Roofing in Montoursville, 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, Montoursville Borough, in Lycoming County, contracts its building permits to the Central Keystone Council of Governments (CKCOG), 1610 Industrial Blvd, Suite 400A, Lewisburg: the Borough's fee schedule says "Building permits are contracted out to Central Keystone COG (Council of Governments), Uniform Construction Code", and the CKCOG's FAQ lists Montoursville Borough among the places where it enforces building codes. Completed applications go to the Borough office at 617 N. Loyalsock Avenue. Chapter 66 of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 396 of 2003, amended in its entirety by Ord. No. 400 on 4-19-2004) says "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of the Borough of Montoursville"; read in full, it adds no local permit rule or amendment, and a footnote says Ord. No. 396 repealed the former Chapter 66 Building Code of 1997. Its section 66-4A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code; this record found none published. The Borough's Zoning & Building page says "Borough Council Has Adopted and Enforces the Following" and lists "Residential – 2009 IRC". This record has not read the 2009 edition's text.

Montoursville Borough's pages read for this record do not say whether replacing a house's roof covering needs a permit. Under "UCC BUILDING PERMITS ARE REQUIRED FOR" the Borough's Zoning & Building page, and the CKCOG's Residential Building Permits page, list "Any roof repair/replacement of framing when attached to the house" and "Any roof addition when attached to the house"; neither page says whether replacing only the roof covering needs a permit. The Borough page adds "Always contact the Borough Office before starting any project" and "If you are unsure whether or not you need a Building Permit or other approvals, contact the CKCOG at 570-522-1326". The Borough's fee schedule, read in full, has no roofing line. Chapter 66 of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 396 of 2003, amended in its entirety by Ord. No. 400 on 4-19-2004) says "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of the Borough of Montoursville"; read in full, it adds no local permit rule or amendment, and a footnote says Ord. No. 396 repealed the former Chapter 66 Building Code of 1997. Its section 66-4A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code; this record found none published. 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; call the CKCOG (570-522-1326) before starting, and expect roof framing work to need a UCC building permit under the permit list quoted above. Read for this answer: the Borough's Zoning & Building and Borough Code pages, Chapter 66 of the Borough Code in full (scanned, read from its page images), the Borough's fee schedule, all twelve pages (scanned, read from its page images), the Borough building permit application, and the CKCOG's Residential Building Permits, Residential Building Permit Fees and FAQ pages.