Roofing in Middle 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, Middle Paxton Township takes permit applications at its Township office, 10 Elizabeth Avenue, Dauphin. The Township's Zoning and Codes Enforcement page says "The Township has contracted with Light-Heigel & Associates for zoning and codes enforcement services" and "All permit applications must be submitted to the Township office either in person or mailed to P.O. Box 277 Dauphin PA 17018," and the Township's UCC permit package says "All inspections are to be performed by the Township or the third-party agency representing the Township." The Township's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code is not among the ordinances posted on its Zoning & Ordinances page, and this record has not read it. The Township's 2026 UCC permit package says "All structural information must comply with Pennsylvania UCC" and names the "International Residential Code, 2021 Edition," and its Dauphin County design-criteria table marks ice shield underlayment as required.

No Middle Paxton Township text read for this record names roof covering work as permit work or as exempt. The Township's 2026 UCC permit package says a permit is for "Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure" and adds "See Exceptions documents for details"; no exceptions document is posted with the package. Its application's type-of-work boxes include alteration and repair, and neither the package, the 2026 zoning permit application, the Township's web pages nor its 2026 fee schedule (Resolution 2026-02) names reroofing or roof replacement as permit work or as exempt. The fee schedule says "ALL UCC PERMITS: See attached Fee Schedules for permit costs," and the posted copy attaches no UCC fee schedule. The Township's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code is not among the ordinances posted on its Zoning & Ordinances page, and this record has not read it. 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." Read for this record: the Township's Zoning and Codes Enforcement, Applications & Fee Schedule, Zoning & Ordinances and Contact Us pages; the 2026 fee schedule; the 2026 UCC building permit package and 2026 zoning permit application; and the Township's posted Zoning Ordinance in full, which has no permit provision naming roof work. The Township office is at 10 Elizabeth Avenue, Dauphin, 717-921-8128, open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday 9 a.m. to noon, closed Friday.