Roofing in Lower Paxton 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 Paxton Township's Community Development Department takes building permit applications, and the Township's pages name Approved Code Services, Inc. of Mechanicsburg as its "Third Party Building Code Department" and its "Building Code Official (BCO)". The Township's Building Codes page still says the Township "has adopted the 2018 International Residential Codes (IRC) and the 2018 International Building Code (IBC) as of February 14, 2022" and names no later edition; it also says "Please refer to the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (PA UCC) PA Act 45 for all changes, exemptions, and exclusions to the adopted codes." Chapter 90, Construction Standards, of the Township's codified ordinances was read (its table of contents and Article III in full). Article III (Ord. No. 18-06) says "The Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time" as the municipal building code; its only amendments set flood-map dates in the 2015 International Building Code (section 1612.3) and International Existing Building Code (section 1401.2). It has no permit clause of its own and names no roof work, and a code-wide search for "roof" found no section naming roofing as permit work or as exempt. None of the Township pages read (Community Development, Building Codes, Building Permit Fees, its FAQs and its 2026 building permit application) names roof work either. No ordinance reaching residential repairs or alterations beyond the code's own reach was found in those reads.

Neither the Township's code nor its pages (read October 5, 2026) say whether a house reroof needs a permit; ask the Community Development Department before starting. Chapter 90, Article III, of the Township's codified ordinances adopts the Uniform Construction Code by reference and adds no permit clause of its own, and the Act lists "Repairs to residential buildings" among work it "shall not apply to," "except as might be required by ordinances in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503" (Act 45 section 104(b)(6)). This record does not decide whether a reroof is a repair or an alteration under the Act. The Township's Building Codes page says residents "planning to complete a home improvement project and are seeking guidance or have questions" should "contact the Reception Staff at 717-657-5600." Permits are applied for through the SmartGov portal, which lets applicants "Apply for permits, inspections, and licenses online", or at the Municipal Center, 425 Prince Street, Harrisburg, open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 2026 building permit application has no roofing line; it lists a "RESIDENTIAL ALTERATION PERMIT FEE: $9 PER $1000 OF THE PROJECT OR A MINIMUM CHARGE OF $350 PLUS THE REVIEW FEE," an $80 residential alteration review fee and a $4.50 state fee. Approved Code Services, Inc. (5060 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg; 717-506-0464) is the Township's Building Code Official.