Roofing in Lewisburg, 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, Lewisburg Borough's Permits, Codes and Zoning page says "Issues regarding Code Enforcement can be investigated at www.ckcog.com," and the Central Keystone Council of Governments, 1610 Industrial Boulevard, Suite 400A, Lewisburg, lists among the areas where it enforces building codes "Union County – ALL Union County Municipalities"; its Union County page says "All municipalities in Union County have adopted the PA Act 45 Building Code" and "A zoning permit is required in Lewisburg Borough." Article VII of Chapter 152 of the Borough Code (Ordinance 954, April 20, 2004) elects to administer and enforce the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and says "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of the Borough," and keeps in force "All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by the Borough on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code." Article IV of the same chapter (Ordinance 825, 1987, last amended 1994) adopts the "BOCA Basic Building Code, 10th Edition 1987" and rewrites its Section 111.1 to make it unlawful "to construct, enlarge, alter or demolish a structure" or "to place or install siding on a building or structure" without a permit; it names no roof covering work, and the BOCA text it amends is not published with the Borough Code. The Central Keystone COG's FAQ page lists "Residential – 2021 IRC" among the codes it enforces.

No Lewisburg Borough text read for this record names the replacement of a roof covering as permit work or as exempt. Article VII of Chapter 152 of the Borough Code (Ordinance 954, April 20, 2004) elects to administer and enforce the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and says "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of the Borough," and keeps in force "All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by the Borough on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code." Article IV of the same chapter (Ordinance 825, 1987, last amended 1994) adopts the "BOCA Basic Building Code, 10th Edition 1987" and rewrites its Section 111.1 to make it unlawful "to construct, enlarge, alter or demolish a structure" or "to place or install siding on a building or structure" without a permit; it names no roof covering work, and the BOCA text it amends is not published with the Borough Code. The Borough's codified fee schedule (Chapter A370, amended in its entirety in 2004) sets "Fees for construction activities (regulated by BOCA codes)" and lists, among structures priced by the alterations formula, "Residential roof replacement of entire roof structure" and "Commercial-industrial roofing." The Central Keystone COG's Residential Building Permits page lists among work for which "UCC Building Permits are required" the item "Any roof repair/replacement of framing when attached to the house" and says "If you are unsure whether or not you need a Building Permit or additional approvals, contact us first and we will let you know." Neither the Borough's pages nor the COG's pages say in terms whether a reroof that replaces only the covering needs a permit, and the COG's 2026 residential fee schedule has no roofing line. Inside the Historic Lewisburg district, Chapter 186 says the Zoning Officer "shall not issue a permit for any erection, reconstruction, alteration, restoration, demolition, or razing of a building, structure or part thereof in Historic Lewisburg until the Borough Council has issued a Certificate of Appropriateness," while "nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the ordinary maintenance or repair of any exterior elements" for which a building permit is not required by law; the Borough posts a HARB application for that Certificate. 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 COG's Residential Building Permits page also says "Even if your project does not require a Building Permit, it may require approval from your Municipality. Always contact your Township or Borough Office before starting any project." The Central Keystone COG is at 570-522-1326, its Building Code Department open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and the Borough office, 55 South Fifth Street, Lewisburg, open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, is at 570-523-3614. Read for this record: Chapter 152 of the Borough Code, Construction Code, Uniform, Articles I to VII, in full; Chapter 186, Historic District, in full; Chapter A370, Fees, in full; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Borough's Permits, Codes and Zoning, Forms and Applications and Contact pages and its HARB application; and the Central Keystone COG's Residential Building Permits, Residential Building Permit Fees, 2026 residential fee schedule, building permit application, FAQ, Union County and Contact pages.