Roofing in East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania

Required

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 Whiteland Township administers the code itself: Section 65-1 of the Township Code says the Township "has elected to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act 45 of 1999, and the Uniform Construction Code," Section R103.1 as amended by Section 65-5 says "The Department of Codes shall be responsible for administering and enforcing this code," and the Codes Department, at 209 Conestoga Road, Frazer, lists among its responsibilities "reviewing permit applications" and "issuing necessary permits." The Department's pages name United Inspection for electrical inspections and name no other inspection agency. Section 65-5 fills in Table R301.2 of the residential code, including "Ice Barrier" "YES," and Chapter 65 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. Chapter 65 (Ord. No. 375-2026) adopts "the 2021 International Building Code" and the "2021 International Residential Code" with local amendments, while the Codes Department's Building Inspection page says "East Whiteland Township has adopted the 2018 editions of several International Code Council (ICC) codes, including the International Building Code, International Residential Code" and that "As of February 11, 2026, East Whiteland Township will be utilizing the following International Building Codes amended locally and by the PA Uniform Construction Code"; this record has not read the 2018 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Township applies.

East Whiteland Township's 2026 fee schedule lists a residential "Re-Roof" building permit. The Township's 2026 fee schedule (dated January 2, 2026, read October 7, 2026) lists under "Residential (One & Two Family Dwellings)" a building permit line "Re-Roof Min. $50.00 plus State Ed. fee 2% cost," and a non-residential "Re-Roof" line at a $100.00 minimum; the line is not limited to any kind of roof work. The Township's Application for Plan Examination and Building Permit lists "Roofing" among the contractor trades it asks for. Section 65-4P of the Township Code (Ord. No. 375-2026, adopted February 11, 2026, read October 7, 2026) says "The Township shall keep in full force and effect the following requirements in its building code, which provisions were in effect as of July 1, 1999:" and the first is "All repairs and alterations to residential buildings shall comply with the Township's building code adopted on May 12, 2004, and any successor code adopted by the Township pursuant to Act 45 of 1999." It names no roof work. Under state law, Act 45 says the Act "shall not apply to" "Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress, except as might be required by ordinances in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503" or to "Repairs to residential buildings, except as might be required by ordinances in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503" (section 104(b)(5) and (6)), and of a municipal ordinance that adds to the code, section 503(c) says "An ordinance under this subsection shall not be effective nor enforceable unless subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i) have been satisfied." This record does not decide whether the municipality's requirement is one adopted under section 503 or kept in effect by section 303(b)(1). In practice, expect the Township to require a permit for a house reroof, which its fee schedule prices as a "Re-Roof" building permit. The fee schedule and application read for this record state no added fee or penalty for starting work without one. The fee schedule says "Contractors not required to register in Township if pulling permits for home improvement work and can provide copy of PA State Home Improvement Contractors Registration Certificate or Card," and every construction permit carries a $4.50 State Education Fee. The Codes Department is open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm, at 610-648-0600. Read for this answer: Chapter 65 of the Township Code, Building Construction (Sections 65-1 to 65-11), in full; Chapter 87, Fees, which holds no building permit fees; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Codes Department, Building Inspection and Forms, Applications and Fee Schedule pages; the 2026 fee schedule; and the building permit application.