Roofing in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania

Required

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, Cheltenham Township administers the code itself: Section 110-1 of the Township Code says "Cheltenham Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Township's Building & Codes Department, headed by its Fire Marshal and Director of Building/Codes, issues the permits and inspects through its own Building & Codes Inspectors. Chapter 110 of the Township Code, Building Construction (Sections 110-1 to 110-9, Ord. No. 2059-04 as amended), read in full as codified, adopts the Uniform Construction Code by reference "as amended from time to time" and keeps older Township provisions on room sizes, plumbing and fire protection; it names no roof covering, reroofing or roof sheathing rule. Its Section 110-6 also deletes a list of the State's residential permit exemptions by their earlier numbering, which this record has not matched to the current regulation. The code publisher lists Ordinance No. 2507-26 (March 18, 2026) as a Chapter 110 amendment not yet in the codified text; this record has not read it. The Township's permit page names roofing as permit work; it is quoted in the permit entries of this record.

Read October 6, 2026: the Township's Building Permit page, under "Construction Activities Requiring Building Permits," lists "Roofing" and "Siding" among "Permits Required (Additional $4.50 UCC charge on every permit) - Examples," and lists among "Permits Not Required - Examples" "Roofing Repairs/Replacement less than 100 S.F." The page links a Roofing/Siding Permit Application in the Township's OpenGov portal and says "ALL PERMITS MUST INCLUDE A SIGNED COPY OF THE CONTRACT/PROPOSAL BETWEEN THE CONTRACTOR & THE PROPERTY OWNER." Under state law, Act 45 says the Act "shall not apply to" "Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress, except as might be required by ordinances in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503" or to "Repairs to residential buildings, except as might be required by ordinances in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503" (section 104(b)(5) and (6)), and of a municipal ordinance that adds to the code, section 503(c) says "An ordinance under this subsection shall not be effective nor enforceable unless subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i) have been satisfied." This record does not decide whether the municipality's requirement is one adopted under section 503 or kept in effect by section 303(b)(1). In practice, plan on a Township permit for any reroof of 100 square feet or more, as the Township's permit page states. Applications go in only through the OpenGov portal; the page says "Starting March 26, 2025, all applications must be submitted through the new OpenGov Portal." The page also says "Any person or entity which commences work prior to obtaining approved permits shall pay triple the permit fee, in addition to any other penalty or fee," and Section 110-8 of the Township Code adds that a violator "may be subject to a fine of up to $1,000 per day, plus court costs and attorney's fees, for each day a violation occurs." The page also says that in a Historic District "additional permitting, review, and inspection will be required," and it links the Township's "2026 List of Contractors Registered in the Township." The Township building at 8230 Old York Road, Elkins Park, phone 215-887-1000, is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.