Roofing in Dupont, 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, Dupont Borough's Code Enforcement Officer page (read October 12, 2026) says "If you plan to make repairs, additions or remodel your home, please check with the Code Enforcement Officer to see if permits will be required" and that "You may also have to Contact our Third Party Inspections Services Office BHW CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS, 1151 Route 315, Suite 3, Dolphin Plaza, Plains, Pa. 18702." The Borough's Forms page posts a "Building Permit Application" that is the third-party agency's application, headed "Dupont Borough Building Permit Application," whose certification refers to "PA Act 45 (Uniform Construction Code)"; the agency's office number on it is 570-270-3900. The Borough's pages name no edition of the Uniform Construction Code.

No Dupont Borough text read says that a reroof needs a permit or that it does not, and this record does not decide whether the Borough requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. The Borough's Code Enforcement page names no roof work, and its one zoning statement says "Luzerne County Planning and Zoning" issues "zoning permits for sheds, swimming pools, decks less than 30 inches high, fences above 6 ft. height, change of use," and other listed work, with no roof line. The agency's August 2025 application lists "Alteration" among its types of work, prices permits by the cost of the work in a residential schedule that begins at "$24.50" (transcribed from the rendered page image, since the PDF has no text layer), and names no roofing line or exemption. The Borough's Ordinances page lists seventeen ordinances under "Other Ordinances Available for Review," among them "Dangerous Structures Ord 2 of 2003," and no ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code or setting building permit requirements, so none was read. 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." The Code Enforcement Officer page says "If you do not get a permit when one is required you may have to pay double the cost," and the agency's schedule says "FEES WILL BE DOUBLED FOR THOSE FAILING TO SECURE PERMIT PRIOR TO START OF WORK." Ask the Code Enforcement Officer at the Borough Office, 570-655-6216, open Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, before work starts. Read for this answer: the Borough's Code Enforcement Officer, Forms, Ordinances and Contact Us pages and the agency's August 2025 building permit application.