Roofing in Canaan 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, Canaan Township in Wayne County lists a "Building Permit Officer" (570-493-1716) among its officials, separately from its Zoning Officer, and gives its Township building at 30 Canaan Road, Waymart (570-488-5501). The Township's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code is not posted on its website, and no Township page read names a code edition.

Canaan Township's pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. The Township's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code is not posted on its website, and no Township page describes its building permit rules, so the Township's own permit rule for house repairs was not read. The Township's 2026 fee schedule (Resolution #2026-03), read in full from the rendered pages, lists fees under floodplain, holding tank, junk dealer, street encroachment and driveway, "STREET NUMBERING AND BUILDING ORDINANCE FEES" (one $25 application fee), subdivision and zoning headings; it has no Uniform Construction Code permit fee and no line naming roofing, reroofing or roof replacement. 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 house reroof; ask the Township's Building Permit Officer (570-493-1716) or the Township building (570-488-5501) before starting. Read for this answer: the Township's Officials, Contact Us and Building & Zoning Fee Schedule pages and its 2026 fee schedule resolution.