Roofing in Lower Windsor 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 Windsor Township's Zoning Department, at 2425 Craley Road, Wrightsville, "issues all permits for Lower Windsor Township," and its Zoning page says building permits "are reviewed and construction is inspected for conformance with the PA Uniform Construction Code (UCC) by Commonwealth Code Inspection Service, Inc. (CCIS)", which "was appointed by the Board of Supervisors as the Township's third-party inspection Agency." Chapter 180 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 2004-05, effective July 1, 2004) elects to administer and enforce the Construction Code Act. Section 180-2 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time" as the Township's building code, Section 180-5D says that as the UCC adopts updated codes "such codes shall automatically be updated as part of this article," and Chapter 180 names no edition and changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions.

Lower Windsor Township's Zoning/Building Permit Process sheet lists "replacement siding, or roof shingles" under "Residential projects that require NO permit" when there is no increase in exterior dimension and no change in use. The Township's Zoning/Building Permit Process sheet, linked from its Zoning page, lists under "Residential projects that require NO permit" the line "Alterations and renovations when there is no increase in exterior dimension AND no change in use, including new facia, replacement siding, or roof shingles, shutters, etc." The same sheet says "Changes to the structural integrity of the house (exterior walls, floors, roof trusses, beams and the like) require a building permit" and "If you aren’t sure if a permit is required, PLEASE CALL." The sheet carries no date and was live when read on October 9, 2026. Chapter 180 of the Township Code adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," as the Township's building code and names no roof work, either as permit work or as exempt. Nothing read names residential reroofing as permit work: the 2026 general fee schedule (Resolution 2026-07) has no roofing line and sets UCC inspection fees by the Commonwealth Code fee schedule, which is not published on the Township's site, and the Application for Building/Zoning Permit has no roofing box. 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 sheet comes from the Zoning Department, which issues Zoning and Building permits on one application, while CCIS reviews and inspects building permit work; its no-permit list does not say in terms that no building permit is needed, and no CCIS statement on reroofing was found, so this record does not decide whether an ordinary reroof needs a building permit. For work that does need a permit, the sheet says "Failure to get a permit will result in a letter of violation, which could go to the District Magistrate, and end in a fine to the property owner," and Section 180-9 makes a violation of the UCC a summary offense with "a fine of up to $1,000 plus costs." Read for this answer: Chapter 180 of the Township Code, Construction Codes (Sections 180-1 to 180-11), in full, which is the Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance and its only building permit chapter; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Zoning page; the Zoning/Building Permit Process sheet; the Application for Building/Zoning Permit; and the 2026 general fee schedule. The Township office is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 717-244-6813; building inspections are scheduled with Commonwealth Code Inspection Service, Inc. at 717-846-2004.