Roofing in Granville Township (Mifflin 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, Granville Township issues its own building permits: Chapter 4, Part 2 of the Township Code (Ord. 2004-3) elects to administer and enforce the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" by reference as the municipal building code, Resolution 2026-10 (August 3, 2026) appoints the Township's third-party Building Code Official, and the Township's Building Permits page names that official as "residential plan reviewer & inspector, except electrical" and says "Commonwealth Code Inspection Services has been engaged as a third party agency" for residential electrical and all commercial plan review and inspections. Mifflin County's building permit page tells Granville Township applicants to contact the municipality directly. Part 2 does not change the code's roofing provisions. The Township's Ordinances page lists "IRC 2021 – Residential" as its building code.

Granville Township's code and pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a Uniform Construction Code building permit. Part 2 adds no permit requirement of its own for residential repairs or alterations and names no roof work; it keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code. The Township's 2026 residential fee schedule (Resolution 2026-11) has no roofing line, and no Township page names a house reroof either as Uniform Construction Code permit work or as exempt. Separately from the Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 4, Part 1 of the Township Code, Assessment Permits, says it is "unlawful for any person, whether owner, lessee, contractor, agent, or employee, to cause or permit any structure, building, or trailer to be razed, constructed, placed, or reconstructed, or any alteration to be made thereon or therein, upon any premises within the Township of Granville, without first obtaining an Assessment Permit from the Township Building Code Official and/or Secretary," and defines ALTERATION as "any work of repair, rearrangement, removal, replacement, or enlargement of any exterior or interior wall, roof, floor or support, or any part thereof, of any structure or building." That definition names roof replacement, so a reroof needs an Assessment Permit, a Township record-keeping permit that Part 1 says exists to keep "accurate records pertaining to construction and alteration of structures"; it is not a Uniform Construction Code building permit. The Township's Building Permits page says "For projects that do not require inspections, please complete the Assessment Permit application. Zoning Application is required for all projects except interior only," while Section 6.203 of the zoning ordinance says "No zoning permit shall be required for repairs to or maintenance of any building, structure or land, provided such repairs do not change the use, alter the exterior dimension of the building or structure, or otherwise violate the provisions of this Ordinance or applicable statute or regulation." 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 building permit for a house reroof; ask the Township office (717-242-2334) before starting. Part 1 sets a fine of "not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) plus costs" for a violation. Read for this answer: Chapter 4 of the Township Code, Buildings (Parts 1 and 2), in full; the zoning ordinance; the Township's Building Permits and Ordinances pages; Resolutions 2026-10, 2026-11 and 2026-12; the residential building permit, assessment permit and zoning permit applications; and Mifflin County's building permit page.