Roofing in Bethlehem Township, 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, Bethlehem Township administers the code through its Community Development Department with a retained inspection agency: Section 110-1 of the Township Code says the Township "hereby elects to administer and enforce the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," the department's Permits page says it "is primarily responsible for building, zoning, and fire prevention permit review, issuance and inspection," and the Township's fee schedule prices commercial building and fire permits, electrical permits and third-party work "as needed" on the Keycodes Inspection Agency fee schedule attached to it as Exhibit 1. Chapter 110 of the Township Code (Sections 110-1 to 110-10, as amended February 16, 2026 by Ord. No. 03-26) adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as may be amended from time to time," has no permit clause of its own for house repairs or alterations, and names no roof work. Section 110-3 (amended February 16, 2026 by Ord. No. 03-26) fills in Table R301.2 of "the International Residential Code of 2021" with a ground snow load of 30 psf and a wind speed of 115 mph and makes plumbing insertions; it changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. The department's Permits page, however, says "Bethlehem Township adopted the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) and adheres to the 2018 International Codes." So the department's own page names the 2018 codes while the Township Code and the State's rule name the 2021 edition; this record has not read the 2018 edition's roofing text. Section 110-7 keeps in force Township building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code; those older ordinances were not read.

Bethlehem Township's Community Development Department says a roofing permit is required "if the work being done is more than replacing only shingles." The department's answer to "Is a permit required for roofing?" (read October 6, 2026) is "Yes, if the work being done is more than replacing only shingles," and its Permits page lists "Reroof (commercial only)" among "Construction Permits." The Township's own residential building permit fees (fee schedule effective June 1, 2025) have no roofing line, and its Application for Building Permit has no roofing box. The Keycodes Inspection Agency's "2025 Fee Schedule – Residential Inspection Services," attached to the Township's fee schedule as Exhibit 1, lists "Roof Replacement" at "$127.00 – includes 1 site visit"; the Township's fee schedule applies that exhibit to residential work only for electrical permits and "As-Needed Third-Party Fees," and neither document says whether a reroof that replaces only shingles is work it prices. Chapter 110 of the Township Code (Sections 110-1 to 110-10, as amended February 16, 2026 by Ord. No. 03-26) adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as may be amended from time to time," has no permit clause of its own for house repairs or alterations, and names no roof work. 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 therefore does not state whether the Township requires a permit for an ordinary reroof; ask the department at 610-814-6435 before work starts. The Permits page itself says "The above list is not all-inclusive" and asks readers to "contact the Permit Department at (610) 814-6435 for more information." Where a permit is needed, every application carries a $100 nonrefundable submittal fee credited toward the permit fee, the Township has fifteen business days to respond once an application is complete, and the fee schedule says that if work begins without a required permit "the applicable fee shall be increased by 100%." Read for this answer: Chapter 110 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 110-1 to 110-10), in full; a search of the whole Township Code for "roof," which found no permit provision naming roof work; the department's Permits, Residential Construction and frequently asked questions pages; the Township's fee schedule with its Keycodes Inspection Agency exhibit; and its Application for Building Permit.