Roofing in Ephrata Township (Lancaster 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, Ephrata Township, Lancaster County (not Ephrata Borough), takes building and zoning permit applications at its Municipal Building, 265 Akron Road, Ephrata. Its 2026 fee schedule says that for residential work "Uniform Construction Code Permit Review and Inspection Fees - All fees charged by ABI, Inc. in connection with plan review and inspections will be the responsibility of the applicant," and its residential application says "ALL CONSTRUCTION MUST CONFORM TO THE PENNSYLVANIA UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE" and "TO SCHEDULE AN INSPECTION, PLEASE CALL THE TOWNSHIP OFFICE AT 717-733-1044." The Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance is not published online: its Ordinances page lists "some of the most frequently cited ordinances" and says "Copies of all Township Ordinances can be obtained at the Ephrata Township Municipal Building." So this record has not read whether that ordinance changes the Act's treatment of residential repairs or alterations, and does not state whether a house reroof needs a building permit. The Township's pages and application name no code edition.

Ephrata Township text read for this record names no roof work either way. The Township's residential Application For Building and Zoning Use Permit (read October 9, 2026) offers a "Repairs / Alterations" box under Type of Construction and has no roofing box. The Township's 2026 fee schedule charges, "in connection with the administration of the Ephrata Township Zoning Ordinance," a fee for "Residential - Single Family new construction, alterations, additions etc." and attaches the third-party agencies' fee schedules; no line in it names roofing. Section 704A of the Township's Zoning Ordinance says "It shall be unlawful to commence" the "alteration, reconstruction, demolition, or repair of any existing structure, building or sign or any portion thereof" "until the zoning officer has issued a permit for such work or has determined a permit is not necessary"; it names no roof work. The Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance is not published online: its Ordinances page lists "some of the most frequently cited ordinances" and says "Copies of all Township Ordinances can be obtained at the Ephrata Township Municipal Building." So this record has not read whether that ordinance changes the Act's treatment of residential repairs or alterations, and does not state whether a house reroof needs a building permit. 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 application asks for the contractor, a detailed explanation of the work and the total project cost, and building inspections need 24 hours notice through the Township office at 717-733-1044. Read for this answer: the Township's Applications/Forms, Ordinances, Zoning Ordinance and Map, and 2026 Fee Schedule pages; the residential building and zoning permit application; the 2026 fee schedule with its attached agency schedules; and the Zoning Ordinance's permit section.