Roofing in Allen Township (Northampton County), Pennsylvania

Required

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, Allen Township in Northampton County takes zoning and building permit applications at its Municipal Building, 50 Snow Hill Road, Northampton, and has building permits reviewed and inspected by a third-party agency the applicant picks from the Township's list; its Zoning and Building Procedures sheet (revised July 21, 2026) says "Select one of the following authorized Third-Party Inspection agencies for UCC Required Commercial/Residential Application/Permits" and lists Bureau Veritas North America, Inc., Keller Zoning & Inspection Service, Keycodes Inspection Agency and Lehigh Valley Inspection Service, adding "As of July 21, 2026, Lehigh Valley Inspection Service is currently not accepting new applications." Part 2 of Chapter 5 of the Township Code (Ord. 2004-08, June 24, 2004) says "Allen Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time," by reference, and names no roof work either way. The Township's pages name no code edition.

No Allen Township text read for this record names roof work as permit work or as exempt. Part 2 of Chapter 5 of the Township Code (Ord. 2004-08, June 24, 2004) says "Allen Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time," by reference, and names no roof work either way. The Township's Zoning page says "Building Permits may also be required depending on the size, use, and type of construction," gives as examples "New homes", "Additions", "Decks (over 30" above grade or with a roof)", "Pools and hot tubs" and "Retaining walls over 48" high", and adds "Some projects may be excluded from the list above, but still require a zoning and/or building permit. Always check with the Township first." The Township's 2026 fee schedule (Resolution #2026-08) has no roofing line. Of the agencies' 2026 fee schedules posted on the Township's Forms page, Lehigh Valley Inspection Service's lists "ROOF REPLACEMENT" at "$200.00 - includes one visit" among its residential inspection services, and Keycodes Inspection Agency's lists "ROOF REPLACEMENT" at $115.00 under the heading "FLAT RATE COSTS (NEW CONSTRUCTION ONLY) - CONTINUED"; neither schedule names Allen Township or says when a reroof needs a permit. Under state law, Act 45 section 104(b)(5) and (6) list "Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress" and "Repairs to residential buildings" among work the Act does not apply to, "except as might be required by ordinances in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503," and 34 Pa. Code 403.62(c) says "A permit is not required for the exceptions listed in § 403.1(b) (relating to scope) and the following, if the work does not violate a law or ordinance." The Township's Zoning page says "Permits must be obtained before starting any work" and that permits are picked up during Township office hours, "Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, excluding holidays"; the Township office is at 610-262-7012. Read for this record: Chapter 5 of the Township Code (Code Enforcement) in full; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof", "roofing" and "reroofing"; the Township's Zoning, Forms and Contact pages; its Zoning and Building Procedures sheet and zoning permit application; its 2026 fee schedule resolution (a scanned document, read from its page images); and the 2026 fee schedules and residential applications of the four listed agencies posted on the Forms page.