Roofing in Freemansburg, 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, Freemansburg Borough takes building permits through Keller Zoning and Inspection Services, Inc., Nazareth: the Borough's Building Codes page says "If you have a question regarding an inspection of building permit, please utilize the link below to contact Keller Zoning and Inspection Services," its Forms & Documents page posts the agency's "Uniform Construction Code Permit Application" as the "Building Permit Application - 1 or 2 Family Dwelling," and its 2026 Fee Schedule (Resolution #2026-015) says residential building permit fees are "Based on type of permit. See Attachment A: UCC Fee Schedule," an attachment on the agency's letterhead. The Zoning page says "Zoning and building permit applications may be picked up, submitted, and paid for at the Borough Office Tuesday through Thursday, from 9:00am to 3:00pm." The Borough Office is at 600 Monroe Street, Freemansburg (610-866-2220); the agency's own business phone, printed on its application, is 610-759-8227. The Borough's pages name no code edition, and its Uniform Construction Code election ordinance is not posted, so this record has not read it and does not decide which edition the Borough applies.

Freemansburg Borough's pages name no roof work as permit work or as exempt in terms that settle a house reroof. The Borough's Building Codes page (read October 10, 2026) says "You may not need a permit for:" and lists "Minor repairs," "Painting, flooring, or cabinetry" and "Replacing shingles," ends with "Always check with your local building or zoning office," and says "You typically need a permit for:" new construction, "Additions or major renovations" and structural changes; the page is general in tone and hedged with "may" and "typically," and this record does not decide whether it states the Borough's answer for a house reroof. The Borough's 2026 Fee Schedule lists a Zoning Permit fee for fences, "Principal or accessory use or structure," retaining walls, sidewalks, patios and driveways, demolition, pools, "Additions to existing structures, including decks," signs, driveway openings and sheds, and a Building / Electrical / Plumbing Permit application fee, with no roofing line; its Attachment A UCC fee schedule lists "Porch Roofs" and "Decks with roof, porches, carports, etc with Foundation" and no reroofing or roof replacement line. The Borough's Zoning Permit application, Deck Permit application and the agency's Uniform Construction Code Permit Application name no reroofing. The Borough has not posted its Uniform Construction Code election ordinance or its zoning ordinance, and this record has not read either. 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 Borough requires a permit for a house reroof; ask the Borough Office (610-866-2220) before starting. The Borough Office is open Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Read for this answer: the Borough's Zoning, Building Codes, Zoning Hearing Board, FAQs, Forms & Documents, Ordinances and Contact pages; the 2026 Fee Schedule with its Attachment A; the Uniform Construction Code Permit Application, the Zoning Permit Application, the Deck Permit Application and the Certificate of Inspection Application; and ten of the eleven ordinances posted on the Ordinances page, none naming roof work (the eleventh, Ordinance 2025-02 on council compensation, is a scanned image and was not read). No code book is posted on the Borough's site, and a lookup of the municode library returned no Borough code; the amlegal and codepublishing hosts returned a bot-check page and were not read.