on roofs shall be retained and repaired or restored. Expansion of existing dormers or adding new dormers may be approved on a case-by-case basis provided designs are based on historic models.”
Source: Boston Landmarks Commission, read 9 November 2026.
Example rule, Boston South End Landmark District: cornice materials: “Wood, masonry, and metal cornice elements shall be retained and repaired or restored.”
Source: Boston Landmarks Commission, read 9 November 2026.
Example rule, Boston South End Landmark District: visible slate replacement: “Original slate should be retained or repaired. If the visible portion of the roof requires replacement, slate or a non-reflective material similar in color and texture to slate may be allowed.”
Source: Boston Landmarks Commission, read 9 November 2026.
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Sources for the figures on this page
- City of Boston, 'Approved Building Permits' (Analyze Boston), https://data.boston.gov/dataset/approved-building-permits, read 22 October 2026. InstaBids computed medians and middle-half ranges.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/data/2023/ahs-2023-public-use-file--puf-.html, read 16 October 2026. U.S. government work; no endorsement implied.
- U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/2023/AHS 2023 Value Labels Package.zip, read 16 October 2026.
- Boston Inspectional Services, www.boston.gov/boston-permitting/repair-projects/repair-roof, read 7 November 2026.
- Boston Landmarks Commission, www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2024/09/South End Landmark District Standards and Criteria_0.pdf, read 9 November 2026.