Roofing in North Codorus Township, 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, North Codorus Township in York County administers the code: Section 87-1 of the Township Code says "The Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," permit applications are taken at the Township Building, 1986 Stoverstown Road, Spring Grove, and signed by its Zoning Officer/Building Code Officer, and the Township's permit application says to call Commonwealth Code Inspection Service at 717-846-2004 to schedule each inspection. Section 87-2 says "The UCC is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference as the building code of the Township," Chapter 87 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions and names no edition, and the Township's permit application says "2021 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE SERIES IS ENFORCED."

North Codorus Township's code and pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. The Township's permit application (read October 9, 2026) offers the project types new construction, "Repair/Replacement," addition, alteration and others, and names no roof work; the Township's 2024 fee resolution, Resolution No. 02-01-2024, read from its scanned pages, has no roofing line and prices the building permit by the inspection agency's fee schedule, which the Township has not published. Chapter 87 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 182-06-2004, June 1, 2004), read in full, adopts the code "by reference as the building code of the Township" (Section 87-2) and names no roof work. Its Article II, Construction Permits, says "In addition to permits required pursuant to Article I of this chapter, a construction permit shall be required before any construction or development is undertaken within the Township" (Section 87-10), without defining construction; Chapter 72, Building Permits, says "Current procedures for the issuance of building permits are contained in Chapter 102, Floodplain Management," whose Section 102-8 says "A permit shall be required before any construction or development is undertaken within any area of the Township of North Codorus." Neither names roof work, and this record does not decide whether either reaches a house reroof. Section 195-63 of the Zoning chapter exempts from a zoning permit "Alterations or general maintenance, painting and repair work (such as replacement of building facing materials, siding, windows or chimneys) when there is no increase in exterior building dimensions and no change in use," and notes that "Even if a zoning permit is not required, a construction/building permit or other permit under state regulations may be required." A search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing" found no provision naming a roofing permit. 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 Township requires a permit for a house reroof; ask the Township office (717-225-4812) before starting. Section 87-9 sets a fine "of not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution" for a violation of the chapter or the code. The application asks for two sets of plans for a building permit and a site plan with every application. The office is open Monday to Thursday, 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (closed 12:00 to 12:30 p.m.), and Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Read for this answer: Chapter 87 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 87-1 to 87-14), and Chapter 72, Building Permits, in full; Section 102-8 of the Floodplain Management chapter; Section 195-63 of the Zoning chapter; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Land & Improvements, Township Code and Administration pages; the permit application; and the 2024 fee resolution.