Roofing in Colwyn, 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, Colwyn Borough's Code Enforcement page says "The Building Code Official (BCO) receives applications, issues permits and makes inspections as required to enforce the provisions of the building code" and "Applications are available at the Borough Office"; the Borough Office is at 221 Spruce Street, Colwyn (610-461-2000), open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Section 44-1 of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 514, May 13, 2004, read October 12, 2026) says "The Borough of Colwyn hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and Section 44-2 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time." Chapter 44 names no code edition, and the Borough's pages read name no International Residential Code edition. Chapter 42, Article I, adopts the 1993 BOCA National Building Code, an earlier model code, and this record has not read that code's text.

Colwyn Borough has its own roofing permit. The Borough's own Roofing Permit Application (posted September 2026, read October 12, 2026) is headed "ROOFING PERMIT APPLICATION" and "ROOFING PERMIT FLAT FEE: $40 PER $1000 OF THE JOB COST + $4.50 STATE FEE," asks for "Existing Shingle Layers (To be covered and/or removed)" and "Replacement Sheathing (Thickness & Type with Rafter Spacing)," and lists roof coverings from asphalt shingles to clay or concrete tiles. The Borough's Building Permit Application says "USE FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, ADDITIONS, ALTERATIONS, FRAMING, ROOFING, SIDING, DECKS." 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). Because the Borough's own form asks for a roofing permit and a fee, a reroof without one risks whatever the Borough Code and the Building Code Official impose; the form says "Inspection Notice: A minimum 24-hour notice is required to schedule inspection. Call 215-880-0108 to schedule inspections." The application asks for a certificate of insurance and a workers' compensation certificate or release form with it. Read for this answer: Chapter 44 (Construction Codes, Uniform) and Chapter 42 (Building Construction) of the Borough Code, in full; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Borough's Code Enforcement and Forms pages; and its Roofing Permit Application and Building Permit Application.