Roofing in Lock Haven, 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 City of Lock Haven administers the Uniform Construction Code itself: Section 212-1 of the City Code says "The City of Lock Haven hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the City's Code Enforcement Office at City Hall, 20 East Church Street, oversees "Building & Construction Permitting & Inspection." Its Building & Construction page says "All residential construction inspections are performed by the City Code Office, with the exception of electrical inspections," and that commercial plan review and inspections are done by a code inspection agency under contract with the City. Section 212-2 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time" as the municipal building code of the City, and Chapter 212 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. The City's Building & Construction page says "For building, electrical and The City uses the 2018 International Code Series"; this record has not read the 2018 edition's text and does not decide which edition the City applies.

The City of Lock Haven's code and pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. Chapter 212 of the City Code, the City's Uniform Construction Code ordinance (Ord. No. 710, June 28, 2004, read October 9, 2026), adopts the code by reference, names no roof work either way and adds no permit clause of its own for house repairs. Section 212-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code; the City Code as published contains no such building ordinance. The City has not published a permit fee schedule; Section 212-6 says fees "shall be established by the City Council by resolution from time to time." The City's Building & Construction and Code Enforcement pages say nothing on roofing. The City's building and zoning permit application is a general form whose types of improvement include "Alteration" and "Repair, replacement," with no roofing category. Separately, in the City's Historic District Overlay, Section 410-93 of the Zoning Ordinance says "No permits for alterations, additions, reconstruction or rehabilitation, visible from a public street, involving Class I, II or III buildings, shall be issued by the Zoning Officer prior to review and recommendations by the Historic District Advisory Committee," and lists among permits the Zoning Officer may issue without that review "Replacement of slate roofs with slate look-alike products." The same section says "No permit/review shall be required for repairs or maintenance of any building, structure or grounds, provided such repairs do not change the use or otherwise violate the provisions of this article." 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." This record does not state whether the City requires a permit for a house reroof; ask the Code Enforcement Office (570-893-5916) before starting. A building permit application must include proof of the contractor's liability and workers' compensation insurance, construction documents and a site plan, and the permit holder schedules inspections with the Code Office, allowing up to 48 hours. City Hall is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., by appointment. Read for this answer: Chapter 212 of the City Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 212-1 to 212-6), in full; Section 410-93 of the Zoning Ordinance; every page of a search of the whole City Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," and a search for "building permit"; the City's Code Enforcement, Building & Construction and Forms & Publications pages; and the City's building and zoning permit application. No City fee schedule is published.