Jurisdiction
Township of Bear Creek, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Address
3333 Bear Creek Boulevard, Bear Creek Township, PA 18702
Contact
- url: https://bearcreektownship.org/code-zoning-enforcement/
- phone: 570-822-2260
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
- state_level: Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, Act 132 of 2008, 73 P.S. 517.1 et seq.: registration with the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection before performing any home improvement over $500 (section 2, section 3(a)); persons whose home improvements totalled less than $5,000 in the previous taxable year are not "contractors" (section 2). Section 12 precludes local registration or licensing of home improvement contractors, with carve-outs for building permits, pre-existing tested trade licences, and local insurance standards adopted before January 1, 2006.
- city_level: The Township's 2026 Contractors License Application says "I hereby make application to register my Contractor's License to do work in the Township of Bear Creek," while its 2022 fee schedule says "Contractors License: Currently not being issued." This record does not decide how Section 12 of the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act bears on a Township registration.
Permit process note
Bear Creek Township's own pages and code name no roof work as permit work or as exempt. Chapter 64, Article I of the Township Code (adopted May 3, 1983, Section 64-2 amended 1995) says in Section 64-2 "All construction work within the Township must be duly recorded by filing for a permit and paying a permit fee," defines in Section 64-3 construction work as "all types of work related to and directly involving the erection of, addition to and improvement of structures," and sets in Section 64-5 "a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $600, plus costs of prosecution." The clause uses neither the word repair nor the word alteration and names no roof work, and this record does not decide whether a house reroof is construction work or an improvement of structures. The Township's Forms page lists a "Non-Structural Building Permit Application" and a "UCC Structural Building Permit Application," and neither names roofing. The Township's zoning chapter says in Section 127-144 that "Normal and routine maintenance and repairs to a structure shall be exempt from obtaining a zoning permit," and defines "ALTERATION, STRUCTURAL" to include a change "in the dimensions or configuration the roof and exterior walls." This record does not decide whether a reroof is maintenance, a repair or a structural alteration under that chapter. Under state law, Act 45 section 104(b)(5) and (6) list "Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress" and "Repairs to residential buildings" among work the Act does not apply to, "except as might be required by ordinances in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503," and 34 Pa. Code 403.62(c) says "A permit is not required for the exceptions listed in § 403.1(b) (relating to scope) and the following, if the work does not violate a law or ordinance." Ask the Code / Zoning Enforcement office (570-824-2299, Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) or the Township office (570-822-2260) before starting. Read for this answer: the Township's home, Code / Zoning Enforcement, Forms and Contacts/Links pages; its non-structural and UCC building permit applications, UCC fee schedule, 2022 fee schedule and 2026 contractor licence application (scanned pages transcribed with OCR); and on eCode360 Chapter 58 in full, Chapter 64 in full, Section 6-13, Article II of the zoning chapter and Section 127-144, plus code-wide searches for "roof" (12 results, none a permit or exemption), "reroofing" (none), "repair" and "building permit."
Adopted code
The 2021 International Residential Code, as adopted by the State in the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC). 34 Pa. Code 403.21(a)(7) adopts "The 'International Residential Code of 2021,' except that:" followed by the State's list of exclusions and modifications, effective January 1, 2026 (55 Pa.B. 7701). None of the State's changes touches Chapter 9, Roof Assemblies, or Section R803, Roof Sheathing, so those apply as the International Code Council publishes them. Work on existing buildings is also pointed to the State's existing-building code: "The repair, alteration, change of occupancy, addition and relocation of existing buildings must comply with Chapter 34 of the 'International Building Code of 2021' or with the 'International Existing Building Code of 2021'" (34 Pa. Code 403.21(f)). The UCC is the minimum everywhere in the state: "no municipality may propose or enact any ordinance which is less than the minimum requirement of the Uniform Construction Code" (Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act 45 of 1999, section 503(b)). The Act also lists work it "shall not apply to", including "Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress" or to "Repairs to residential buildings," in each case "except as might be required by ordinances" kept in force under section 303(b)(1) or adopted under section 503 (Act 45 section 104(b)(5) and (6); 34 Pa. Code 403.1(b)(8) and (9)). The Act defines a repair as "The reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing building for the purpose of its maintenance." So whether the code's roofing rules reach a given house reroof depends on the municipality's own ordinances. Everything above is Pennsylvania state law, the same in every municipality. Locally, Bear Creek Township keeps its Township office at 3333 Bear Creek Boulevard and a Code / Zoning Enforcement office (570-824-2299). Chapter 58 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 1-2004, June 7, 2004) says in Section 58-1 that the Township "elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and in Section 58-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" by reference "as the municipal building code of the Township of Bear Creek," Section 6-13 makes a Building Code Official "responsible for enforcing and overseeing all issues and permits with regard to the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code," and the Township's Contacts/Links page lists "BHW, UCC Code Enforcement – 570-270-3900," the number on the Township's UCC building permit application. Chapter 58 names no code edition and neither do the Township's pages, applications or fee schedules read for this record.
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — No impact-resistance requirement under state law. The State's adoption of the 2021 International Residential Code (34 Pa. Code 403.21) contains no hail or impact rule, and it makes no change to the code's roof assemblies chapter, which itself has no UL 2218, Class 4 or hail-impact requirement for roof coverings. A municipality could add one only by an ordinance that equals or exceeds the Uniform Construction Code under Act 45 section 503, filed with the Department of Labor and Industry; none of the filings on the Department's register of municipal code change ordinances mentions hail or impact resistance. An owner may still choose an impact-rated roof covering. Everything above is Pennsylvania state law, the same in every municipality. The Township's pages and code chapters read for this record name no impact-resistance rule.
Repair permit threshold
Bear Creek Township's own pages and code name no roof work as permit work or as exempt. Chapter 64, Article I of the Township Code (adopted May 3, 1983, Section 64-2 amended 1995) says in Section 64-2 "All construction work within the Township must be duly recorded by filing for a permit and paying a permit fee," defines in Section 64-3 construction work as "all types of work related to and directly involving the erection of, addition to and improvement of structures," and sets in Section 64-5 "a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $600, plus costs of prosecution." The clause uses neither the word repair nor the word alteration and names no roof work, and this record does not decide whether a house reroof is construction work or an improvement of structures. The Township's Forms page lists a "Non-Structural Building Permit Application" and a "UCC Structural Building Permit Application," and neither names roofing. The Township's zoning chapter says in Section 127-144 that "Normal and routine maintenance and repairs to a structure shall be exempt from obtaining a zoning permit," and defines "ALTERATION, STRUCTURAL" to include a change "in the dimensions or configuration the roof and exterior walls." This record does not decide whether a reroof is maintenance, a repair or a structural alteration under that chapter. Under state law, Act 45 section 104(b)(5) and (6) list "Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress" and "Repairs to residential buildings" among work the Act does not apply to, "except as might be required by ordinances in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503," and 34 Pa. Code 403.62(c) says "A permit is not required for the exceptions listed in § 403.1(b) (relating to scope) and the following, if the work does not violate a law or ordinance." State law sets no square-footage or percentage threshold for roof work; any threshold is set locally. The Uniform Construction Code "does not apply to" "Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress, except as required by ordinances in effect under sections 303(b)(1) or 503 of the act" or to "Repairs to residential buildings, except as required by ordinances in effect under sections 303(b)(1) and 503 of the act" (34 Pa. Code 403.1(b)(8) and (9)), and "A permit is not required for the exceptions listed in § 403.1(b) (relating to scope) and the following, if the work does not violate a law or ordinance" (34 Pa. Code 403.62(c)). For houses the regulation adds: "An ordinary repair does not require a permit." Its list of work that is not an ordinary repair names cutting away a load-bearing wall, "The removal or cutting of any structural beam or load-bearing support," changes to a required means of egress, and new or relocated piping, wiring or mechanical work (34 Pa. Code 403.62(d)); roofing is not named. A municipality may require more: under Act 45 section 503(c) it "may enact ordinances pursuant to this section which adopt additional code requirements for alterations or repairs to residential buildings," after a public hearing and after filing the proposed ordinance with the Department of Labor and Industry. These rules concern a "Residential building," which the regulation defines as "Detached one-family and two-family dwellings and townhouses which are not more than three stories above grade plane in height with a separate means of egress and their accessory structures" (34 Pa. Code 401.1). Everything above is Pennsylvania state law, the same in every municipality. Locally, Bear Creek Township keeps its Township office at 3333 Bear Creek Boulevard and a Code / Zoning Enforcement office (570-824-2299). Chapter 58 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 1-2004, June 7, 2004) says in Section 58-1 that the Township "elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and in Section 58-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" by reference "as the municipal building code of the Township of Bear Creek," Section 6-13 makes a Building Code Official "responsible for enforcing and overseeing all issues and permits with regard to the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code," and the Township's Contacts/Links page lists "BHW, UCC Code Enforcement – 570-270-3900," the number on the Township's UCC building permit application. No Township text read for this record sets an area or cost threshold for roof work.
Roof layer limit / recover
Two layers at most where the state code reaches the job. Pennsylvania adopts the 2021 International Residential Code without changing its reroofing section, R908 (34 Pa. Code 403.21(a)(7); the State's list of changes names no Chapter 9 section). Section R908.3.1.1 says "A roof recover shall not be permitted where any of the following conditions occur," and the third condition is "Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering." So one existing layer may be covered once, and a roof that already has two layers is torn off to the deck. The same section also bars a recover "Where the existing roof or roof covering is water soaked or has deteriorated to the point that the existing roof or roof covering is not adequate as a base for additional roofing" and "Where the existing roof covering is slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile." The existing-building code the State also adopts, the 2021 International Existing Building Code (34 Pa. Code 403.21(f)), carries the same three conditions in Section 705.2.1.1. These rules bind work the Uniform Construction Code reaches. The Act does not apply to "Repairs to residential buildings" or to alterations that make no structural change, "except as might be required by ordinances" (Act 45 section 104(b)(5) and (6)), so whether R908 binds a particular house reroof turns on that exclusion and on the municipality's own ordinances. Everything above is Pennsylvania state law, the same in every municipality. Locally, Bear Creek Township keeps its Township office at 3333 Bear Creek Boulevard and a Code / Zoning Enforcement office (570-824-2299). Chapter 58 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 1-2004, June 7, 2004) says in Section 58-1 that the Township "elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and in Section 58-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" by reference "as the municipal building code of the Township of Bear Creek," Section 6-13 makes a Building Code Official "responsible for enforcing and overseeing all issues and permits with regard to the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code," and the Township's Contacts/Links page lists "BHW, UCC Code Enforcement – 570-270-3900," the number on the Township's UCC building permit application. The Township's pages and code chapters read for this record change nothing in the code's reroofing provisions and say nothing on roof layers.
Deck & sheathing requirements
State rules from the base code, where the state code reaches the job. Pennsylvania adopts the 2021 International Residential Code without changing Section R803, Roof Sheathing (34 Pa. Code 403.21(a)(7); the State's changes to Chapter 8 are to ridge framing and attic ventilation). Lumber roof sheathing follows Table R803.1: over rafters or beams 24 inches apart it must be at least 5/8 inch net thick. Wood structural panels "shall be identified for grade, bond classification and performance category by a grade mark or certificate of inspection issued by an approved agency," and their spans "shall not exceed the values set forth in Table R503.2.1.1(1) or APA E30." For shingles, "Asphalt shingles shall be fastened to solidly sheathed decks" (R905.2.1), and on any reroof "The structural roof components shall be capable of supporting the roof covering system and the material and equipment loads that will be encountered during installation of the roof covering system" (R908.2). These rules bind work the Uniform Construction Code reaches; the Act does not apply to "Repairs to residential buildings" or to alterations that make no structural change, "except as might be required by ordinances" (Act 45 section 104(b)(5) and (6)). Act 45 section 104(b)(5) excludes alterations "which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress" and says only that "a structural change does not include a minor framing change needed to replace existing windows or doors"; 34 Pa. Code 403.62(d)(2) lists "The removal or cutting of any structural beam or load-bearing support" as not an ordinary repair. Neither names roof sheathing; this record does not decide whether replacing it is either. Everything above is Pennsylvania state law, the same in every municipality. Locally, Bear Creek Township keeps its Township office at 3333 Bear Creek Boulevard and a Code / Zoning Enforcement office (570-824-2299). Chapter 58 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 1-2004, June 7, 2004) says in Section 58-1 that the Township "elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and in Section 58-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" by reference "as the municipal building code of the Township of Bear Creek," Section 6-13 makes a Building Code Official "responsible for enforcing and overseeing all issues and permits with regard to the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code," and the Township's Contacts/Links page lists "BHW, UCC Code Enforcement – 570-270-3900," the number on the Township's UCC building permit application. The Township's pages and code chapters read for this record say nothing on roof sheathing.
Sales & use tax
6% Pennsylvania sales and use tax, with a local tax added on purchases made in Allegheny County (1%) and Philadelphia (2%). On a reroof the roofer pays the tax on the materials and does not add it to the homeowner's bill. The Department of Revenue says: "The Pennsylvania sales tax rate is 6 percent. By law, a 1 percent local tax is added to purchases made in Allegheny County, and 2 percent local tax is added to purchases made in Philadelphia." Roof work is a construction activity: the rule's list of items "presumed to become a permanent part of real estate" includes "Roofing (repairs)" (61 Pa. Code 31.11). For construction activities, "A contractor shall pay tax upon the purchase price ... of all property, including materials, equipment, components and supplies, which he furnishes and installs" (61 Pa. Code 31.12(a)(1)), and the rule's example says the contractor "does not charge sales tax on this transaction to his customer. The contractor may include the tax he must pay in his bid proposal but not as a separately stated item." Apart from limited exceptions set out in the rule, the same holds on jobs for tax-exempt owners: "a contractor erecting a building, repairing a roof, replacing a door for a governmental agency, ... school district, charitable or religious organization, and the like, shall pay tax upon the property which he consumes" (61 Pa. Code 31.13(a)). Everything above is Pennsylvania state law, the same in every municipality. Bear Creek Township is in Luzerne County. The Township's permit pages, applications and fee schedules say nothing on sales tax.