Roofing in Kingston, 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, The Municipality of Kingston (Kingston Borough) administers the code itself: Section 60-1 A of the Municipal Code says "This Municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Borough Officials page lists a Code Enforcement Officer at extension 115 and BHW Construction Consultation Services as "Building Inspector." Permit applications go to the Borough office at 500 Wyoming Avenue. Section 60-1 of the Municipal Code (Ord. No. 2004-8) adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," as the municipal building code and keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed it; Section 60-2 repealed the former BOCA building code section, and Section 60-3 sets construction inspection fees by construction value. No section of the Municipal Code read for this record requires a permit for residential repairs or alterations or names roof work. Chapter 60 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions and names no edition, and the Municipality's pages name none; its Building Permit Application refers to "PA Act 45 (Uniform Construction Code) and any additional approved building code requirements adopted by the Municipality."

No Municipality of Kingston text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt, so this record does not decide whether the Municipality requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. Ask the Code Enforcement Officer at 570-288-4576, extension 115, before work starts. The Municipality has published nothing on reroofing. Its Building Permit Application (read October 7, 2026) offers "REPAIR" among its types of improvement and has no roofing line, and its 2020 residential fee schedule prices building permits by cost of work with no roofing line. The Ordinance Reminders page says no building shall be "erected, constructed, moved, added to or structurally altered" without a zoning permit from the Zoning Officer; it names no roof work. Section 60-1 of the Municipal Code (Ord. No. 2004-8) adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," as the municipal building code and keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed it; Section 60-2 repealed the former BOCA building code section, and Section 60-3 sets construction inspection fees by construction value. No section of the Municipal Code read for this record requires a permit for residential repairs or alterations or names roof work. 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." Section 60-3 C says "Permit fees, exclusive of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania imposition, are doubled for work started prior to required permits being obtained." The application says permits are "valid for 180 days" and "must be paid within 30 days of issuance or citations will be filed with the Magistrate," and that electrical, plumbing and HVAC work need separate permits and a Municipality of Kingston contractor license. Read for this answer: Chapter 60 of the Municipal Code, Building Construction (Sections 60-1 to 60-9), Chapter 62, Building Inspection, and Chapter 89, Fees, in full; every page of a search of the whole Municipal Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no permit provision naming roof work; the Zoning and Permit Applications, Borough Officials and Ordinance Reminders pages; the Building Permit Application; and the 2020 commercial and residential fee schedule.