Roofing in Fairview Township (York 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, Fairview Township administers the code itself: Section 113-1 of the Township Code says "This municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code Act," the Township's Codes Administration Office, at 599 Lewisberry Road, New Cumberland, lists "Administration of the adopted Building Codes" among its functions and takes building permit applications, and the Township's 2026 fee resolution names Approved Code Services, Inc. under "3rd Party Inspection Agencies." Section 113-1B adopts the code "by reference as the municipal building code of Fairview Township" and fills in Table R301.2(1), including Ice Shield Underlayment Required = "Yes"; Chapter 113 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. Section 113-1A cites Section R105.2 of the 2009 International Residential Code "(and successor codes)," Section 113-1E(5) says that as the code adopts new or updated versions "such codes automatically shall be updated as part of this chapter," and the Codes Administration Office's Permits page points readers to "the current 2021 Building Codes"; this record has not read the 2009 edition's text.

Fairview Township's code and pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. Section 113-1A of the Township Code (as amended by Ord. No. 2012-3, read October 7, 2026) changes the State's exclusions for house work in two paragraphs. The first says the exclusion "for alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress is hereby deleted. Those permit exclusions set forth in Section R105.2 of the 2009 International Residential Code (and successor codes) shall continue to apply." The second names the exclusion "for repairs to residential buildings" and adds "Those permit exclusions set forth in Section R105.2 of the 2009 International Residential Code (and successor code) shall continue to apply"; as published in the Township Code it does not say that the repair exclusion is deleted. The Department of Labor and Industry's register of municipal code change ordinances lists a Fairview Township filing for the "Proposed exemption of those permit exclusions set forth in R105.2 of the 2009 International Residential Code relating to repairs to residential structures," with an approval letter dated April 11, 2012. Neither paragraph names roof work, and Section R105.2.2 of the 2021 International Residential Code says "Application or notice to the building official is not required for ordinary repairs to structures" without defining ordinary repairs; this record has not read the 2009 edition's text. This record does not decide whether a house reroof is a repair or an alteration, or how the second paragraph applies to it. The Codes Administration Office's Permits page (read October 7, 2026) says the building permit application is "To be completed for all building projects (commercial and residential)" and names no roof work either way. The Township's building permit application has Type of Improvement boxes for Addition and Alteration and none for roofing, its Residential Construction Permit Guide covers "repairs, and alterations" without naming roof replacement, and its 2026 fee resolution (Resolution 2026-1, read in full) has no roofing line. 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." This record does not state whether the Township requires a permit for a house reroof; ask the Codes Office (717-901-5220) before starting. The fee resolution says "Any person who commences work requiring a permit on a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permits shall be subject to having the normal permit fees DOUBLED," and the application says "CONSTRUCTION IS NOT TO COMMENCE UNTIL BUILDING PERMIT IS ISSUED." The office is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Read for this answer: Chapter 113 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Section 113-1, with its amendments), in full; Chapter 139, Fees; Chapter A302, Fee Schedule; Articles I to III of Chapter 151, Floodplain Management, whose permit clause reaches "any identified floodplain area"; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no permit provision naming roof work; the Building, Planning and Zoning and Permits pages; the building permit application; the Residential Construction Permit Guide; and the 2026 fee resolution.