Roofing in Glen Rock, 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, Glen Rock Borough elects to run the code itself: Section 5-101 of the Borough Code says "The Borough of Glen Rock hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Borough's Permits page says "The Zoning Officer and Building Code Officer is responsible for the issuance of building and zoning permits" and "Glen Rock Borough has a contract for these services." The Borough office is at 1 Manchester Street, Glen Rock (717-235-3206). The Borough's Uniform Construction Code ordinance (Chapter 5, Part 1, Sections 5-101 to 5-118, read October 12, 2026) names no roof work for houses: its Section 5-103 changes the International Residential Code only by inserting Table R301.2(1) values, and Section 5-118 keeps in force the Borough's other permits, "including, but not limited to, zoning, sewage, driveway, highway, or NPDES permits." Chapter 27 (Zoning), Section 27-701, says "A zoning permit, which must be obtained from the Zoning Officer, shall be required prior to any of the following occurring: (1) New construction; (2) Repair of an existing structure; (3) Modification to an existing structure; (4) Demolition of an existing structure." It names no roof work, and this record does not decide whether a house reroof is a repair or a modification under that section. Section 8-201 of the floodplain chapter says "Building permits shall be required before any construction or development is undertaken within any area of the Borough of Glen Rock"; this record does not decide whether that clause reaches a house reroof. Section 5-101 adopts the Uniform Construction Code and "the International Property Maintenance Code 2003, 1st edition," Section 5-201 adopts the 2009 edition of that property maintenance code, Section 5-118 says new or updated codes "shall automatically be updated as part of this Part," and the Borough's pages name no residential code edition.

Glen Rock Borough's pages and code say two things about a house reroof that this record does not reconcile. The Borough's Permits page, read October 12, 2026, says "Building and/or Zoning permits are required but not limited to the following" and lists "Re-roofing (no permit necessary if just replacing shingles)," and says "For any building, renovation, addition, zoning change, or land use activity, a Land Use/Zoning Permit is required before stating work." It also says "If you have any questions about whether a permit is required, call the borough office." The Borough's zoning (land use) permit application and its 2026 fee resolution (Resolution No. 2026-04, transcribed from the scanned pages) name no roofing permit type or fee line. The Borough's Uniform Construction Code ordinance (Chapter 5, Part 1, Sections 5-101 to 5-118, read October 12, 2026) names no roof work for houses: its Section 5-103 changes the International Residential Code only by inserting Table R301.2(1) values, and Section 5-118 keeps in force the Borough's other permits, "including, but not limited to, zoning, sewage, driveway, highway, or NPDES permits." Chapter 27 (Zoning), Section 27-701, says "A zoning permit, which must be obtained from the Zoning Officer, shall be required prior to any of the following occurring: (1) New construction; (2) Repair of an existing structure; (3) Modification to an existing structure; (4) Demolition of an existing structure." It names no roof work, and this record does not decide whether a house reroof is a repair or a modification under that section. Section 8-201 of the floodplain chapter says "Building permits shall be required before any construction or development is undertaken within any area of the Borough of Glen Rock"; this record does not decide whether that clause reaches a house reroof. 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 a house reroof needs a permit; ask the Borough office (717-235-3206) before starting. Section 5-117 sets "a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs" for a violation of Chapter 5, Part 1. Read for this answer: Chapter 5 of the Borough Code (Code Enforcement, Parts 1 and 2) in full, Chapter 27 Section 27-701, Chapter 8 Sections 8-201 and 8-202, every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" (15 results) and for "reroofing" (none), the Borough's Permits and Ordinance Information pages, its zoning (land use) permit application, and its 2026 fee resolution.