Roofing in Mifflinburg, 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, Mifflinburg Borough, in Union County, uses the Central Keystone Council of Governments for building permits: the Borough's FAQ page says "Mifflinburg Borough contracts with the Central Keystone Council of Government for these services" in answer to "Who is the Borough's Building Codes Officer?", and the COG's Union County page lists Mifflinburg Borough among its members, with the COG's office at 1610 Industrial Boulevard, Suite 400A, Lewisburg. Part 5 of Chapter 5 of the Borough Code (Ord. 2004-3), read in full, adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" and names no roof work; it keeps in force building code ordinances adopted "on or before July 1, 1999" that "equal or exceed the requirements of the Code." Part 1 of the same chapter (Ord. 88-4, 1988) adopts "The BOCA National Building Code, 10th Edition, 1987", whose text this record has not read, and its Section 5-108, "Permits not Required for Maintenance," says "No building permits shall be required by the Borough of Mifflinburg for any building maintenance on any buildings or outbuildings within the Borough of Mifflinburg". That section does not name roofing or say what building maintenance covers, and this record does not decide whether a reroof is building maintenance. No Borough page names a residential code edition.

Mifflinburg Borough's pages and the COG's pages read for this record do not say in terms whether a house reroof needs a permit. Part 5 of Chapter 5 of the Borough Code (Ord. 2004-3), read in full, adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" and names no roof work; it keeps in force building code ordinances adopted "on or before July 1, 1999" that "equal or exceed the requirements of the Code." Part 1 of the same chapter (Ord. 88-4, 1988) adopts "The BOCA National Building Code, 10th Edition, 1987", whose text this record has not read, and its Section 5-108, "Permits not Required for Maintenance," says "No building permits shall be required by the Borough of Mifflinburg for any building maintenance on any buildings or outbuildings within the Borough of Mifflinburg". That section does not name roofing or say what building maintenance covers, and this record does not decide whether a reroof is building maintenance. The Borough's FAQ page says "New construction and many renovations require a building permit and a zoning permit" and to contact the COG to apply; it names no roof work. The COG's Residential Building Permits page lists among work for which "UCC Building Permits are required" the item "Any roof repair/replacement of framing when attached to the house" and says "If you are unsure whether or not you need a Building Permit or additional approvals, contact us first and we will let you know." That page does not name Mifflinburg Borough and does not say whether a reroof that leaves the framing alone needs a permit, and the COG's 2026 residential fee schedule has no reroofing line; its only roof entry prices a roof-mounted solar electrical inspection. 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." This record does not state whether the Borough requires a permit for a house reroof; ask the Central Keystone Council of Governments (570-522-1326) before starting. The COG's fee page says "Permit fees for repairs, alterations, and most additions, including pools and decks, are based on the number of inspections that will be required and are set at the discretion of the Building Code Official," and its Union County page says "A zoning permit is required in Mifflinburg Borough." The Borough office is at 120 N. 3rd, Mifflinburg. Read for this answer: Parts 1 and 5 of Chapter 5 of the Borough Code in full, and Part 4; Section 29-520 of the Zoning Ordinance; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and "reroofing"; the Borough's FAQ and Downloads pages; and the COG's Residential Building Permits, residential fee, Union County and contact pages and its 2026 residential fee schedule.