Roofing in Hanover Township (Northampton 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, Hanover Township administers the code itself: Section 65-8A of the Township Code says the Township "hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the PA U.C.C.," and the Township's Building & Zoning page says its registered Building Code Official is to "administer the UCC Building Code and the Zoning Ordinances of Hanover Township; issue building and occupancy permits and performs inspections," with two third-party building inspection firms listed beside the office. Section 65-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time," and Chapter 65 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. The Township's Building Codes UCC page says the Township adopted "Ordinance #04-07 enacting the PA Uniform Construction Code with Amendments to the Building Code." Chapter 65 still amends the 2009 International Residential Code and International Building Code, and the Township's Building Codes UCC page names the "2018 I Code series" effective February 14, 2022 and no later edition; this record has not read the 2009 or 2018 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Township applies.

The Township's fee schedule effective January 1, 2026 lists, under "Zoning Permit," a $90.00 fee for "Residential – Fences, Sheds, Re-roof, Replacement Windows, siding, etc." That is a zoning permit, a separate Township permit from a building permit under the Uniform Construction Code; expect to need it for a reroof. Chapter 65 of the Township Code, the Hanover Township Construction Code (Ord. No. 04-07, amended in its entirety by Ord. No. 12-01), names no roof work either way and adds no permit clause for residential repairs or alterations; Section 65-10 keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the Act," and none was found in the published Township Code. The fee schedule's building permit lines price "Interior/Exterior Renovations, Repairs Alterations" and name no roof work. The Township's permit page says "A permit is required prior to the erection, construction or alteration of any building, structure or any portion thereof," and the Township's pages say nothing on whether a reroof needs a building permit. 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." The Township's Zoning & Permit FAQs page says "Keep in mind when planning an improvement to first check with the Zoning and Building Department," and that applications for zoning and building permits "are available at the Township Municipal Building 3630 Jacksonville Road, Bethlehem PA 18017." The Township office is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 610-866-1140. Read for this answer: Chapter 65 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 65-1 to 65-14), in full; Chapter 67, Construction Standards; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no code section naming a permit for roof work; the Building & Zoning, Building Codes UCC, Permits and Zoning & Permit FAQs pages; the Zoning and Building Permit Application; and the fee schedule effective January 1, 2026.