Roofing in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Required

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, the City of Allentown administers the Uniform Construction Code itself: City Code section 225-1 says the City "hereby adopts the Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 to 405, as may be amended from time to time, as the Building Code of the City of Allentown, and hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the same," and section 225-3 designates "the Bureau of Building Standards and Safety and the Fire Department to administer this chapter." The Bureau's page says "the City of Allentown will begin enforcing the following 2021 Building Codes starting January 1, 2026," listing the 2021 International Residential Code and the 2021 International Existing Building Code, and that under Section 304 of the Act permits may be issued under the previous code where a contract was signed before January 1, 2026 and the application is made within six months of the new code's effective date. The Bureau's handout When Residential Permits ARE Required lists "Installing a new roof or roof replacement," and its companion handout When Residential Permits are NOT Required lists "Roofing repairs." The City Code read for this record is Chapter 225, Construction Codes, Uniform (sections 225-1 to 225-4, read in full), and the building fee and penalty sections of Chapter 270, Article V (sections 270-31 and 270-37); Chapter 225's text names no roof work, and section 270-31 charges building permits by the cost of the work with no roofing line. Section 225-2 says "The following local amendments which were adopted prior to July 1, 1999, shall continue in effect" for the building, plumbing, electrical and fire codes; those amendments are published as four attachments to Chapter 225, and the attachments were not read for this record.

Allentown's Bureau of Building Standards and Safety names roof replacement as permit work. Its handout When Residential Permits ARE Required (https://www.allentownpa.gov/Portals/0/adam/Content/meAX5N0o_0aDDQPfPSs28A/Url/2015PermitRequired2.pdf, read October 5, 2026) lists "Installing a new roof or roof replacement," its handout When Residential Permits are NOT Required lists "Roofing repairs," and its Construction Permitting page lists building permits "for new construction, changes, demolitions, electrical, heating, plumbing, roofing, signs." Chapter 225 of the City Code adopts the Uniform Construction Code, and its own text names no roof work; the pre-1999 amendments attached to it were not read for this record. Act 45 section 104(b)(5) and (6) say the Act does not apply to "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 in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503," and 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). 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." In practice the Bureau states that a roof replacement needs a permit, and the City Code adds a cost for starting without one: "failure to secure a permit prior to the commencement of work for which a permit is required shall result in the permit fee being doubled" (section 270-37). The Bureau's handout adds "A fine of $100.00 may be imposed for each type of work being done without a permit." Residential permits cost "the greater of $50 or 1% of the total cost of work including materials and labor of all trades," plus a $50 nonrefundable application fee and the state Uniform Construction Code fee (section 270-31). Apply online through the City's Citizen Self Service portal or at the Construction Permitting office, City Hall, 435 Hamilton Street, 4th Floor, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; "No permits will be issued after 4:00 p.m." The office line is (610) 437-7592. The handout says "Before you start a project, first discuss your project with the Zoning Office at 610-437-7630," and in a historic district, "before any exterior work begins, including window replacement, contact the Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) Secretary"; "You may be required to apply to HARB for a Certificate of Appropriateness."