Roofing in Caernarvon Township (Berks 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, Caernarvon Township in Berks County takes building permit applications at the Township Office, 3307 Main Street, Morgantown, and its residential building permit packet lists the items "required to be submitted to Technicon Enterprises, Inc., II in order for you to obtain a building permit" and says "As the appointed Third-Party Agency, Technicon Enterprises, Inc., II will perform all electrical inspections for all permitted work under the Uniform Construction Code." Article V of Chapter 240 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 209, June 8, 2004) says "This municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," as the municipal Building Code. Section 240-22 keeps in force "All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by this Municipality on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code." Article III of Chapter 240 (Ord. No. 133, November 9, 1993) still adopts the "BOCA National Building Code/1993 Twelfth Edition," with its future revisions, "for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the construction, alteration, enlargement, repair, demolition, removal, maintenance and use of all building and structures, including administration, building permits and penalties," while Article V adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time"; the Township's permit pages and fee schedule name no residential code edition; this record has not read the 1993 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Township applies.

Caernarvon Township's code and permit pages do not say in terms whether a reroof needs a Uniform Construction Code permit. Section 500-76 of the Township's Zoning chapter says a building permit "shall be obtained from the Zoning Officer" for new construction, structural alteration and other listed work, and that "A building permit is not required: (a) For general repairs or maintenance of any existing building or structure, provided that the structural design or floor plan of said building or structure shall not be altered, extended, or converted in any way. Such repairs or maintenance shall include, but are not limited to, painting, repair or replacement of existing windows, panes, doors, floors, ceilings, walls, roofs, porches, or siding." That section sits in the Zoning chapter and speaks of the permit the Zoning Officer issues; it does not say whether a reroof needs a Uniform Construction Code permit. The Township's Schedule of Fees (updated 4/9/2026) has no roofing line; its residential building permit lines are for new dwellings, additions and accessory structures, manufactured housing, and "Alterations, renovations, or modifications of existing buildings or structures," priced at $100.00 plus $0.40 a square foot. Section 240-22 keeps in force "All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by this Municipality on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code." The 1993 BOCA code that Article III adopts, and its own permit and exemption sections, were not read for this record. 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 the Township requires a permit for a reroof. Applications, with a review deposit of "$50 Residential/ $100 Commercial," are mailed or dropped off at the Township Office, and certificates of insurance naming Caernarvon Township as certificate holder must accompany contractors hired to do the job. The Township Office is at 610-286-1010, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:00pm; the permit packet gives (610) 286-1622 for scheduling Technicon's inspections. Read for this record: Chapter 240 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, in full (Articles I to V); Section 500-76 of the Zoning chapter; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Township's Building Permit Process and Permit Applications pages; the Schedule of Fees (updated 4/9/2026); the residential building permit packet; the Application Review Checklist; and the Zoning Permit Application.