Roofing in Huntington 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, Huntington Township administers the code through a contracted agency: Section 5-101 of the Township Code says "Huntington Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Township's applicant instruction letter, read October 12, 2026, names the Middle Department Inspection Agency, says to "Completely fill out a Building Permit application (MDIA form)" and says "Drop off all information at the Township office," at 750 Trolley Road, York Springs. The Township's pages and its Uniform Construction Code chapter name no code edition, and its floodplain chapter refers to "the 2015 International Building Code (IBC) and in the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) or the latest edition thereof adopted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania"; this record has not read the 2015 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Township applies.

Huntington Township's pages and code do not say whether a house reroof needs a building permit. The Township's own pages draw no line for a house reroof. Its FAQ (read October 12, 2026) asks "Do I need a permit for a home renovation?" and answers "Yes, most home renovations, including additions, structural changes, and significant interior modifications, require a building permit." The Township Code's building permit ordinance, Chapter 13, Part 3 (Ord. No. 2018-01-68), says in Section 13-301 that it is unlawful to undertake "the construction, reconstruction, enlargement, alteration or relocation of any building or structure larger than 180 square feet" without a permit from the Township's Building Permit Officer, and adds "A building permit shall not be required for repairs to existing buildings or structures, provided that no structural changes or modifications are involved." Section 13-302 defines "ALTERATION" as "Any work or rearrangement, removal or replacement of any exterior wall, roof or support that requires inspection under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code." This record does not decide whether an ordinary house reroof is an alteration or a repair under those words, or whether it is work that "requires inspection under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code." Chapter 5, Part 1 of the Township Code (Ord. 2004-01-41) adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," as the municipal building code, names no roof work, and in Section 5-105 keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that "equal or exceed the requirements of the Code." The Township's fee schedule (updated June 13, 2025) lists building permit fees of "$ .03 per square foot of nonliving space" and "$ .06/per square foot of living space" and names no roof work, and the inspection agency's fee schedule the Township posts lists "Alterations" and names no roof work. The Township's 2026 zoning permit application says "IF YES, A BUILDING PERMIT IS REQUIRED" beside "IS NEW CONSTRUCTION PROPOSED?" and names no roof work. A search of the Township's General Code for "roof" found no other permit provision naming roof work on houses. 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." Read for this answer: Chapter 5, Part 1 (Sections 5-101 to 5-106), Chapter 13, Part 3 (Building Permits) and the floodplain chapter's Uniform Construction Code provisions of the Township's General Code, with a text search of the whole book for "roof"; the Township's Zoning & Permits, FAQ, Ordinances and Departments pages; its applicant instruction letter, building permit application, zoning permit application and fee schedule; and the inspection agency's fee schedule. Applications go to the Township office, which the Township says is open by appointment only, at 717-528-4027; the Township's instruction letter says "Zoning approval is REQUIRED before applying for your building permit."