Roofing in Lower Nazareth 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, Lower Nazareth Township takes building permit applications at the Township office, 623 Municipal Drive, and its Permitting page says a complete application "will be submitted to the Township's Third Party Agent for their review and approval" and that "The review shall determine whether the construction described is in accordance with the PA Uniform Construction Code." The Permitting page links the Uniform Construction Code as "The codes adopted from the ICC Library that are used by Lower Nazareth Township" and names no edition. The Township's Uniform Construction Code adoption ordinance is not among the ordinances it publishes, so whether it changes any roofing provision was not read.

Lower Nazareth Township's published list of work needing a residential building permit names no reroofing or roof replacement either way. The Township's Permitting page (read October 9, 2026) says "In general, Residential Building Permits are required for" a list of work that includes "Interior alterations that require a structural change" and a deck over 30 inches above grade that "has a roof," and names no reroofing or roof replacement either way; the New Resident Welcome Packet (September 2026) carries the same list. The Township's Building, Zoning and Grading Application lists no roofing permit type, and its 2026 Fee Schedule refers building permit fees to "Attached Residential and Non-Residential Permit Fee Schedules," which are not attached to the published copy. The Township's Uniform Construction Code adoption ordinance is not among the ordinances the Township publishes, and its Code of Ordinances is not published as a codified code, so no Township ordinance on building permits was read. 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 online permitting page says "BUILDING OR SIGN PERMITS CANNOT BE COMPLETED WITH THE ONLINE SYSTEM!", so building permit applications go to the Township office with plans, proof of workers' compensation coverage and the fee, and the 2026 Fee Schedule says "Permits applied for after the commencement of construction shall be three (3) times the regular fee, plus any additional penalties prescribed by Township Ordinances." The Township office is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at 610-759-7434. Read for this answer: the Township's Permitting page; its Forms and Applications, Ordinances and Online Permitting pages; the Building, Zoning and Grading Application; the 2026 Fee Schedule as published; and the New Resident Welcome Packet.