Clifton, New Jersey
Roofing in Clifton, NJ: 34,600 Homes, Four in Ten Rented
Clifton is the biggest town of the seven by a wide margin, with about 34,600 homes and a long spread of ages. Nearly a third are prewar, and the rest run through the 1950s and later. A roof repair call starts with the street and the roof's age. Dial (973) 358-8198 and describe what you see.
The houses
The Census Bureau's 2024 five-year estimates list 34,611 housing units in Clifton, give or take 849. Of those, 10,813 date to 1939 or earlier (31 percent), 5,341 to the 1940s and 7,779 to the 1950s. The median year built is 1951. That spread means one block can hold slate, old frame and 1950s ranches. A roofer reads each house on its own, since the age alone does not say what is on top.
The big one: 34,611 homes on 11 square miles
Census Bureau estimates for Clifton city, 2024 five-year file: 34,611 housing units, give or take 849, on 11.3 square miles. By decade built: 10,813 in 1939 or earlier, 5,341 in the 1940s, 7,779 in the 1950s, 3,105 in the 1960s, 2,059 in the 1970s, 1,535 in the 1980s and 3,979 since 1990.
Of 33,614 occupied homes, 20,021 are owner-occupied and 13,593 are rented, about 40 percent, give or take 2 points. Median year built: 1951, give or take 2.
Township office
City Hall is at 900 Clifton Avenue, main number 973-470-5800. The city's directory lists the Building Department at 973-470-5809, with Ernest Tedesco as Construction Official and Brian Ciaurro as Assistant Construction Official on 973-470-5816, and the Zoning Department at 973-470-5808. No hours are posted on the pages read. The Applications and Forms page lists a construction permit application (F100), subcode forms, a demolition form and a chimney verification form, and no roofing form.
For a one- or two-family house that stands apart from its neighbors, state rules give roof covering repair and replacement ordinary-maintenance treatment. Anything past the covering, such as framing or a chimney rebuild, is a question for the Building Department.
Short answers
- Which Clifton office handles building paperwork?
The Building Department, 973-470-5809, listed in the city directory under City Hall at 900 Clifton Avenue. The pages read do not post office hours, so a call is the way to reach it. Zoning has its own line, 973-470-5808.
- Does Clifton's forms page list anything for roofs?
Not a roofing form. It lists a construction permit application, building, electric, plumbing, fire and mechanical subcode forms, a demolition form and a chimney verification form. Ask the Building Department which one applies to a given job.
- Who makes the call from Clifton?
Landlords and owners, dial (973) 358-8198. About 40 percent of households rent, so a tenant's step is to send the owner the date, the room and a photo. Give the street, the roof's age, and say whether the house is attached to its neighbor.
Other towns on the line
Sources U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year, Table B25034, housing units by year built (Clifton city) U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year, Table B25035, median year structure built (Clifton city) U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year, Table B25003, tenure (Clifton city) U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer, New Jersey county subdivisions City of Clifton, Building, Construction Official and Zoning directory City of Clifton, Applications and forms NJ Department of Community Affairs, Significant changes to minor work and ordinary maintenance (5 Mar 2018) Sustainable Jersey for Schools, School Districts 100% Served by PSE&G
Dial from Clifton.
Before you call (973) 358-8198, find the street address, note which room shows water and jot down roughly how old the roof is. Tenants: the owner arranges roof work, so the landlord hears about it first. Towns: Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, West Orange, Cedar Grove, Clifton, Little Falls.