Roofing in Exeter, 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, Exeter Borough in Luzerne County "hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" as its municipal building code, by an ordinance enacted May 4, 2004 and printed in Chapter 33 of the Borough's posted Code of Ordinances Manual. The Borough posts its own Building Permit Application, with an "Exeter Borough Residential Permit Fee Schedule" and a "For Code Administrator Use Only" approval block, and takes applications at the Exeter Municipal Building, 1101 Wyoming Avenue; no Borough page read for this record names an inspection agency. Chapter 33 also keeps an older adoption of the "BOCA National Building Code" as "the Building Code of the Borough of Exeter," naming no edition, and the 2004 ordinance says "All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by this Municipality on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code shall continue in full force and effect"; this record has not read the BOCA code's permit text and does not decide what it requires. Chapter 33 of the Borough's code adopts the "BOCA National Building Code" without naming an edition, and the Borough's pages name no later edition; this record has not read the BOCA code's text and does not decide which code the Borough applies.

No Exeter Borough text read for this record says whether a residential reroof needs a building permit. No Borough page or form read for this record says whether a residential reroof needs a building permit. The Building Permit Application's "Type of Work of Improvement" boxes are New Building, Foundation Only, Alteration, Demolition, Relocation, Addition, Change of Use, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical, with no roof box, and its residential fee schedule prices permits by cost of work with no roofing line. The Borough's zoning "Sign-Off Form for Replacements" covers only replacing a porch, deck, patio or similar feature and enclosing part of a structure "ALREADY UNDER ROOF," and says "APPROVAL OF THIS FORM DOES NOT RELIEVE THE PROPERTY OWNER FROM SECURING A BUILDING PERMIT" for the work. Chapter 33 also keeps an older adoption of the "BOCA National Building Code" as "the Building Code of the Borough of Exeter," naming no edition, and the 2004 ordinance says "All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by this Municipality on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code shall continue in full force and effect"; this record has not read the BOCA code's permit text and does not decide what it requires. 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 is sent to the Borough's zoning office or left in the designated mailbox outside the Borough building, and its fee schedule says "FEES WILL BE DOUBLED FOR THOSE FAILING TO SECURE PERMIT PRIOR TO START OF WORK." The Borough office is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm, at 570-654-3001; the zoning office is at extension 3. Read for this answer: the contents and Chapter 33, Building Construction, of the Borough's posted Code of Ordinances Manual, with the 2004 Uniform Construction Code ordinance printed there (a scanned book; its other chapters were not read for this record); the Borough's Permits and Forms, Ordinances and Contact pages; the Building Permit Application with its fee schedules, in full; the zoning permit application; and the Sign-Off Form for Replacements.