Jurisdiction
Township of Muhlenberg, Pennsylvania
Address
210 George Street, Reading, PA 19605
Contact
- url: https://www.muhlenbergtwp.com/320/Code-Enforcement-Division
- phone: 610-929-4727
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Permit process note
Muhlenberg Township's code reaches house repairs and alterations in general terms, and the Township has published nothing on reroofing. Article II of Chapter 150 of the Township Code, "Alterations and Repairs to Residential Buildings" (Ord. No. 493 of November 15, 2010, read October 7, 2026), says in Section 150-10 "Subsections 7210.104(b)(5) and (6) of the Act ... are hereby deleted, and the Township shall enforce" the International Residential Code and the other construction codes "as amended from time to time and as they apply to the alteration and repair of residential buildings." It names no roof work, and it does not change the Uniform Construction Code's permit section, which 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" (a list of fences, retaining walls, small water tanks, low sidewalks and driveways, shallow prefabricated pools, playground equipment, small window awnings, low uncovered decks and communications wiring) and "An ordinary repair does not require a permit" (34 Pa. Code 403.62(c) and (d)); the regulation does not define an ordinary repair and sets no area or cost limit, and its list of work that is not an ordinary repair does not name roofing. The Township's Permitting Overview and Guide (read October 7, 2026) lists the residential building permit for "New homes, additions, decks, sheds, pools," says "Most projects start with a Zoning Permit. Structural work also needs a Building Permit," and names no roof work; the residential building permit application's scope-of-work boxes include "Repair/replacement"; and the 2026 Fee Schedule has no roofing line, charging residential permits under "Residential repairs & alternations including an in-ground pool, deck or sunroom, patio." The Township's pages read for this record say nothing on reroofing either way. The enacted text names no roof work either way. Under state law, Act 45 says the Act "shall not apply to" "Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress, except as might be required by ordinances in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503" or to "Repairs to residential buildings, except as might be required by ordinances in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503" (section 104(b)(5) and (6)), and of a municipal ordinance that adds to the code, section 503(c) says "An ordinance under this subsection shall not be effective nor enforceable unless subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i) have been satisfied." This record does not decide whether the municipality's requirement is one adopted under section 503 or kept in effect by section 303(b)(1). The Department of Labor and Industry's register of municipal code change ordinances lists one Muhlenberg Township filing, which "Requires a building permit for residential utility and miscellaneous use structures with a building area of more than 250 sq. ft.," with an approval letter mailed October 7, 2010 and "Enacted 11 / 15 / 10"; it names no roof work. In practice, expect the Township to treat a reroof as permit work under Section 150-10. Section 150-7 says a person who violates the Municipal Building Code "shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000," and the 2026 Fee Schedule charges residential building projects started without a permit $150.00 "Plus the lesser 2 times the permit fee set forth above or the permit fee set forth above plus $250.00." The residential repairs and alterations permit is $50.00 plus $10.00 per $1,000.00 of cost. The guide says "Contractors must have a Muhlenberg Trade License on file," that applications may be dropped off at the Township office or sent by email, that building permit review takes about two to three weeks, and that inspections need about 48 hours' notice; the application says "48 hour notice to the Building Code Official (610.929.4727) is required." Read for this answer: Chapter 150 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Articles I and II, Sections 150-1 to 150-10), in full; Chapter 265, Property Maintenance; Chapter 280, Rental Property; a search of the whole Township Code for "roof," whose results name no permit provision, and for "reroofing," which returned none; the Township's Permitting Overview and Guide, Code Enforcement Division and Forms, Applications & Other Documents pages; the residential building permit application; and the 2026 Fee Schedule. The Township building is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 610-929-4727.
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, Muhlenberg Township administers the code itself: Section 150-1 of the Township Code says "The Township of Muhlenberg hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," the Township's Code Enforcement Division says it works to "Enforce the Pennsylvania State Uniform Construction Code," and the Township's residential building permit application, filed at 210 George Street, Reading, carries a line for "Building Code Official Approval." Section 150-1 of the Township Code names the International Residential Code and the other codes in their "2018 revisions, as the same were amended by the commonwealth," and says "any such future revision or amendment adopted by the commonwealth shall be a part of the Municipal Building Code of the Township without any additional ordinance," while the Township's Permitting Overview and Guide says a residential building permit "Meets PA UCC / 2021 IRC"; this record has not read the 2018 edition's text. Section 150-2 fills in the design data of Table R301.2(1), including "Ice shield underlayment required" "Yes," and Section 150-10 reaches residential alterations and repairs as quoted under the repair threshold; Chapter 150 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions.
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. Locally, Muhlenberg Township administers the code itself through its Code Enforcement Division (Section 150-1 of the Township Code). Chapter 150, read in full, and the Township's permit guide, application and 2026 Fee Schedule contain no UL 2218, Class 4 or hail-impact requirement. Chapter 150 names the 2018 codes and later State revisions, and the Township's guide names the 2021 International Residential Code; this record has not read the 2018 edition's text.
Repair permit threshold
Muhlenberg Township's code reaches house repairs and alterations in general terms and sets no size threshold for roof work. Article II of Chapter 150 of the Township Code, "Alterations and Repairs to Residential Buildings" (Ord. No. 493 of November 15, 2010, read October 7, 2026), says in Section 150-10 "Subsections 7210.104(b)(5) and (6) of the Act ... are hereby deleted, and the Township shall enforce" the International Residential Code and the other construction codes "as amended from time to time and as they apply to the alteration and repair of residential buildings." It names no roof work, and it does not change the Uniform Construction Code's permit section, which 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" (a list of fences, retaining walls, small water tanks, low sidewalks and driveways, shallow prefabricated pools, playground equipment, small window awnings, low uncovered decks and communications wiring) and "An ordinary repair does not require a permit" (34 Pa. Code 403.62(c) and (d)); the regulation does not define an ordinary repair and sets no area or cost limit, and its list of work that is not an ordinary repair does not name roofing. The Township's Permitting Overview and Guide (read October 7, 2026) lists the residential building permit for "New homes, additions, decks, sheds, pools," says "Most projects start with a Zoning Permit. Structural work also needs a Building Permit," and names no roof work; the residential building permit application's scope-of-work boxes include "Repair/replacement"; and the 2026 Fee Schedule has no roofing line, charging residential permits under "Residential repairs & alternations including an in-ground pool, deck or sunroom, patio." The Township's pages read for this record say nothing on reroofing either way. Under state law, Act 45 says the Act "shall not apply to" "Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress, except as might be required by ordinances in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503" or to "Repairs to residential buildings, except as might be required by ordinances in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503" (section 104(b)(5) and (6)), and of a municipal ordinance that adds to the code, section 503(c) says "An ordinance under this subsection shall not be effective nor enforceable unless subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i) have been satisfied." This record does not decide whether the municipality's requirement is one adopted under section 503 or kept in effect by section 303(b)(1). The Department of Labor and Industry's register of municipal code change ordinances lists one Muhlenberg Township filing, which "Requires a building permit for residential utility and miscellaneous use structures with a building area of more than 250 sq. ft.," with an approval letter mailed October 7, 2010 and "Enacted 11 / 15 / 10"; it names no roof work. 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, Muhlenberg Township administers the code itself: Section 150-1 of the Township Code says "The Township of Muhlenberg hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," the Township's Code Enforcement Division says it works to "Enforce the Pennsylvania State Uniform Construction Code," and the Township's residential building permit application, filed at 210 George Street, Reading, carries a line for "Building Code Official Approval." Chapter 150, read in full, names no roof work and sets no threshold for it; the only relief left in the permit section for a house reroof is the regulation's undefined "ordinary repair," quoted at the start.
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, Muhlenberg Township administers the code itself: Section 150-1 of the Township Code says "The Township of Muhlenberg hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," the Township's Code Enforcement Division says it works to "Enforce the Pennsylvania State Uniform Construction Code," and the Township's residential building permit application, filed at 210 George Street, Reading, carries a line for "Building Code Official Approval." Section 150-10 of the Township Code says "Subsections 7210.104(b)(5) and (6) of the Act ... are hereby deleted," and Chapter 150 changes nothing in the code's reroofing provisions; the Township's pages say nothing on roof layers. Section 150-1 of the Township Code names the International Residential Code and the other codes in their "2018 revisions, as the same were amended by the commonwealth," and says "any such future revision or amendment adopted by the commonwealth shall be a part of the Municipal Building Code of the Township without any additional ordinance," while the Township's Permitting Overview and Guide says a residential building permit "Meets PA UCC / 2021 IRC"; the text above is the 2021 edition's, and the 2018 edition's reroofing text was not read for this record.
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, Muhlenberg Township administers the code itself: Section 150-1 of the Township Code says "The Township of Muhlenberg hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," the Township's Code Enforcement Division says it works to "Enforce the Pennsylvania State Uniform Construction Code," and the Township's residential building permit application, filed at 210 George Street, Reading, carries a line for "Building Code Official Approval." Chapter 150 of the Township Code changes nothing in the code's roof sheathing provisions, and the Township's guide says "Structural work also needs a Building Permit" without drawing a separate line for roof sheathing. Section 150-1 of the Township Code names the International Residential Code and the other codes in their "2018 revisions, as the same were amended by the commonwealth," and says "any such future revision or amendment adopted by the commonwealth shall be a part of the Municipal Building Code of the Township without any additional ordinance," while the Township's Permitting Overview and Guide says a residential building permit "Meets PA UCC / 2021 IRC"; the text above is the 2021 edition's, and the 2018 edition's sheathing text was not read for this record.
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. Muhlenberg Township is in Berks County. The Township's pages, application and 2026 Fee Schedule say nothing on sales tax.