Roofing in New Freedom, 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, New Freedom Borough administers the code itself: Section 103-23 of the Borough Code says "New Freedom Borough hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Borough's Building & Zoning page says "The Building and Zoning Department is responsible for administering the building and zoning codes of the Borough"; applications go to the Borough office at 49 East High Street. Section 103-24 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" as the municipal building code, and Section 103-29 brings residential repairs and alterations within the code, with listed exemptions that include replacement of roof material where the existing roof material is removed first. The Borough's 2026 residential building permit application names "Uniform Construction Code (UCC)/2021 International Series."

A reroof in New Freedom Borough needs a Borough zoning permit: Section 225-1101B(1) of the Zoning Ordinance lists "reroofing the main structure" among work for which "The Zoning Officer shall receive applications for a zoning permit." Separately, the Borough's Zoning Ordinance, Section 225-1101B(1), says "The Zoning Officer shall receive applications for a zoning permit if any of the following are proposed," including "(f) Make modifications to an existing residential structure such as enclosing a porch, roofing a deck, reroofing the main structure, etc.," and Section 225-1101B(2) says "An application for a zoning permit shall be filed prior to the start of construction." The Borough's 2026 residential application lists a zoning permit "App. Fee $25.00" and "Permit Fee $75.00." That zoning permit is a Borough permit separate from the Uniform Construction Code building permit. Section 103-29 of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 2005-7) says "All alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress and repairs to residential buildings shall be subject to compliance with the Uniform Construction Code," "provided, however, that the following repairs and alterations shall be exempt from such compliance," and its list includes "I. Replacement of any roof material so long as the existing roof material is removed prior to installation of new." The exemption's words are limited to work where the existing roof material is removed first. The same section says "An ordinary repair does not require a permit" and lists "The removal or cutting of any structural beam or load-bearing support" as not an ordinary repair. The Borough's 2026 residential building permit application names "Uniform Construction Code (UCC)/2021 International Series," lists work types (New Building, Repair, Alteration, Addition and others) with no roofing type, and its residential permit fee schedule prices building permits by construction cost with no roofing line. 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 a Uniform Construction Code building permit is needed for a house reroof; ask the Building and Zoning Department (717-235-2337) before starting. The application says "PERMIT FEES ARE DOUBLED IF WORK IS STARTED WITHOUT A PERMIT." The Borough office is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Read for this answer: Chapter 103 of the Borough Code, Construction Codes, Articles III and IV (Sections 103-23 to 103-31), in full; Article XI of Chapter 225, Zoning, Administration and Enforcement; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Building & Zoning and Permits pages; and the 2026 residential building permit application with its fee schedule.