Roofing in Monroe Township (Cumberland County), 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, Monroe Township, in Cumberland County, administers the code itself: its Resolution No. 2026-02 recites that the Board of Supervisors enacted Ordinance No. 2004-1, "SETTING FORTH MONROE TOWNSHIP'S ELECTION TO ADMINISTER AND ENFORCE THE BUILDING CODE PROVISIONS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSTRUCTION CODE ACT," and sets the fee schedule "for the administration and enforcement by Monroe Township of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act." Permit applications go to the Township office at 1220 Boiling Springs Road, Mechanicsburg. Ordinance No. 2004-1 is not published on the Township's website and was not read for this record. The Township's 2026 residential permit application says applications are made "in conformance with the requirements of the Monroe Township Zoning Ordinance, enacted September 12, 2024, last amended December 15, 2025 and the Uniform Construction Code (Pa Act 45/1999) and any amendments thereto"; no Township page read for this record names a code edition.

No Monroe Township text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. The Township's Zoning page (read October 9, 2026) says "Building Permits are required for construction of new homes, additions, renovations involving structural changes," decks 30 inches high, pools, spas, fences over 6 feet and "replacement windows where opening sizes are enlarged," and that "This list is not all-inclusive"; it tells readers to contact the Zoning Officer. The Township's 2026 residential permit application says "A building permit will be required in addition to a zoning permit for demolition activities, the construction of structures, renovation of existing structures involving structural alterations," tall fences, high decks, pools and spas "and certain maintenance activities involving structural alterations," and refers the reader to "the UCC Fact Sheet available at the Township for specific activities which may require a building permit." None of these names roof work either way. The Township's 2026 Facts to Know brochure says "A zoning and/or building permit shall be required prior to the erection, addition, alteration, use or change of use of any building or structure including grading and driveway resurfacing operations"; it names no roof work, and this record does not decide whether a reroof is an alteration under it. Ordinance No. 2004-1 is not among the ordinances the Township publishes on its website, and no codified code for this Township was found online, so it was not read for this record. The Township's 2026 UCC fee schedule (Resolution No. 2026-02) has no roofing line; its nearest category is a $400 minimum fee for "Residential Alterations, including porches and decks," and the 2026 general fee schedule (Resolution 2026-01) has no roofing line either. 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." Because the Township's own statements name no roof work, and its Uniform Construction Code ordinance was not read, this record does not decide whether the Township requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. Ask the Township office at 717-258-6642 before work starts. The Facts to Know brochure says "Failure to secure a permit prior to commencing any of the above constitutes a violation of the Monroe Township Zoning Ordinance." The Township office is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Read for this answer: the Township's Zoning, Forms and Ordinances pages; its 2026 residential zoning and building permit application; its 2026 UCC fee schedule (Resolution No. 2026-02) and 2026 general fee schedule (Resolution 2026-01), both scanned documents read from their page images; and its 2026 Facts to Know brochure.