Roofing in Manheim Township (York County), Pennsylvania

Required

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, Manheim Township, in York County, elects in Chapter 4, Part 1 of its code (Ord. 2004-02) "to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and Chapter 1, Part 8 (Ord. 2004-01) approves its membership in the Codorus Valley Council of Governments to administer and enforce the UCC. The Township's 2026 fee schedule (Resolution No. 577) lists "PAUCC Construction Permits (Paid to Commonwealth Code Inspection Services)," and its construction permit guidelines say construction permit information "should be forwarded directly to Commonwealth Code Inspection Service" and that "Manheim Township will contact the applicant to arrange issuance of the construction permit." Chapter 4, Part 1 adopts the Code "by reference as the building code of the Township," names no roof work, repeals the Township's earlier Building Permit Ordinance for permits issued after it took effect, and leaves fees to resolution; Section 110 makes a violation of the Part or the Code a summary offense with "a fine of up to $1,000 plus costs." The Township's own building permit application form (revised 5/27/14) reads "Applicable Codes: 2009 IBC/IRC," Chapter 4 adopts the Code without naming an edition, and no Township page read names a current edition; this record has not read the 2009 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Township applies to houses.

Manheim Township's posted exemption sheet exempts roofing replacement only where 25% or less of the roof area is replaced in any 12-month period. The sheet "UCC Permit Exempt Residential Work" of Commonwealth Code Inspection Service, Inc., posted on the Township's Construction Permits page, says "A Building Permit is NOT required for the following residential work" and lists "Replacement of existing roofing materials if 25% or less of total roof area is replaced in any 12 month period." A full reroof is above that line. Under state law, Act 45 says the Act "shall not apply to" "Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress, except as might be required by ordinances in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503" or to "Repairs to residential buildings, except as might be required by ordinances in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503" (section 104(b)(5) and (6)), and of a municipal ordinance that adds to the code, section 503(c) says "An ordinance under this subsection shall not be effective nor enforceable unless subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i) have been satisfied." This record does not decide whether the municipality's requirement is one adopted under section 503 or kept in effect by section 303(b)(1). In practice, expect a building permit for a house reroof of more than a quarter of the roof area in a 12-month period. The Township's guidelines say "Construction permit fees cover all required inspections and the plan review," and Chapter 4, Section 110 provides "a fine of up to $1,000 plus costs" for each violation of the Part or the Code. Read for this answer: Chapter 4 (Buildings) and Chapter 1, Part 8 of the Township code; every page of a search of the whole code for "roof" and "reroofing"; the Township's Construction Permits page and the documents it links; and the 2026 fee schedule, whose Appendix I is not in the posted file. The guidelines ask for a site plan, "A copy of the Zoning Permit issued by Manheim Township" and the completed application, forwarded to Commonwealth Code Inspection Service, and say "Average time for construction permit issuance is about seven to ten business days." The fee schedule adds a "PAUCC State training charge (Collected by Manheim Township)" of $29.50. The Township office is at 717-229-2862.