Washington Township (Berks County) - Building Permits

Township of Washington, Pennsylvania (Berks County)

city

120 Barto Road, Barto, PA 19504

Required

Required

Washington Township's code exempts from its permit requirement reroofing of less than 25% of the roof. Section 45-5.1 of the Township Code (added March 24, 2005, by Ord. No. 2005-1; read October 9, 2026) requires permits under the Washington Township Construction Code for "All alterations or repairs to residential buildings which are exempt from the UCC by Act 92 of 2004," except nine listed kinds of work that "shall continue to be exempt and no permit will be required," the second of which is "Reroofing of less than 25% of the total existing roof square footage." A full reroof is above that line. The Township's Building Permits page also says "Building Permits are required from the Township for any structural changes, new construction, additions, decks, basement renovations, garages, sheds, signs, porches, plumbing work, roofing, siding, driveways, all swimming pools, change in use, soliciting residential or business, residential or business occupancy and excavation" and that "Permits are to be obtained prior to work being started." 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 a Washington Township, Berks County, filing that "Requires a building permit for all residential alterations and repairs, and establishes 9 exceptions," found in compliance with an approval letter mailed February 15, 2005, "Enacted 3 / 24 / 05." In practice, expect the Township to require a permit for a reroof of 25% or more of the roof, applied for before work starts. Section 45-6 says a person who fails to comply with the code "shall, upon conviction thereof, be guilty of a summary offense punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000." The Building Permits page says to submit applications to the Township, that "The normal turn around time for processing applications is approximately two to three weeks," and that once the permit is completed the zoning/code officer calls with the amount due and the permit is picked up at the Township building. The Permit Application Checklist asks for a workers compensation insurance submission for each contractor, and the application asks for the contractor's PA contractor registration number. As codified, Section A137-2 lists a residential "Permit for building where none of the above categories apply: $110"; it names no roofing fee. The Township office, 610-845-7760, is open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. Read for this answer: Chapter 45 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 45-1 to 45-10), in full; Chapter A137, Fees, as codified; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Township's Building Permits page; and its Permit Application Checklist and Zoning/Building Permit Application.

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, Washington Township, in Berks County, takes permit applications at its municipal building, 120 Barto Road, Barto, and its Building Permits page says "All permits are issued by the Code/Zoning Enforcement Officer" and that "The Township will forward the applications to LTL Consultants for processing," naming LTL Consultants, Ltd. of Oley (610-987-9290) as the Township's engineering firm. Section 45-2 of the Township Code provides for administration and enforcement "by the retention of one or more building code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of Washington Township." Chapter 45 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. Section 45-1 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" and names no edition, but an editor's note to it says Resolution No. 2004-9 adopted design criteria and appendices of the 2003 International Residential Code and 2003 International Existing Building Code, and no Township page read names a code edition; Resolution No. 2004-9 is not published online and was not read; this record does not decide which edition the Township applies.

Washington Township, Berks County, requires a permit for residential repairs and alterations, and exempts reroofing of less than 25% of the roof. Section 45-5.1 of the Township Code (added March 24, 2005, by Ord. No. 2005-1; read October 9, 2026) requires permits under the Washington Township Construction Code for "All alterations or repairs to residential buildings which are exempt from the UCC by Act 92 of 2004," except nine listed kinds of work that "shall continue to be exempt and no permit will be required," the second of which is "Reroofing of less than 25% of the total existing roof square footage." A full reroof is above that line. The Township's Building Permits page also says "Building Permits are required from the Township for any structural changes, new construction, additions, decks, basement renovations, garages, sheds, signs, porches, plumbing work, roofing, siding, driveways, all swimming pools, change in use, soliciting residential or business, residential or business occupancy and excavation" and that "Permits are to be obtained prior to work being started." 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 a Washington Township, Berks County, filing that "Requires a building permit for all residential alterations and repairs, and establishes 9 exceptions," found in compliance with an approval letter mailed February 15, 2005, "Enacted 3 / 24 / 05." In practice, expect the Township to require a permit for a reroof of 25% or more of the roof, applied for before work starts. Section 45-6 says a person who fails to comply with the code "shall, upon conviction thereof, be guilty of 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, Washington Township, in Berks County, takes permit applications at its municipal building, 120 Barto Road, Barto, and its Building Permits page says "All permits are issued by the Code/Zoning Enforcement Officer" and that "The Township will forward the applications to LTL Consultants for processing," naming LTL Consultants, Ltd. of Oley (610-987-9290) as the Township's engineering firm. Section 45-2 of the Township Code provides for administration and enforcement "by the retention of one or more building code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of Washington Township." Its threshold is the one in Section 45-5.1C quoted at the start: reroofing of less than 25% of the total existing roof square footage needs no permit, and a larger reroof does.

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, Washington Township, in Berks County, takes permit applications at its municipal building, 120 Barto Road, Barto, and its Building Permits page says "All permits are issued by the Code/Zoning Enforcement Officer" and that "The Township will forward the applications to LTL Consultants for processing," naming LTL Consultants, Ltd. of Oley (610-987-9290) as the Township's engineering firm. Section 45-2 of the Township Code provides for administration and enforcement "by the retention of one or more building code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of Washington Township." Chapter 45 of the Township Code changes nothing in the code's reroofing provisions, and the Township's pages say nothing on roof layers. Section 45-1 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" and names no edition, but an editor's note to it says Resolution No. 2004-9 adopted design criteria and appendices of the 2003 International Residential Code and 2003 International Existing Building Code, and no Township page read names a code edition; Resolution No. 2004-9 is not published online and was not read; this record does not decide which edition the Township applies.

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, Washington Township, in Berks County, takes permit applications at its municipal building, 120 Barto Road, Barto, and its Building Permits page says "All permits are issued by the Code/Zoning Enforcement Officer" and that "The Township will forward the applications to LTL Consultants for processing," naming LTL Consultants, Ltd. of Oley (610-987-9290) as the Township's engineering firm. Section 45-2 of the Township Code provides for administration and enforcement "by the retention of one or more building code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of Washington Township." Chapter 45 of the Township Code changes nothing in the code's roof sheathing provisions, and the Township's pages draw no separate line for roof sheathing. Section 45-1 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" and names no edition, but an editor's note to it says Resolution No. 2004-9 adopted design criteria and appendices of the 2003 International Residential Code and 2003 International Existing Building Code, and no Township page read names a code edition; Resolution No. 2004-9 is not published online and was not read; this record does not decide which edition the Township applies.

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. Washington Township is in Berks County. The Township's Building Permits page and permit forms say nothing on sales tax.