Permitting Authorities / West Reading Borough - Code Enforcement Department
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Borough of West Reading, PA?
Adopted code
West Reading Borough - Code Enforcement Department
Yes, a permit is required to replace a roof in Borough of West Reading, PA, issued by West Reading Borough - Code Enforcement Department. West Reading Borough's code requires house repairs and alterations to comply with the Uniform Construction Code, with listed exemptions that name no roof work, and the Borough has published nothing on reroofing. Section 188-16D of the Borough Code (as amended December 17, 2019 by Ord. No. 1118, read October 9, 2026) says "Subsections 104(B)(5) and (6) of Act 45, as amended by Act 92, are hereby deleted," and that the Borough shall enforce the Uniform Construction Code's codes "as they apply to the alteration and repair of residential buildings." Section 188-17K(1) says "All alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress and repairs to residential buildings shall be subject to compliance with the Uniform Construction Code," except listed work; the list names "Replacement of existing siding or installation of siding over existing exterior wall covering," windows, doors, porches, painting and similar work, and names no roof work. Section 188-17K(2) says "An ordinary repair does not require a permit" and lists what is not an ordinary repair (cutting away a wall, removing or cutting a structural beam or load-bearing support, changing a means of egress, and piping, electric or mechanical work); it does not define an ordinary repair and names no roof work either way. The Code Enforcement Department has published nothing on reroofing. Its Uniform Construction Code page lists "Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, demolition or change in occupancy of a residential building" among work for which a property owner must obtain a permit, gives an exemption list that names no roof work, and says "A property owner should not assume that work is exempt without first making appropriate inquiry." Its FAQ says "Any work beyond a basic repair or a non-structural alteration may require a building permit issued by the Borough's Building Code Official for both residential and commercial properties. The best course of action is to contact the Code Department at 610-374-8273 extension 238 and ask if a permit is required for your project," and the Permits & Fees page says "Prior to beginning a project, please contact our office to determine if a permit is needed." Article I of Chapter 188, the Code Enforcement Ordinance (Ord. No. 786, May 21, 1997), also provides in Section 188-5A(2) for an alteration permit where, "in the opinion of the Code Enforcement Officer," the work "is not considered to be normal maintenance or repairs," and says "Any change in size, shape, height, type of materials, etc., necessitates an alteration permit." 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, the Borough's code brings house repairs and alterations under the Uniform Construction Code, its exemption list names no roof work, and the Department says to ask before starting, so expect to need a building permit for a reroof. The Permits & Fees page says "Building permit fees will be doubled if permit is not issued before work commences," and Section 188-18B makes a violation a summary offense "punishable by a fine of no more than $1,000 or by imprisonment not exceeding 10 days, or by both." Applications go to the Code Enforcement Office in Borough Hall; a Certificate of Insurance is required before a permit is issued to any contractor working in the Borough, and residential building permits are priced by project value, from $150 plus the $4.50 state fee for work under $5,000. The Borough office is at 610-374-8273. Read for this record: Chapter 188 of the Borough Code, Construction Standards (Article I, Code Enforcement, and Article II, Uniform Construction Code, Sections 188-1 to 188-22), in full; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Department's Code Enforcement, Uniform Construction Code and Permits & Fees pages, the last of which carries the building permit fee schedule; and the Department's residential permit procedure sheet and Building Permit Application.
Roof code checklist: Borough of West Reading, PA
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 West Reading, Pennsylvania
Address
500 Chestnut Street, West Reading, PA 19611
Contact
- url: https://westreadingborough.com/code-enforcement/
- phone: 610-374-8273
Roofing permit required
Required
Contractor registration required
Required
Permit process note
West Reading Borough's code requires house repairs and alterations to comply with the Uniform Construction Code, with listed exemptions that name no roof work, and the Borough has published nothing on reroofing. Section 188-16D of the Borough Code (as amended December 17, 2019 by Ord. No. 1118, read October 9, 2026) says "Subsections 104(B)(5) and (6) of Act 45, as amended by Act 92, are hereby deleted," and that the Borough shall enforce the Uniform Construction Code's codes "as they apply to the alteration and repair of residential buildings." Section 188-17K(1) says "All alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress and repairs to residential buildings shall be subject to compliance with the Uniform Construction Code," except listed work; the list names "Replacement of existing siding or installation of siding over existing exterior wall covering," windows, doors, porches, painting and similar work, and names no roof work. Section 188-17K(2) says "An ordinary repair does not require a permit" and lists what is not an ordinary repair (cutting away a wall, removing or cutting a structural beam or load-bearing support, changing a means of egress, and piping, electric or mechanical work); it does not define an ordinary repair and names no roof work either way. The Code Enforcement Department has published nothing on reroofing. Its Uniform Construction Code page lists "Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, demolition or change in occupancy of a residential building" among work for which a property owner must obtain a permit, gives an exemption list that names no roof work, and says "A property owner should not assume that work is exempt without first making appropriate inquiry." Its FAQ says "Any work beyond a basic repair or a non-structural alteration may require a building permit issued by the Borough's Building Code Official for both residential and commercial properties. The best course of action is to contact the Code Department at 610-374-8273 extension 238 and ask if a permit is required for your project," and the Permits & Fees page says "Prior to beginning a project, please contact our office to determine if a permit is needed." Article I of Chapter 188, the Code Enforcement Ordinance (Ord. No. 786, May 21, 1997), also provides in Section 188-5A(2) for an alteration permit where, "in the opinion of the Code Enforcement Officer," the work "is not considered to be normal maintenance or repairs," and says "Any change in size, shape, height, type of materials, etc., necessitates an alteration permit." 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, the Borough's code brings house repairs and alterations under the Uniform Construction Code, its exemption list names no roof work, and the Department says to ask before starting, so expect to need a building permit for a reroof. The Permits & Fees page says "Building permit fees will be doubled if permit is not issued before work commences," and Section 188-18B makes a violation a summary offense "punishable by a fine of no more than $1,000 or by imprisonment not exceeding 10 days, or by both." Applications go to the Code Enforcement Office in Borough Hall; a Certificate of Insurance is required before a permit is issued to any contractor working in the Borough, and residential building permits are priced by project value, from $150 plus the $4.50 state fee for work under $5,000. The Borough office is at 610-374-8273. Read for this record: Chapter 188 of the Borough Code, Construction Standards (Article I, Code Enforcement, and Article II, Uniform Construction Code, Sections 188-1 to 188-22), in full; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Department's Code Enforcement, Uniform Construction Code and Permits & Fees pages, the last of which carries the building permit fee schedule; and the Department's residential permit procedure sheet and Building Permit 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, West Reading Borough administers the code itself through its Code Enforcement Department at Borough Hall, 500 Chestnut Street: Section 188-15 of the Borough Code says the Borough "hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," Section 188-16 adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," as the Municipal Building Code of the Borough, and the Department's FAQ speaks of "a building permit issued by the Borough's Building Code Official." Section 188-17 amends the adopted codes, fills in Table R301.2(1) with "Ice barrier underlayment required: Yes," and changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. Section 188-17 of the Borough Code amends the 2018 editions of the International Residential Code and International Existing Building Code, and the Department's residential permit procedure sheet says plans are reviewed "for compliance with the 2009 International Residential Code and other adopted codes"; this record has not read the 2018 or the 2009 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Department applies.
Repair permit threshold
West Reading Borough's code requires house repairs and alterations to comply with the Uniform Construction Code, with listed exemptions that name no roof work, and the Borough has published nothing on reroofing. Section 188-16D of the Borough Code (as amended December 17, 2019 by Ord. No. 1118, read October 9, 2026) says "Subsections 104(B)(5) and (6) of Act 45, as amended by Act 92, are hereby deleted," and that the Borough shall enforce the Uniform Construction Code's codes "as they apply to the alteration and repair of residential buildings." Section 188-17K(1) says "All alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress and repairs to residential buildings shall be subject to compliance with the Uniform Construction Code," except listed work; the list names "Replacement of existing siding or installation of siding over existing exterior wall covering," windows, doors, porches, painting and similar work, and names no roof work. Section 188-17K(2) says "An ordinary repair does not require a permit" and lists what is not an ordinary repair (cutting away a wall, removing or cutting a structural beam or load-bearing support, changing a means of egress, and piping, electric or mechanical work); it does not define an ordinary repair and names no roof work either way. The Code Enforcement Department has published nothing on reroofing; its FAQ says "Any work beyond a basic repair or a non-structural alteration may require a building permit issued by the Borough's Building Code Official for both residential and commercial properties. The best course of action is to contact the Code Department at 610-374-8273 extension 238 and ask if a permit is required for your project." 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, the Borough's code brings house repairs and alterations under the Uniform Construction Code, its exemption list names no roof work, and the Department says to ask before starting, so expect to need a building permit for a reroof. The Permits & Fees page says "Building permit fees will be doubled if permit is not issued before work commences," and Section 188-18B makes a violation a summary offense "punishable by a fine of no more than $1,000 or by imprisonment not exceeding 10 days, or by both." 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, West Reading Borough administers the code itself through its Code Enforcement Department at Borough Hall, 500 Chestnut Street: Section 188-15 of the Borough Code says the Borough "hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," Section 188-16 adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," as the Municipal Building Code of the Borough, and the Department's FAQ speaks of "a building permit issued by the Borough's Building Code Official." No Borough text read for this record sets an area or cost threshold for roof work; Section 188-17K quoted at the start reaches house repairs and alterations without one.
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, West Reading Borough administers the code itself through its Code Enforcement Department at Borough Hall, 500 Chestnut Street: Section 188-15 of the Borough Code says the Borough "hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," Section 188-16 adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," as the Municipal Building Code of the Borough, and the Department's FAQ speaks of "a building permit issued by the Borough's Building Code Official." Section 188-17K brings house repairs and alterations under the Uniform Construction Code with exemptions that name no roof work, Chapter 188 changes nothing in the code's reroofing provisions, and the Department's pages say nothing on roof layers. Section 188-17 of the Borough Code amends the 2018 editions of the International Residential Code and International Existing Building Code, and the Department's residential permit procedure sheet says plans are reviewed "for compliance with the 2009 International Residential Code and other adopted codes"; the text above is the 2021 edition's, the 2018 and 2009 editions' reroofing text was not read for this record, and this record does not decide which edition the Department 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, West Reading Borough administers the code itself through its Code Enforcement Department at Borough Hall, 500 Chestnut Street: Section 188-15 of the Borough Code says the Borough "hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," Section 188-16 adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," as the Municipal Building Code of the Borough, and the Department's FAQ speaks of "a building permit issued by the Borough's Building Code Official." Chapter 188 of the Borough Code changes nothing in the code's roof sheathing provisions, and the Department's pages draw no separate line for roof sheathing. Section 188-17 of the Borough Code amends the 2018 editions of the International Residential Code and International Existing Building Code, and the Department's residential permit procedure sheet says plans are reviewed "for compliance with the 2009 International Residential Code and other adopted codes"; the text above is the 2021 edition's, the 2018 and 2009 editions' sheathing text was not read for this record, and this record does not decide which edition the Department 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. West Reading Borough is in Berks County. The Department's permit pages say nothing on sales tax.
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West Reading Borough's Code Enforcement Department, at Borough Hall, 500 Chestnut Street, issues building permits, and the Borough Code requires house repairs and alterations to comply with the Uniform Construction Code except listed work that names no roof work. 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."
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