The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / Pennsburg Borough - Code Enforcement

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Borough of Pennsburg, PA?

Adopted code

Pennsburg Borough - Code Enforcement

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Borough of Pennsburg, PA, issued by Pennsburg Borough - Code Enforcement. Pennsburg Borough lists re-roofing among work that needs a permit and prices a residential re-roofing permit. The Borough's Code Enforcement page says "In Pennsburg Borough, permits are required for:" and lists "Re-roofing (not required for shingle replacement only)". The Borough's fee schedule, "Effective January 1, 2026 (Approved December 9, 2025)", lists under "Residential (Single & Two Family Dwelling)" the line "Re-Roofing 60.00", and the Borough publishes its own "RE-ROOFING APPLICATION", which asks "Is the roof sheeting being replaced?" and "Is the existing roof covering being removed?" and calls for a "Pre-Close- prior to application of roof covering" inspection and a final inspection. The Code Enforcement page's words "not required for shingle replacement only" do not say which jobs that phrase covers; the fee line and the application name re-roofing without that limit, and this record does not decide which reroofs the Borough treats as shingle replacement only. 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). In practice, expect the Borough to require a re-roofing permit for a house reroof unless its office agrees the job is shingle replacement only. The fee schedule says "FAILURE TO OBTAIN PERMIT PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION WILL RESULT IN PENALTY OF DOUBLE PERMIT FEE", and Section 36A-7 makes a violation "a summary offense punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000." The fee schedule adds $10.00 to every building permit ("$4.50 for PA-UCC fees and $5.50 administrative fees"). The re-roofing application asks for the contractor's name and licence number, the cost of the work, the felt weight, the shingle class and how old roof covering will be disposed of, and notes "Proof of disposal may be required"; it says "It is the applicant's responsibility to call the Code Office for the required inspections." Permits are available at the Borough Office during business hours, phone 215-679-4546, ext. 3. Chapter 36A of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 3-04, 2004), read in full, adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" as the Borough's building code and names no roof work; Section 36A-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted "on or before July 1, 1999," which "equal or exceed the requirements of the code." Chapter 36 (Ord. No. 3-88, 1988) lists "The BOCA National Building Code, 1987 Edition" among its applicable codes and says "An application for a permit shall be required in accordance with the provisions of those applicable codes and ordinances"; this record has not read the 1987 BOCA text. Chapter 34 (Ord. No. 4-2014) adopts the "International Building Code, 2009 Edition" and says a later edition the Commonwealth adopts becomes part of the Borough's code without an amending ordinance. Read for this answer: Chapters 34, 36 and 36A of the Borough Code (Chapter 36's Articles I to III and VI) and Chapter 47; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof", "reroofing" and "re-roofing"; the Borough's Code Enforcement, Forms & Applications and Contact Us pages; its 2026 fee schedule; and its re-roofing application.

Roof code checklist: Borough of Pennsburg, PA

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofYespennsburg.us2026-10-09
Repair permit thresholdPublishedpacodeandbulletin.gov2026-10-09
Layer limit / roof-overPublishedR908.3.1.1pacodeandbulletin.gov2026-10-09
Deck & sheathingPublishedR905.2.1pacodeandbulletin.gov2026-10-09
Drip edgeNot published
Ice & water shieldNot published
Mid-roof inspectionNot published
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNot published
Wind design criteriaNot published
Adopted codePublishedpacodeandbulletin.gov2026-10-09
Contractor license / registrationYespalegis.us2026-10-09
Sales & use taxPublishedpa.gov2026-10-09

Each row comes from the sourced record on this page; full wording is in the table below. "Not published" means no official source for that item was found when the record was last verified.

Jurisdiction
Borough of Pennsburg, Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
76 W. 6th Street, Pennsburg, PA 18073
Contact
  • url: https://www.pennsburg.us/1214/Code-Enforcement
  • phone: 215-679-4546
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Permit process note
Pennsburg Borough lists re-roofing among work that needs a permit and prices a residential re-roofing permit. The Borough's Code Enforcement page says "In Pennsburg Borough, permits are required for:" and lists "Re-roofing (not required for shingle replacement only)". The Borough's fee schedule, "Effective January 1, 2026 (Approved December 9, 2025)", lists under "Residential (Single & Two Family Dwelling)" the line "Re-Roofing 60.00", and the Borough publishes its own "RE-ROOFING APPLICATION", which asks "Is the roof sheeting being replaced?" and "Is the existing roof covering being removed?" and calls for a "Pre-Close- prior to application of roof covering" inspection and a final inspection. The Code Enforcement page's words "not required for shingle replacement only" do not say which jobs that phrase covers; the fee line and the application name re-roofing without that limit, and this record does not decide which reroofs the Borough treats as shingle replacement only. 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). In practice, expect the Borough to require a re-roofing permit for a house reroof unless its office agrees the job is shingle replacement only. The fee schedule says "FAILURE TO OBTAIN PERMIT PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION WILL RESULT IN PENALTY OF DOUBLE PERMIT FEE", and Section 36A-7 makes a violation "a summary offense punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000." The fee schedule adds $10.00 to every building permit ("$4.50 for PA-UCC fees and $5.50 administrative fees"). The re-roofing application asks for the contractor's name and licence number, the cost of the work, the felt weight, the shingle class and how old roof covering will be disposed of, and notes "Proof of disposal may be required"; it says "It is the applicant's responsibility to call the Code Office for the required inspections." Permits are available at the Borough Office during business hours, phone 215-679-4546, ext. 3. Chapter 36A of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 3-04, 2004), read in full, adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" as the Borough's building code and names no roof work; Section 36A-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted "on or before July 1, 1999," which "equal or exceed the requirements of the code." Chapter 36 (Ord. No. 3-88, 1988) lists "The BOCA National Building Code, 1987 Edition" among its applicable codes and says "An application for a permit shall be required in accordance with the provisions of those applicable codes and ordinances"; this record has not read the 1987 BOCA text. Chapter 34 (Ord. No. 4-2014) adopts the "International Building Code, 2009 Edition" and says a later edition the Commonwealth adopts becomes part of the Borough's code without an amending ordinance. Read for this answer: Chapters 34, 36 and 36A of the Borough Code (Chapter 36's Articles I to III and VI) and Chapter 47; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof", "reroofing" and "re-roofing"; the Borough's Code Enforcement, Forms & Applications and Contact Us pages; its 2026 fee schedule; and its re-roofing application.
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, Pennsburg Borough, in Montgomery County, takes building permit applications at its Borough Office, 76 W. 6th Street. Section 36A-1 of the Borough Code says "The Pennsburg Borough hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Borough's Code Enforcement page names LTL Consultants for "Code Enforcement and Building Inspection" and says to call the Borough Office for "building permits, use and occupancy permits, or inspections." Chapter 36A of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 3-04, 2004), read in full, adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" as the Borough's building code and names no roof work; Section 36A-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted "on or before July 1, 1999," which "equal or exceed the requirements of the code." Chapter 36 (Ord. No. 3-88, 1988) lists "The BOCA National Building Code, 1987 Edition" among its applicable codes and says "An application for a permit shall be required in accordance with the provisions of those applicable codes and ordinances"; this record has not read the 1987 BOCA text. Chapter 34 (Ord. No. 4-2014) adopts the "International Building Code, 2009 Edition" and says a later edition the Commonwealth adopts becomes part of the Borough's code without an amending ordinance. Chapter 34 names the "International Building Code, 2009 Edition" with a future-editions clause, the Borough's re-roofing application says the roof covering "shall, in all respects, conform to the adopted International Building Code," and no Borough page read names a residential code edition; this record has not read the 2009 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Borough applies to houses.
Repair permit threshold
Pennsburg Borough lists re-roofing among work that needs a permit and prices a residential re-roofing permit. The Borough's Code Enforcement page says "In Pennsburg Borough, permits are required for:" and lists "Re-roofing (not required for shingle replacement only)". The Borough's fee schedule, "Effective January 1, 2026 (Approved December 9, 2025)", lists under "Residential (Single & Two Family Dwelling)" the line "Re-Roofing 60.00", and the Borough publishes its own "RE-ROOFING APPLICATION", which asks "Is the roof sheeting being replaced?" and "Is the existing roof covering being removed?" and calls for a "Pre-Close- prior to application of roof covering" inspection and a final inspection. The Code Enforcement page's words "not required for shingle replacement only" do not say which jobs that phrase covers; the fee line and the application name re-roofing without that limit, and this record does not decide which reroofs the Borough treats as shingle replacement only. 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). In practice, expect the Borough to require a re-roofing permit for a house reroof unless its office agrees the job is shingle replacement only. The fee schedule says "FAILURE TO OBTAIN PERMIT PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION WILL RESULT IN PENALTY OF DOUBLE PERMIT FEE", and Section 36A-7 makes a violation "a summary offense punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000." 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, Pennsburg Borough, in Montgomery County, takes building permit applications at its Borough Office, 76 W. 6th Street. Section 36A-1 of the Borough Code says "The Pennsburg Borough hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Borough's Code Enforcement page names LTL Consultants for "Code Enforcement and Building Inspection" and says to call the Borough Office for "building permits, use and occupancy permits, or inspections." Chapter 36A of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 3-04, 2004), read in full, adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" as the Borough's building code and names no roof work; Section 36A-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted "on or before July 1, 1999," which "equal or exceed the requirements of the code." Chapter 36 (Ord. No. 3-88, 1988) lists "The BOCA National Building Code, 1987 Edition" among its applicable codes and says "An application for a permit shall be required in accordance with the provisions of those applicable codes and ordinances"; this record has not read the 1987 BOCA text. Chapter 34 (Ord. No. 4-2014) adopts the "International Building Code, 2009 Edition" and says a later edition the Commonwealth adopts becomes part of the Borough's code without an amending ordinance. No Borough text read for this record sets an area or cost threshold for roof work; the residential re-roofing fee is a flat fee, and the only limit the Borough states is the Code Enforcement page's "not required for shingle replacement only."
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, Pennsburg Borough, in Montgomery County, takes building permit applications at its Borough Office, 76 W. 6th Street. Section 36A-1 of the Borough Code says "The Pennsburg Borough hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Borough's Code Enforcement page names LTL Consultants for "Code Enforcement and Building Inspection" and says to call the Borough Office for "building permits, use and occupancy permits, or inspections." Chapter 36A of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 3-04, 2004), read in full, adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" as the Borough's building code and names no roof work; Section 36A-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted "on or before July 1, 1999," which "equal or exceed the requirements of the code." Chapter 36 (Ord. No. 3-88, 1988) lists "The BOCA National Building Code, 1987 Edition" among its applicable codes and says "An application for a permit shall be required in accordance with the provisions of those applicable codes and ordinances"; this record has not read the 1987 BOCA text. Chapter 34 (Ord. No. 4-2014) adopts the "International Building Code, 2009 Edition" and says a later edition the Commonwealth adopts becomes part of the Borough's code without an amending ordinance. The Borough's re-roofing application asks "Is the existing roof covering being removed?" and, if not, "how many layers of covering are existing?"; no Borough text read sets a layer limit of its own. Chapter 34 names the "International Building Code, 2009 Edition" with a future-editions clause, the Borough's re-roofing application says the roof covering "shall, in all respects, conform to the adopted International Building Code," and no Borough page read names a residential code edition; the text above is the 2021 IRC's, and this record does not decide which edition the Borough applies.
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, Pennsburg Borough, in Montgomery County, takes building permit applications at its Borough Office, 76 W. 6th Street. Section 36A-1 of the Borough Code says "The Pennsburg Borough hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Borough's Code Enforcement page names LTL Consultants for "Code Enforcement and Building Inspection" and says to call the Borough Office for "building permits, use and occupancy permits, or inspections." Chapter 36A of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 3-04, 2004), read in full, adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" as the Borough's building code and names no roof work; Section 36A-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted "on or before July 1, 1999," which "equal or exceed the requirements of the code." Chapter 36 (Ord. No. 3-88, 1988) lists "The BOCA National Building Code, 1987 Edition" among its applicable codes and says "An application for a permit shall be required in accordance with the provisions of those applicable codes and ordinances"; this record has not read the 1987 BOCA text. Chapter 34 (Ord. No. 4-2014) adopts the "International Building Code, 2009 Edition" and says a later edition the Commonwealth adopts becomes part of the Borough's code without an amending ordinance. The Borough's re-roofing application asks "Is the roof sheeting being replaced?" and, if so, the material, thickness and square footage; no Borough text read draws a separate line for sheathing. Chapter 34 names the "International Building Code, 2009 Edition" with a future-editions clause, the Borough's re-roofing application says the roof covering "shall, in all respects, conform to the adopted International Building Code," and no Borough page read names a residential code edition; the text above is the 2021 IRC's, and this record does not decide which edition the Borough applies.
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. Pennsburg Borough is in Montgomery County. The Borough's Code Enforcement page, fee schedule and re-roofing application say nothing on sales tax.

Local roofing hub

Roofing in Pennsburg, PennsylvaniaCity hub

More roof permit pages in Pennsylvania

Borough of Perkasie, PARoof permit Borough of Phoenixville, PARoof permit Borough of Pleasant Hills, PARoof permit Borough of Plum, PARoof permit Borough of Plymouth, PARoof permit Roofing in PennsylvaniaState hub

Related guides

Denver-Metro Roofing Permits Filing a Hail Insurance Claim Colorado Hail Season Prep Hiring a Contractor

Pennsburg Borough, in Montgomery County, takes building permit applications at its Borough Office at 76 W. 6th Street, with LTL Consultants named for code enforcement and building inspection, and its Code Enforcement page lists re-roofing among work needing a permit, "not required for shingle replacement only." The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code applies statewide, but Act 45 section 104(b) lists "Repairs to residential buildings" and alterations that make no structural or egress change among work it 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."

Working an insurance claim in Borough of Pennsburg, PA? Everything on this page (drip edge, ice & water shield, inspections, Class 4 rules) formatted as a claim-ready evidence pack: verbatim ordinance quotes, code section cites, verification dates, and official source links, ready to attach to a supplement. See a real sample pack (PDF, 4 pages, free).

Buy this jurisdiction's pack: $12 Delivered by email within minutes. Digital download: all sales are final once delivered, except for a failed delivery, a defective file, a duplicate purchase, or a pack materially different from its description. See Section 6 of our Terms of Use.

Questions about the Borough of Pennsburg, PA pack?

Not ready to buy, or need a different jurisdiction? Tell us and we’ll reply directly.

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Sources

Roofing questions: Borough of Pennsburg, PA

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Borough of Pennsburg, PA?

Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Borough of Pennsburg, PA. Pennsburg Borough lists re-roofing among work that needs a permit and prices a residential re-roofing permit. The Borough's Code Enforcement page says "In Pennsburg Borough, permits are required for:" and lists "Re-roofing (not required for shingle replacement only)". The Borough's fee schedule, "Effective January 1, 2026 (Approved December 9, 2025)", lists under "Residential (Single & Two Family Dwelling)" the line "Re-Roofing 60.00", and the Borough publishes its own "RE-ROOFING APPLICATION", which asks "Is the roof sheeting being replaced?" and "Is the existing roof covering being removed?" and calls for a "Pre-Close- prior to application of roof covering" inspection and a final inspection. The Code Enforcement page's words "not required for shingle replacement only" do not say which jobs that phrase covers; the fee line and the application name re-roofing without that limit, and this record does not decide which reroofs the Borough treats as shingle replacement only. 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). In practice, expect the Borough to require a re-roofing permit for a house reroof unless its office agrees the job is shingle replacement only. The fee schedule says "FAILURE TO OBTAIN PERMIT PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION WILL RESULT IN PENALTY OF DOUBLE PERMIT FEE", and Section 36A-7 makes a violation "a summary offense punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000." 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, Pennsburg Borough, in Montgomery County, takes building permit applications at its Borough Office, 76 W. 6th Street. Section 36A-1 of the Borough Code says "The Pennsburg Borough hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Borough's Code Enforcement page names LTL Consultants for "Code Enforcement and Building Inspection" and says to call the Borough Office for "building permits, use and occupancy permits, or inspections." Chapter 36A of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 3-04, 2004), read in full, adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" as the Borough's building code and names no roof work; Section 36A-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted "on or before July 1, 1999," which "equal or exceed the requirements of the code." Chapter 36 (Ord. No. 3-88, 1988) lists "The BOCA National Building Code, 1987 Edition" among its applicable codes and says "An application for a permit shall be required in accordance with the provisions of those applicable codes and ordinances"; this record has not read the 1987 BOCA text. Chapter 34 (Ord. No. 4-2014) adopts the "International Building Code, 2009 Edition" and says a later edition the Commonwealth adopts becomes part of the Borough's code without an amending ordinance. No Borough text read for this record sets an area or cost threshold for roof work; the residential re-roofing fee is a flat fee, and the only limit the Borough states is the Code Enforcement page's "not required for shingle replacement only."

Can you roof over an existing roof in Borough of Pennsburg, PA?

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, Pennsburg Borough, in Montgomery County, takes building permit applications at its Borough Office, 76 W. 6th Street. Section 36A-1 of the Borough Code says "The Pennsburg Borough hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Borough's Code Enforcement page names LTL Consultants for "Code Enforcement and Building Inspection" and says to call the Borough Office for "building permits, use and occupancy permits, or inspections." Chapter 36A of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 3-04, 2004), read in full, adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" as the Borough's building code and names no roof work; Section 36A-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted "on or before July 1, 1999," which "equal or exceed the requirements of the code." Chapter 36 (Ord. No. 3-88, 1988) lists "The BOCA National Building Code, 1987 Edition" among its applicable codes and says "An application for a permit shall be required in accordance with the provisions of those applicable codes and ordinances"; this record has not read the 1987 BOCA text. Chapter 34 (Ord. No. 4-2014) adopts the "International Building Code, 2009 Edition" and says a later edition the Commonwealth adopts becomes part of the Borough's code without an amending ordinance. The Borough's re-roofing application asks "Is the existing roof covering being removed?" and, if not, "how many layers of covering are existing?"; no Borough text read sets a layer limit of its own. Chapter 34 names the "International Building Code, 2009 Edition" with a future-editions clause, the Borough's re-roofing application says the roof covering "shall, in all respects, conform to the adopted International Building Code," and no Borough page read names a residential code edition; the text above is the 2021 IRC's, and this record does not decide which edition the Borough applies.

Do roofing contractors need a license or registration in Borough of Pennsburg, PA?

Yes.

What building code does Borough of Pennsburg, PA use?

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, Pennsburg Borough, in Montgomery County, takes building permit applications at its Borough Office, 76 W. 6th Street. Section 36A-1 of the Borough Code says "The Pennsburg Borough hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Borough's Code Enforcement page names LTL Consultants for "Code Enforcement and Building Inspection" and says to call the Borough Office for "building permits, use and occupancy permits, or inspections." Chapter 36A of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 3-04, 2004), read in full, adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" as the Borough's building code and names no roof work; Section 36A-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted "on or before July 1, 1999," which "equal or exceed the requirements of the code." Chapter 36 (Ord. No. 3-88, 1988) lists "The BOCA National Building Code, 1987 Edition" among its applicable codes and says "An application for a permit shall be required in accordance with the provisions of those applicable codes and ordinances"; this record has not read the 1987 BOCA text. Chapter 34 (Ord. No. 4-2014) adopts the "International Building Code, 2009 Edition" and says a later edition the Commonwealth adopts becomes part of the Borough's code without an amending ordinance. Chapter 34 names the "International Building Code, 2009 Edition" with a future-editions clause, the Borough's re-roofing application says the roof covering "shall, in all respects, conform to the adopted International Building Code," and no Borough page read names a residential code edition; this record has not read the 2009 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Borough applies to houses.