Roofing in Athens Township (Bradford 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, Athens Township's Construction Code Enforcement page says the Township "has partnered with a third party inspection and review agency, Code Inspections INC. to review, inspect and enforce the requirements set forth in the Uniform Construction Code" and "Code Inspections INC will issue building (construction) permits for all construction projects within the township"; the Township's FAQ says "Building permits can be secured through Code Inspections, Inc or by calling (570) 928-9208." The Code of the Township of Athens, as published, contains no chapter adopting the Uniform Construction Code, so this record has not read the Township's adoption ordinance. Its Chapter 62, Building Permits (Ordinance No. 112, 1994, amended 1995), administered by a Township "Building Permit Officer," says "A building permit shall not be required for repairs commonly associated with the maintenance of a building or structure, such as roof repairs or replacing a window with a door or addition of storm windows or siding; for minor or nonextensive repairs costing less than $1,000" and "Any construction to the exterior of a building that adds a roof or steps, however, does require a building permit"; it does not say whether replacing a whole roof covering is a roof repair. Code Inspections, Inc.'s Guides and Codes page lists "International Residential Code 2018" among the UCC codes; the text above is the 2021 edition's, and the 2018 edition's text was not read for this record.

No Athens Township text read for this record names the replacement of a roof covering as permit work or as exempt. The Code of the Township of Athens, as published, contains no chapter adopting the Uniform Construction Code, so this record has not read the Township's adoption ordinance. Its Chapter 62, Building Permits (Ordinance No. 112, 1994, amended 1995), administered by a Township "Building Permit Officer," says "A building permit shall not be required for repairs commonly associated with the maintenance of a building or structure, such as roof repairs or replacing a window with a door or addition of storm windows or siding; for minor or nonextensive repairs costing less than $1,000" and "Any construction to the exterior of a building that adds a roof or steps, however, does require a building permit"; it does not say whether replacing a whole roof covering is a roof repair. Code Inspections, Inc.'s FAQ page lists work that does and does not require a building permit, prefaced "This is not a complete list or exact wording from the codes. Always check with your municipality first, some municipalities have adopted more restrictive requirements," and names no roof work either way; the Township's Permitting FAQ says "A building permit is required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" and "If you have a question as to whether a permit is required, contact the Zoning Office at (570) 888-2325 for a free consultation." 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 permit application says its completion "shall not relieve the Applicant from obtaining such other permits as may be required By other local, state or federal regulations or laws." Code Inspections, Inc. is at (570) 928-9208, and the Township office, 45 Herrick Avenue, Sayre, open weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., is at (570) 888-2325. Read for this record: Chapter 62 of the Code of the Township of Athens, Building Permits, in full; the Code's table of contents and disposition list; every page of a search of the whole Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Township's Construction Code Enforcement, Permitting and Licensing, FAQ, Staff and Ordinances pages and its zoning permit application; and Code Inspections, Inc.'s FAQ, Guides, Permits and Contact pages.