Roofing in East Coventry Township, 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, East Coventry Township takes building permit applications at the Township Building, 855 Ellis Woods Road, Pottstown. Section 5-203 of the Township Code (Ord. 127, 2004) says "The Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Construction Code Act and Regulations within the Township," and the Township's 2026 fee resolution (Resolution No. 2026-04, a scanned document, transcribed from the rendered page images) says fees under the Uniform Construction Code and Chapter 5 "are calculated and invoiced by Barry Isett & Associates Inc.," whose letter attached to the resolution seeks reappointment as "PA UCC Building Code Official" for 2026. Section 5-204 adopts the Uniform Construction Code by reference "as the municipal building code of the Township," defined as the code in 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401-405 "as such code may be amended from time to time." Part 1 of Chapter 5 (Ord. 96, August 3, 1998) adopts the "BOCA National Building Code" of 1996 "for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the construction, alteration, removal, demolition, equipment, use and occupancy, location, lighting and ventilation and maintenance of buildings and structures, including permits and penalties," and Section 5-207 keeps building code ordinances "enacted by the Board of Supervisors on or before July 1, 1999" in force where their requirements "equal or exceed the minimum requirements of the Construction Code Act and Regulations." The permit sections of the 1996 BOCA code are not published with the Township Code and were not read for this record. The Township's Planning and Zoning page says "The Township adopted the 2006 International Building Code as its approved building code" and names no residential code edition, and Part 1 of Chapter 5 names the 1996 BOCA National Building Code; this record has not read the text of the editions the Township names and does not decide which edition the Township applies to a house.

No East Coventry Township text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. The Township's Planning and Zoning page says "Prior to commencing any building project, a Building Permit Application must be approved by the Township," and its Frequently Asked Questions page answers "Does building/construction, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, etc. work require a permit?" with "For specific questions regarding construction and permit requirements, please contact the Building Code Official at 610-723-7740." Neither names roof work, the Township's building permit application has no roofing category, and the residential part of the Building Code Official's 2026 fee schedule attached to the fee resolution has no roofing line; roof work would fall under "Miscellaneous Building Construction Only" for "Any building projects not covered elsewhere." Part 1 of Chapter 5 (Ord. 96, August 3, 1998) adopts the "BOCA National Building Code" of 1996 "for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the construction, alteration, removal, demolition, equipment, use and occupancy, location, lighting and ventilation and maintenance of buildings and structures, including permits and penalties," and Section 5-207 keeps building code ordinances "enacted by the Board of Supervisors on or before July 1, 1999" in force where their requirements "equal or exceed the minimum requirements of the Construction Code Act and Regulations." The permit sections of the 1996 BOCA code are not published with the Township Code and were not read for this record. 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." No Township text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt, and the 1996 BOCA code's permit sections that Section 5-207 may keep in force could not be read, so this record does not decide whether the Township requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. Ask the Building Code Official at 610-723-7740 before work starts. The fee resolution sets a fee for "Performing Work Without a Township Permit" of "1½ times the cost of permit fee(s)." Applications go to the Township Building in three paper copies, signed by both the applicant and the property owner, and contractors submit a certificate of insurance. The Township Building, 610-495-5443, is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Read for this answer: Chapter 5 of the Township Code (Code Enforcement, Parts 1 and 2, Sections 5-101 to 5-208) and Chapter 4, Buildings, in full; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Township's Permits, Licenses and Forms page, Planning and Zoning page and Frequently Asked Questions page; the building permit application; and Resolution No. 2026-04 with the Building Code Official's 2026 residential and non-residential fee schedules.