Roofing in New Wilmington, 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 Wilmington Borough elects to run the code itself: Section 131-31 of the Borough Code says "The Borough of New Wilmington hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Borough's Permits and Zoning page says "UCC building permits are also obtained at the Borough Building" and lists two third-party code agencies, PCI, Inc. and Code.Sys, under "The contacts for UCC." The Borough Building is at 134 High Street, New Wilmington (724-946-8167). The Borough's Uniform Construction Code ordinance (Chapter 131, Article II, Sections 131-31 to 131-36, read October 12, 2026) 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 New Wilmington" and keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code." It names no roof work and no code edition. The Borough's Zoning Chapter (Chapter 275) says in Section 275-28 "Until the Zoning Officer has issued a zoning certificate applicable thereto, no person shall" "Occupy or use any structure hereafter constructed, reconstructed, moved, altered or enlarged," and Section 275-29 says "The applicant for a building permit shall apply also for a zoning certificate as required by this chapter"; neither names roof work, and this record does not decide whether a house reroof is an alteration under Section 275-28. Article I of Chapter 131, Floodplain Management, says in Section 131-2 "It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, business or corporation to undertake, or cause to be undertaken, any construction or development anywhere within the Borough of New Wilmington unless a building permit has been obtained from the Floodplain Administrator" and in Section 131-4 "A permit shall be required before any construction or development is undertaken within any area of the Borough of New Wilmington"; it names no roof work, and this record does not decide whether that article's permit reaches a house reroof outside an identified floodplain area. The Borough's ordinance and pages name no residential code edition.

New Wilmington Borough's pages do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. The Borough's pages, read October 12, 2026, say nothing on roofing. Its Permits and Zoning page lists zoning certificate prices ("Basic Zoning Certificate: $35.00") and demolition, sign and temporary structure permits, and the application forms it posts name no roofing permit type. The third-party agency's own FAQ page says "NOTE: Local jurisdiction may have adopted more stringent requirements" and names no municipality and no roof work. The Borough's Uniform Construction Code ordinance (Chapter 131, Article II, Sections 131-31 to 131-36, read October 12, 2026) 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 New Wilmington" and keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code." It names no roof work and no code edition. The Borough's Zoning Chapter (Chapter 275) says in Section 275-28 "Until the Zoning Officer has issued a zoning certificate applicable thereto, no person shall" "Occupy or use any structure hereafter constructed, reconstructed, moved, altered or enlarged," and Section 275-29 says "The applicant for a building permit shall apply also for a zoning certificate as required by this chapter"; neither names roof work, and this record does not decide whether a house reroof is an alteration under Section 275-28. Article I of Chapter 131, Floodplain Management, says in Section 131-2 "It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, business or corporation to undertake, or cause to be undertaken, any construction or development anywhere within the Borough of New Wilmington unless a building permit has been obtained from the Floodplain Administrator" and in Section 131-4 "A permit shall be required before any construction or development is undertaken within any area of the Borough of New Wilmington"; it names no roof work, and this record does not decide whether that article's permit reaches a house reroof outside an identified floodplain area. 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 house reroof needs a permit; ask the Borough office (724-946-8167) before starting. Read for this answer: the Borough's Permits and Zoning, Municipal Code, Forms, FAQ and Contact pages; Chapter 131 (Building Construction and Floodplain Management), Articles I and II, and Chapter 275 Sections 275-27 to 275-29 of the Borough Code; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" (22 results) and for "reroofing" (none); and the third-party agency's home and FAQ pages.