Roofing in Cumberland 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, Cumberland Township uses a third-party agency for the code: the Township's Permit Forms, Applications and Documents page lists "Building Permit Applications" under "Submit to PMCA" (Pennsylvania Municipal Code Alliance, Inc.), gives the "PMCA Address: 1895 B York Road Gettysburg, PA 17325," and says "ALL ZONING/LAND USE APPLICATIONS FOR CUMBERLAND TOWNSHIP ARE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY PMCA," and the Township's 2026 fee resolution (Resolution 2026-03) attaches PMCA's plan review and inspection fee schedules. The Township's online code (codified through 2015, with later ordinances added) has no chapter adopting the Uniform Construction Code, and its table of ordinances lists none, so the Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance was not read for this record. The Township's pages name no code edition; PMCA's ice barrier sheet says "All Municipalities Served by PMCA follow and enforce the provisions of the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC)," and this record has not read the 2018 edition's text and does not decide which edition PMCA applies.

Cumberland Township's code requires a Township building permit for an "alteration," which it defines to include replacing a roof where the cost exceeds $1,000. Chapter 4, Part 3 of the Township code (Building Permits, Ordinance 32 of 1974) says "It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, business or corporation to undertake or cause to be undertaken, the construction, reconstruction, enlargement, alteration, or relocation of any building or structure unless an approved building permit has been obtained from the Township Building Permit Officer" and "A building permit shall not be required for repairs to existing buildings or structures, provided that no structural changes or modifications are involved" (Section 4-301), and it defines ALTERATION as "Any work or rearrangement, removal or replacement of any exterior wall, roof or support where the actual cost thereof shall exceed $1,000" (Section 4-302). That Part adopts no building code. Section 4-311 sets a fine of "not less than $25 nor more than $1,000 plus costs" for violating that Part. The Township's pages do not say whether a house reroof needs a Uniform Construction Code permit. The PMCA supplemental fee schedule attached to Resolution 2026-03 lists "Residential Re-Roof $160 (with structural repairs, framing & final)"; the Township's own building permit application fees list a residential building, commercial structures and accessory structures, with no roofing line. The Township's online code (codified through 2015, with later ordinances added) has no chapter adopting the Uniform Construction Code, and its table of ordinances lists none, so the Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance was not read for this record. PMCA's website answers its question "I am re-roofing my residential structure – do I need a building permit?" with a letter dated July 20, 2018, addressed "Dear Municipal Official" and naming no municipality, which says "a residential Re-roof still requires compliance with the provisions of the UCC but does not require a building permit" and "If structural work is required such as replacing studs, headers, rafters or trusses a permit would now be required"; PMCA's Re-Roof Application Packet says "A Building Permit is required if there is a structural repair." 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 a Uniform Construction Code permit is required for a house reroof in Cumberland Township; ask the Township office at 717-334-6485 and PMCA at 717-496-4996, extension 172, before starting. The Township office is open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and closed Friday; the Township says appointments are recommended. Read for this answer: the Township's home page and its Permit Forms, Applications and Documents page, its 2026 Zoning / Land Use Permit Application, Resolution 2026-03 with its attached PMCA fee schedules, and Chapter 4 of the Township code with a code-wide search for "roof"; and PMCA's Permit Applications and FAQ pages, its re-roof letter, Re-Roof Application Packet and ice barrier sheet. The Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance was not found published and was not read.