Roofing in Brecknock Township (Lancaster 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, Brecknock Township, in Lancaster County, takes building and zoning permit applications at its office, 1026 Dry Tavern Road, and its Frequently Asked Questions page says "IF your project requires a UCC Building Permit we have appointed three outside agencies to issue and inspect for those" and that "Each of those companies has their own fee schedule." Chapter 51 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 143, May 11, 2004) elects to administer and enforce the Construction Code Act and adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," as the Township's building code. Chapter 51 names no edition and changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. Section 51-5A also keeps in force the Township's building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code, and Chapter 40 adopts the "BOCA National Building Code/1990, Eleventh Edition"; the 1990 code's text was not read for this record, and this record does not decide which of its provisions remain in force.

No Brecknock Township text read says whether an ordinary reroof needs a permit. Chapter 51 names no roof work. Section 51-5A keeps in force "All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by Brecknock Township on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the code," and Chapter 40 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 76, July 10, 1990) adopts the "BOCA National Building Code/1990, Eleventh Edition" as the Township's building code, "controlling the design, construction, alterations, enlargements, removal, demolition, equipment, repair, conversion, use and maintenance of all buildings and structures"; Chapter 40's own changes to that code name no roof work, and the 1990 code's permit sections are not published with the Township Code and were not read. The zoning chapter requires a zoning permit for any "alteration, extension, replacement relocation or conversion of any building or structure," but says "No zoning permit shall be required for repairs to or maintenance of any building" that do not change the use or alter the exterior dimensions (Section 110-91A). The Township's Permits page lists work that needs a permit (driveway resurfacing, fences, decks, sheds, demolition and inflatable pools) and names no roof work, and its Frequently Asked Questions page says nothing on roofs. The Township's own fees "are available at the township office" and are not published. 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." No Township text read names reroofing either as permit work or as exempt, the 1990 building code Chapter 40 adopts was not read, and neither the Township's fee schedule nor its agencies' fee schedules are published, so this record does not decide whether the Township requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. The Township's Permits page says "Any questions about permits, please feel free to call the Township office (717)445-5933." The Township's Frequently Asked Questions page says that for an inspection, the office will "give you the phone number to call of the inspection company which issued you your Building Permit (UCC)." The office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Read for this answer: Chapter 51 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 51-1 to 51-6), and Chapter 40, Building Construction (Sections 40-1 to 40-3), in full; Section 110-91 of the zoning chapter; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the list of new laws not yet codified; and the Township's Permits, Frequently Asked Questions, Engineering and Contact pages.