Roofing in Lackawaxen Township, 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, Lackawaxen Township issues building permits through its own Building Department at the Township office, 169 Urban Road, Hawley. The department's page lists a Building Code Official who is "Building/Plumbing/Energy Inspector (Residential/Commercial)," says the applicant "submits a completed application to the township" and the "Township reviews plans for code compliance," and gives 570-685-2990 extension 17 for building inspections. The Township's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code is not among the ordinances posted on its Ordinances page, and this record has not read it. The Building Department page says "Effective January 1, 2026" "Pennsylvania will be using the 2021 I-Codes for design and construction."

No Lackawaxen Township text read for this record names roof covering work as permit work or as exempt. The Building Department page says "Building permits are required for ALL buildings" and "Residential building permits are needed prior to construction of any of the following," a list that includes "New Homes," "Additions to Existing Homes," "Remodeling (If it involves structural changes)" and a roof entry limited to a roof "Over existing decks, patios, dormers" or a change "from a flat roof to a pitched." The Township's fee schedule effective January 23, 2023 has a residential line for "Building Permit - Structural Repairs" and no roofing line. Neither the page, the fee schedule nor the Township's building permit applications names reroofing or roof replacement as permit work or says a reroof needs no permit. The Township's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code is not among the ordinances posted on its Ordinances page, and this record has not read it. 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 record: the Township's Building Department, Building Forms, Zoning Department and Ordinances pages; its fee schedule effective January 23, 2023; and its building permit, UCC permit and building/zoning sketch-plan applications. The department's page says building inspections must be scheduled "at least 24 hours in advance" and that hours are "By appointment only"; the Township office is at 169 Urban Road, Hawley, 570-685-7288.