Roofing in Colerain 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, Colerain Township, in Lancaster County, routes building permits through Solanco Engineering, 103 Fite Way Suite C, Quarryville: the Township's Zoning Officer & Engineer page says a Solanco Engineering representative "was appointed as Zoning Officer and BCO for 2026" and that the Zoning Officer and assistant "will be responsible for the issuance of building permits and inspection of construction sites," and "All submissions must be taken to Solanco Engineering." The Township's building/zoning permit application lets the applicant choose Building Inspection Underwriters of DE, Inc. or Commonwealth Code Inspection Service as the "Third Party Plan Review and Code Inspection Agency." The Township's Ordinances page posts its zoning, subdivision and stormwater ordinances but not a Uniform Construction Code ordinance, and no codified Township code was found published; the Township's UCC adoption ordinance was not read for this record. The Zoning Ordinance, Section 16.02.01, under "Zoning Permits," says no work of the kinds it lists may begin "until the Zoning Officer has issued a building permit for such work," and that "No permit shall be required for repairs to or maintenance of any building, structure or grounds provided such repairs do not change the use or otherwise violate the Regulations of this Ordinance"; that section sits in the zoning ordinance and names no roof work. No Township page read names a code edition.

Colerain Township's pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit, and its Uniform Construction Code ordinance was not read. The Township's Ordinances page posts its zoning, subdivision and stormwater ordinances but not a Uniform Construction Code ordinance, and no codified Township code was found published; the Township's UCC adoption ordinance was not read for this record. The Zoning Ordinance, Section 16.02.01, under "Zoning Permits," says no work of the kinds it lists may begin "until the Zoning Officer has issued a building permit for such work," and that "No permit shall be required for repairs to or maintenance of any building, structure or grounds provided such repairs do not change the use or otherwise violate the Regulations of this Ordinance"; that section sits in the zoning ordinance and names no roof work. The Township's Zoning and Building Applications page says to contact Solanco Engineering "If you are contemplating any improvements or alterations to your home, property, or business" to "determine if any permits or approvals are required by the township" and names no roof work. The Township's 2026 fee schedule says "Building Permit Fees are based on the Fee Schedule of the Appointed Colerain Township Third Party Inspection Agencies" and names no roof work, and neither agency's posted fee schedule names roof work. 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 Solanco Engineering (717-786-0355) before starting. Its Zoning Officer & Engineer page says "You may call or visit without an appointment Monday -Friday 8:00 to 4:30" and "There will no longer be Zoning Hours at the Township Building." The 2026 fee schedule says that if work begins before a permit is issued "the permit fee is double the original fee" plus $100.00. Read for this answer: the Township's Zoning Officer & Engineer, Zoning and Building Applications, Ordinances and home pages; its building/zoning permit application; its 2026 fee schedule; the two inspection agencies' fee schedules posted on its site, one read from its scanned pages; and the Zoning Ordinance, searched for roof, permit and exemption provisions.