Roofing in Heidelberg Township (Lehigh 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, Heidelberg Township takes building permit applications at its municipal office, 6272 Route 309, New Tripoli (610-767-9297, extension 1 for permits), and its UCC permit page says "Permits can be submitted by email, mail, or in person at the municipal building." Part 1 of Chapter 5 of the Township Code (Ord. 2004-2, June 10, 2004, read October 10, 2026) says "Heidelberg Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and lets the Township retain "one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of the Township"; the Township's 2026 fee resolution carries its third-party inspection agency's residential building permit fee schedule and refers to "Third-Party Inspection Agency" review. Section 5-102 of the Township Code says "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of Heidelberg Township," and Part 1 adds no permit clause of its own for house repairs; Section 5-106 keeps building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that "equal or exceed the requirements of the Code," and Section 5-109 says "All relevant ordinances, regulations and policies of Heidelberg Township not governed by the Code shall remain in full force and effect." The Township's UCC permit page says "The codes applicable to work for which a construction permit is sought on or after February 14, 2022, are the 2018 International Codes issued by the International Code Council (ICC)," and its Permits page says the codes for permits sought on or after October 1, 2018 are "the 2015 International Codes"; the text above is the 2021 edition's, neither older edition's text was read for this record, and this record does not decide which edition the Township applies.

Heidelberg Township's code and pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. Section 5-102 of the Township Code says "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of Heidelberg Township," and Part 1 adds no permit clause of its own for house repairs; Section 5-106 keeps building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that "equal or exceed the requirements of the Code," and Section 5-109 says "All relevant ordinances, regulations and policies of Heidelberg Township not governed by the Code shall remain in full force and effect." The Township's residential building permits page (read October 10, 2026) lists work for which "A permit is NOT REQUIRED" (fences, retaining walls, water tanks, sidewalks, prefabricated pools, playground equipment, window awnings, low decks and communications wiring) and repeats the regulation's sentence "An ordinary repair does not require a permit," with the list of work that is not an ordinary repair; none of those lines names roof work. The page says to call the Township office "BEFORE SCHEDULING OR BEGINNING WORK to verify if a permit is required." The Township's Zoning Ordinance, Section 27-1203, headed Building Permits, says "A building permit shall not be required for minor repairs to existing buildings or structures, provided that no structural changes or modifications are involved" and "Building permits shall also be required for any reconstruction, enlargement, alteration, raising, or relocation of any building or structure"; that section has the Zoning Officer issue the permit, states an intent to "prevent or minimize flood damage," and names no roof work. The Township's zoning permit page cites Section 27-1203 and adds "No zoning permit is required for normal maintenance and repairs." The Township's 2026 fee resolution (Resolution #2026-12), read from the rendered page images of its scanned file, names roof only in "Deck, Patio or Porch w/roof" and "Solar and Photovoltaic Panel System installations either roof or ground mounted," and prices renovations and alterations by floor area; it has no reroofing line. 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 permit for a house reroof, and does not decide whether a house reroof is a "minor repair" or an "alteration" under Section 27-1203; ask the Township office (610-767-9297, extension 1) before starting. The office is open Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays by appointment only. Read for this answer: Part 1 of Chapter 5 of the Township Code (Sections 5-101 to 5-109) in full; Section 27-1203 of the Zoning Ordinance in full; every one of the 33 sections that a search of the Township Code for "roof" lists, which found no permit provision naming roof work (a search for "reroofing" found none); the Township's Permits, UCC permit, residential building permit, zoning permit, commercial permit, fee schedule, ordinances and municipal office pages; and the 2026 fee resolution.