Roofing in Jersey Shore, 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, Jersey Shore Borough in Lycoming County issues zoning permits through its Zoning and Codes Enforcement Officer at the Borough Office, 232 Smith Street, and its Zoning, Codes & Planning page refers readers to the Central Keystone Council of Governments for building permits under the Uniform Construction Code; the Council's own FAQ answers "In what areas do you enforce Building Codes?" with a Lycoming County list that includes "Jersey Shore". Section 140-11 of the Borough Code says "This municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act." Section 140-12 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time" as the municipal building code and names no edition, the Borough's pages name none, and Chapter 140's Uniform Construction Code article changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions.

No Jersey Shore Borough text read for this record names roof work as permit work, and its only roofing exemption is from the zoning permit. The Borough's Zoning, Codes & Planning page says "All work done in the Borough of Jersey Shore requires a permit before work can begin. Please click here for the Zoning and Property Improvement Application," and, in the paragraph on the Zoning and Codes Enforcement Officer, "It is noted that permits are required for everything except painting, wall coverings, and floor coverings"; neither line names roof work or says which permit it means. Under "Zoning & Building Permits" the page says "A building permit is required if you intend to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a residential building" and points to the Council of Governments pamphlet. Section 300-139B of the Borough's Zoning chapter requires a zoning permit for the alteration of any building but says "Zoning permits shall not be required for any of the following activities, except when proposed in a Floodplain District," including "Exterior or interior maintenance and repair to existing buildings or structures; including siding, roofing, painting, storm windows, and similar activities"; that section speaks to the zoning permit only. The Council of Governments' Residential Building Permits page lists "Any roof repair/replacement of framing when attached to the house" among the jobs for which "UCC Building Permits are required" and says, before starting any project, to call "Your Local Borough or Township Office, even if your project does not require a UCC Building Permit"; it does not say whether replacing a roof covering without framing work needs a 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 Borough Office at 232 Smith Street is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, at 570-398-0104; the Council of Governments' office is at 1610 Industrial Boulevard, Suite 400A, Lewisburg, at (570) 522-1326, and its Building Code Department is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. Read for this record: Article IV of Chapter 140 of the Borough Code (Uniform Construction Code, Sections 140-11 to 140-16) in full; Article XXI of the Zoning chapter (Administration and Enforcement); every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Borough's Zoning, Codes & Planning and Contact Us pages; the Borough's application for plan examination and building permit, whose Type of Improvement boxes name no roof work; and the Council of Governments' pamphlet posted on the Borough's page and its Residential Building Permits, Lycoming County members, FAQ and Contact pages. No Borough fee schedule was read for this record.