Roofing in Lower Oxford 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 Oxford Township in Chester County issues building permits from its Township office at 220 Township Road, Oxford; Section 5-101 of the Township Code says the Board of Supervisors "hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," its residential building permit applications carry a signature line for approval by the Township's building code official, and its single event permit application has separate payment lines for "Lower Oxford Township" and "Accurate Building Inspections". Part 1 of Chapter 5 of the Township Code (Ord. 2-2004, June 16, 2004) adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time," by reference and names no roof work either way. The Township's pages name no code edition.

No Lower Oxford Township text read for this record names roof work as permit work or as exempt. Part 1 of Chapter 5 of the Township Code (Ord. 2-2004, June 16, 2004) adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time," by reference and names no roof work either way. The Township's Permit Applications page lists applications for house construction, additions ("Includes Porch w/Roof"), "House Alterations/Remodel/Renovation", a single event permit for electrical, mechanical and window and door work ("A permit for window and door replacement is only required if the header size changes") and "Solar Panel Installation - Roof or Ground", and lists no roofing or reroofing application; its alterations application ("MAJOR ALTERATIONS/RENOVATIONS") names no roof work. The Township's permit fee resolution is not posted on its pages and was not read for this record. 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 single event permit application says "If you have questions, or unsure about the interpretation of this requirement, please contact the Zoning Officer at 610-932-8150 (Ext. 1)", and the alterations application says additional fees for permits issued after a violation notice for work begun without a required permit "will be $50.00 or 50%, whichever is greater." Read for this record: Chapter 5 of the Township Code (Code Enforcement) in full; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof", "roofing" and "reroofing"; the Township's Permit Applications, Ordinances and home pages; and its residential alterations, single event and zoning permit applications.