Roofing in East Hempfield 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 Hempfield Township administers the code with a retained third-party agency: Section 130-11 of the Township Code says the Township "hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," Section 130-13 provides for "designating employees of the Township to serve as the building code official and construction code official and by retaining third-party agencies to act on behalf of the Township of East Hempfield," and the Township's Building & Zoning page says "We have a Building Code Official who performs permit reviews and inspections" and "All inspections will be performed by Code Administrators Inc." The Township's 2026 fee schedule says "The Township utilizes Code Administrators Inc. for building code plan review and inspections." Section 130-12 adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," as the Township's building code "with the amendments and insertions contained herein and to include the provisions of the 2009 editions" of the International Codes, Section 130-1 adopts the 2015 editions, including the International Residential Building Code, and Section 130-16.E makes insertions in the 2003 International Building and Residential Codes; the Township's own pages name no edition. So the Township's codified chapter names older editions than the 2021 edition in the State's rule, and this record has not read the 2015, 2009 or 2003 editions' roofing text. Section 130-16.C requires permits for residential alterations and repairs but keeps listed work exempt, including "(b) Reroofing, unless structural members or 65 square feet or more of the roof sheathing must be replaced or repaired." Section 130-17.A keeps in force Township building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code; those older ordinances were not read. Chapter 130 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions.

East Hempfield Township's code lists reroofing among work that "shall continue to be exempt" from its permit requirement "unless structural members or 65 square feet or more of the roof sheathing must be replaced or repaired." Section 130-16.C of the Township Code (added November 19, 2008 by Ord. No. 2008-09; read October 6, 2026) requires permits for "All alterations or repairs to residential buildings which are exempt from the UCC by Act 92 of 2004; provided, however, that the following types of alterations and repairs shall continue to be exempt and no permit will be required," and the list that follows includes "(b) Reroofing, unless structural members or 65 square feet or more of the roof sheathing must be replaced or repaired." The Township's pages say nothing on reroofing either way. The Township's 2026 fee schedule, adopted by the Board on January 5, 2026, has no roofing line and says "Building permit fees are based on Code Administrator's fee schedule + a 10% administrative fee + a $4.50 PA UCC mandated fee"; Code Administrators Inc. publishes no fee schedule on its own website, the Township links none, and that schedule was not read for this record. The Township says "We utilize one generic form for residential building/zoning," and that Building & Zoning Permit Application's description-of-work boxes (new construction, addition, renovation, demolition, decks, pools, accessory structures, signs, electrical, fire alarm or sprinkler, other) name no roof work. 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." Because the building permit fee schedule the Township relies on is not published and was not read, this record does not state whether the Township requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. Ask the Township at 717-898-3100 before work starts. Read for this answer: Chapter 130 of the Township Code, Construction Codes (Article I, Sections 130-1 to 130-10, and Article II, Uniform Construction Code, Sections 130-11 to 130-18), in full; searches of the whole Township Code for "roof" and "reroofing," which found no other permit provision naming roof work; the Building & Zoning page; the Building & Zoning Permit Application; and the 2026 fee schedule. Work that does need a permit is applied for on the Township's Building & Zoning Permit Application, submitted electronically as a PDF with plans, a contractor general liability insurance certificate and a workers' compensation affidavit; building permit fees follow Code Administrators' schedule plus the Township's 10 percent administrative fee and the $4.50 State fee. Inspections are set up with Code Administrators Inc. at 717-859-3350, and "24 hour notice is required."