Lawrenceville began as Maidenhead, founded in 1697 along the King's Highway between New York and Philadelphia. It was renamed in 1816 for Captain James Lawrence, the War of 1812 naval officer. The Academy of Maidenhead, founded in 1810, became the Lawrenceville School, which shaped the village through the 19th and 20th centuries.
The historic district
The Lawrence Township Historic District covers about 550 acres and was listed on the National Register on September 14, 1972, one of the first registered historic districts in New Jersey. Locally it is known as the Main Street Historic District, running more than two miles along Main Street and Route 206. Homes set back more than 250 feet from the road are not part of the local district.
The houses along Main Street range from 18th- and 19th-century farmhouses and village houses to later Victorian and Colonial Revival homes, with steep roofs, chimneys and some slate.
Replacing a roof inside the district
- Confirm with the township whether your property is in the local district.
- Ask what the township expects for roofs on a house of your age and style.
- If you are changing material or appearance, get approval before the work is scheduled.
- For slate, see slate roof replacement for the options.
Outside the village
Most of Lawrence Township is suburban, built in the second half of the 20th century, with Colonials, split-levels and ranches. These are straightforward shingle replacements under New Jersey's rules for detached houses, plus any local requirements.
Townhomes and condos. The township also has attached-home communities. For those, check your association's responsibility for roofs and remember that attached homes are treated differently for permits.
Need a new roof in Lawrence? Call a roofer who works there.
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Questions & answers
Is my house in the Lawrenceville historic district?
The local Main Street Historic District runs more than two miles along Main Street and Route 206, but it leaves out homes set back more than 250 feet from the road. The township can confirm whether your property is included.
What roof changes need historic approval in Lawrenceville?
In a local historic district, changes visible from the street, such as a new roofing material, generally need approval before work begins. Replacing a roof with a matching material is usually simpler. Ask the township about its process.