Roofing in Archbald, 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, Archbald Borough issues its own permits at the Borough Municipal Building, 400 Church Street, and its Zoning & Code Enforcement page says "Archbald Borough has elected to administer and enforce the Uniform Construction Code," naming Building Inspection Underwriters (BIU), 1010 Albright Avenue, Scranton, as its "Commercial UCC (Building) Third Party Inspector." The Borough's codified ordinances were not found published online, and this record has not read the Borough's Uniform Construction Code adoption ordinance or any Borough ordinance on permits for residential repairs. The Borough pages read for this record name no code edition.

Archbald Borough requires its own Roofing Permit for removal and replacement of roofing material, a local permit separate from a UCC building permit. The Borough's Roofing Permit Application (form dated 05/2022, posted on its Forms & Ordinances page as "Roof Work Permit," read October 9, 2026) says "This Permit allows for the removal and replacement of roofing material, drip edge, water and ice shield, MINOR repair or replacement of sheathing, and ridge vent material. Any work on rafts, trusses or complete sheathing replacement requires submission of a UCC building permit application," and asks "Construction activities may require a Building Permit in accordance with the PA Uniform Construction Code. Is a Building Permit required?" Its second page, a "ROOFING PERMIT FEE SCHEDULE" marked "Revised October 1980," sets a "Base Roofing Permit Fee $75.00" plus a fee by project cost, "based on total cost of the job, labor and materials." The Borough's 2026 fee schedule carries the same table under "Roof Permits" ("$75 Base Fee + Fee Schedule Below"), rising to $175.00 at a project cost of $30,000, on a page separate from its "UCC Permit Fees." So the permit the Borough's pages name for a house reroof that leaves the rafters, trusses and most of the sheathing alone is the Borough's own Roofing Permit, a local permit the form keeps separate from a UCC building permit; work on rafters, trusses or a complete sheathing replacement needs a UCC building permit application. The Borough's codified ordinances were not found published online, and this record has not read the Borough's Uniform Construction Code adoption ordinance or any Borough ordinance on permits for residential repairs. 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." This record does not decide whether a UCC building permit is needed for a house reroof here. In practice, expect the Borough to require its Roofing Permit before a house is reroofed, and a UCC building permit where rafters, trusses or the whole sheathing are replaced. The form says "Application is NOT complete if information is missing" and that "The Applicant is responsible for the permit fees"; the Borough pages read for this record state no penalty for roof work done without a permit. The Borough office is at 570-876-1800 and is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Read for this answer: the Borough's Zoning & Code Enforcement, Forms & Ordinances and Budget and Fee Schedule pages; the Roofing Permit Application and its fee schedule; the Zoning Permit Application; the 2026 fee schedule; the Zoning Ordinance (March 15, 2023) and Ordinance 04-2025 amending it; and the Quality of Life Ordinance, none of which names a roofing permit beyond the Roofing Permit form and fee lines.