Roofing in Conewago Township (Adams 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, Conewago Township in Adams County (not the York County township of the same name) takes building permit applications at its Zoning and Code Enforcement Office, 541 Oxford Avenue, Hanover. Section 56-25 of the Township Code says "This municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Township's 2026 Application for Zoning/Building Permit names Middle Department Inspection Agency, 3901 Hartzdale Dr, Suite 112, Camp Hill, under "Building Inspections." Section 56-26 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" and names no edition, but the Township's 2026 Application for Zoning/Building Permit says "THE 2018 IRC & IBC PENNSYLVANIA UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODES ARE ENFORCED". Article IV changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. This record has not read the 2018 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Township applies.

Conewago Township's code and pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. Article III of Chapter 56 (Ord. No. 1999-D, adopted July 19, 1999), titled the "Conewago Township CABO Code," adopts the CABO One and Two Family Dwelling Code, 1995 edition, and says no one shall "fabricate, erect, construct, reconstruct, enlarge, alter, add to, repair" a one-family or two-family dwelling "without first applying for and obtaining a permit," except that "no permit shall be required for minor nonstructural home repairs and improvements which utilize materials having a value of not more than $500 for each separate home repair or improvement project." Article IV (Ord. No. 2004-D, May 17, 2004), which adopts the Uniform Construction Code, keeps in force building code ordinances "adopted by this municipality on or before July 1, 1999," that equal or exceed the code (Section 56-29A). Neither article names roof work, and this record does not decide whether the Article III permit clause is still in force. The Township's 2026 Application for Zoning/Building Permit (read October 9, 2026) offers boxes for "New Building", "Alteration", "Repair" and other work and names no roof work, and the 2026 fee schedule (Resolution 2026-G, adopted April 20, 2026) prices "Residential Building Permits" by improvement area with a maximum fee of $50.00 and has no roofing line. 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 Zoning and Code Enforcement Office (717-637-0411) before starting. The application says "Permit application will NOT be accepted without a drawing" and that a permit "cannot be processed" if the estimated cost of the project is left blank. Read for this answer: Articles III and IV of Chapter 56 of the Township Code, Building Construction (Sections 56-16 to 56-30), in full; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Zoning and Codes, Common Code Issues and Forms and Applications pages; the 2026 Application for Zoning/Building Permit; and the 2026 fee schedule (Resolution 2026-G).