Roofing in Leacock 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, Leacock Township issues zoning and building permits from its office at 3545 W. Newport Road, Intercourse, on a combined "ZONING, BUILDING, DEMOLITION, & PARKING EXPANSION PERMIT APPLICATION," and the Township's Residential Building Permit Application (With Code) adds the residential permit application of Code Administrators, Inc., 1862 Charter Lane, Suite 101, Lancaster; the Township's Boards and Staff page says "The Building Code Official for Leacock Township oversees enforcement of the township’s construction and building codes." The Township also posts a separate Residential Building Permit Application (No Code). Chapter 110 of the Township Code (Ordinance No. 119, May 17, 2004) elects to administer and enforce the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and says "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the Municipal Building Code of Leacock Township," and names no roof work either way. Section 110-5A keeps in force "All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by Leacock Township on or before July 1,1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the code"; the published code prints no such building ordinance. The Township's pages name no code edition.

Leacock Township's permit fee schedule lists a permit fee for roof replacement without structure changes. The Township's Permit Fee Schedule, effective January 20, 2025 (Resolution 2025-1), lists under Miscellaneous, at $50, "Roof replacement without structure changes and minor repairs to existing structure," says "All permits may be subject to Uniform Construction Code Fees not included," and lists Uniform Construction Code fees separately, a $130 "Township Administrative Fee" and "See Code Administrator Fee Schedule." The same schedule prices "Minor internal alterations exempt from UCC." So a reroof that changes no structure is priced as a Township permit at $50, and the schedule does not say whether that permit is one issued under the Uniform Construction Code. Expect the Township to ask for its own permit for a reroof; whether code review and Code Administrators' fees are added is for the Township to say. Chapter 110 of the Township Code (Ordinance No. 119, May 17, 2004) elects to administer and enforce the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and says "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the Municipal Building Code of Leacock Township," and names no roof work either way. Section 110-5A keeps in force "All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by Leacock Township on or before July 1,1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the code"; the published code prints no such building ordinance. 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 Township's application says "no work may be started, or continued, unless a permit is issued by, and the fees paid to Leacock Township," and lists in-office hours of Mondays 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.; the Township office is at 717-768-8585 and Code Administrators, Inc. at 717-859-3350. Read for this record: Chapter 110 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform, in full; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof", "reroofing" and "shingles"; the Township's Files and Forms, Boards and Staff, Building Code Official and Zoning Officer pages; its residential permit applications with and without code review; and its permit fee schedules effective January 20, 2025 and January 20, 2020.