Roofing in Germany Township (Adams 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, Germany Township administers the code: Section 81-1 of the Township Code says "Germany Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," Section 81-3 allows "the retention of one or more construction code officials or third party agencies," the Township's Township Info page lists "Middle Department Inspection Agency, Inc." as its Permit Officer with a UCC building inspector, and its Step by Step Permitting Instructions say "Complete a Building Permit Application (MDIA Form) and submit it to the Township" and that it "will be forwarded to MDIA for review." Permit applications go to the Township office, 136 Ulricktown Rd, Littlestown, and the agency's office number is 717-761-5340. Section 81-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time," and the Township's pages name no code edition.

Germany Township's pages and code read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. Chapter 81 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform, says in Section 81-2 that "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of Germany Township," and names no roof work. Chapter 60 of the Township Code, Building Permits (Ord. No. 10 of 1975, amended 7-8-2024 by Ord. No. 66), says in Section 60-1 A "It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, business or corporation to undertake, or cause to be undertaken, the construction, reconstruction, enlargement, alteration, or relocation of any building or structure unless an approved building permit has been obtained from the Building Code Official" and in Section 60-1 B "A building permit shall not be required for repairs to existing buildings or structures, provided that no structural changes or modifications are involved"; neither section names roof work and the chapter defines neither "repairs" nor "alteration." The Township's Important Links and General Information page says "Construction within the township requires a permit." This record does not decide whether a house reroof is a repair or an alteration under Chapter 60, or whether a covering-only reroof involves "structural changes or modifications." The Township's 2026 Administrative Fees Schedule lists a "UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE (UCC) BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION BUILDING CODE OFFICIAL PLAN REVIEW AND INSPECTION" group of fees by dwelling size and for additions and alterations (read from the scanned pages' text), and names no roofing line; its building permit application (MDIA form) offers "Alteration Repair Demolition" among its types of work and names no roofing category. 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." Ask the Township office (717-359-7537) or the Township's permit officer before starting. The Township office is open Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Read for this answer: the Township's home, Township Info, Important Links and General Information, Forms & Applications and Schedule of Fees & Taxes pages, its Step by Step Permitting Instructions, building permit application and 2026 Administrative Fees Schedule, and on eCode360 Chapter 60, Chapter 81, Chapter 77 and Chapter 113 and every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" (8 results, none a permit provision for roof work) and for "reroofing" (no results). The Township has no zoning chapter of its own; its Important Links page says it is "under Adams County Zoning regulations," and the Adams County zoning permit is a separate county permit that this record did not read.