Roofing in Bridgewater Township (Susquehanna 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, Bridgewater Township sends building permits to the Susquehanna County Council of Governments Codes Enforcement Committee: its Building & Zoning page says "Bridgewater Township uses Council of Governments (COG) for issuing all of its building permits, building code inspections, sewer permits, and code enforcement," its FAQ says "All building permits are issued through Susquehanna County Council of Governments (COG) at 570-465-2633," and the Council's office is at 948 Main Street, Suite 3, New Milford. The Township's own mailing address is P.O. Box 297, Montrose. Chapter 144 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Articles I and II adopted November 3, 2003 by Ord. Nos. 11-02 and 11-03, read October 12, 2026), adopts by reference the "International Building Code, 2003 Edition" and the "International Residential Code, 2003 Edition" "for regulating and governing the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, location, removal and demolition of detached one- and two-family dwellings" and "providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor," with a few amendments that name no roof work, and sets no permit clause or exemption of its own. Chapter 123, Building Permits, requires a sewage permit and other state and federal permits before a building permit issues and names no roof work. Chapter 137, Construction Assessment Permits, requires an assessment permit for "construction, renovation or repair of any agricultural building, historical building, accessory or miscellaneous use structure less than 1,000 square feet which is nonhabitable and limited to one story," which names no dwelling. Every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing" found no permit provision naming roof work. Chapter 144 adopts the 2003 editions of the International Building and Residential Codes, and no Township or Council page names a current edition; the text above is the 2021 edition's, this record has not read the 2003 edition's text, and this record does not decide which edition applies to a house.

Bridgewater Township's code and pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. Chapter 144 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Articles I and II adopted November 3, 2003 by Ord. Nos. 11-02 and 11-03, read October 12, 2026), adopts by reference the "International Building Code, 2003 Edition" and the "International Residential Code, 2003 Edition" "for regulating and governing the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, location, removal and demolition of detached one- and two-family dwellings" and "providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor," with a few amendments that name no roof work, and sets no permit clause or exemption of its own. Chapter 123, Building Permits, requires a sewage permit and other state and federal permits before a building permit issues and names no roof work. Chapter 137, Construction Assessment Permits, requires an assessment permit for "construction, renovation or repair of any agricultural building, historical building, accessory or miscellaneous use structure less than 1,000 square feet which is nonhabitable and limited to one story," which names no dwelling. Every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing" found no permit provision naming roof work. The Council of Governments' Instructions for Permit Application and Application for Permit (scans, read from the rendered pages) say "Applications will be reviewed by the Building Code Official, after which the permit will be issued if all additional paperwork required has been received" and mark "Permit(s) Required" as "UCC" or "Assessment," and name no roofing. The Township's FAQ says "No, Bridgewater Township does not have zoning." Neither the Township nor the Council posts a roofing form, fee line or "do I need a permit" list. 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 Council of Governments (570-465-2633) before starting. Read for this answer: the Township's home, Building & Zoning, Council of Governments, FAQ, Licenses, Permits & Regulations and Documents pages; the Council's permit application packet; and Chapters 123, 137 and 144 of the Township Code in full, with every page of a search of the Township Code for "roof" and "reroofing."