Roofing in Berlin, 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, Berlin Borough's Land Use Permit and Building Application page lists a "Land Use Form" and a "Building Permit Application" and a link titled "Commonwealth Code Inspection Service," and says "Commercial permit applications are available at the Borough Office or at Commonwealth Code Inspection Services Office." The building permit application form posted there is headed "BOROUGH OF BERLIN" and "COMMONWEALTH CODE INSPECTION SERVICES, INC." and a building permit checklist posted as a scan names the same agency as the office to contact. The Borough office is at 700 North Street, Berlin, and answers at 814-267-3837. The Borough's ordinances page lists ordinances on setbacks, property maintenance, taxes, vegetation, garbage, sidewalks and similar subjects and lists no ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code and no building or permit chapter. Ordinance No. 300, Set-back Line for Buildings, says "no building or other structure" may be "constructed, erected, located or relocated closer to any lot or boundary line" than a stated number of feet and speaks of buildings "reconstructed, converted, enlarged or structurally altered" so as to reduce that distance, and names no roofing. The Borough's pages name no code edition.

Berlin Borough's pages do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. The Borough's ordinances page lists ordinances on setbacks, property maintenance, taxes, vegetation, garbage, sidewalks and similar subjects and lists no ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code and no building or permit chapter. Ordinance No. 300, Set-back Line for Buildings, says "no building or other structure" may be "constructed, erected, located or relocated closer to any lot or boundary line" than a stated number of feet and speaks of buildings "reconstructed, converted, enlarged or structurally altered" so as to reduce that distance, and names no roofing. The Borough's permit page and its posted forms say nothing on roofing, reroofing or roof replacement. The posted building permit application lists "Repair/Replacement" as one improvement type among several on a general form. 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 state whether a permit is required for a house reroof; ask the Borough office (814-267-3837) or the contracted code inspection agency before starting. Read for this answer, October 12, 2026: the Borough's home page, Land Use Permit and Building Application page, Borough Ordinances page and Contact page, the posted building permit application, building permit checklist, building application instructions and Ordinance No. 300. The Borough's Ordinance No. 366 (property maintenance) was posted as an image scan and was not read in full.