Roofing in Ontelaunee 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, Ontelaunee Township administers the code itself or through officials it retains: Chapter 4, Section 101 says "Ontelaunee Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act 45 of 1999," and the Township's Building/Zoning page lists a "ZONING OFFICER AND CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER" and says "Permits are available in the township office"; the Township's building permit application lists a "Building Inspector." Section 102 adopts the Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa.Code, Chapters 401-405, and says it is "hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of Ontelaunee Township," and Article I of Chapter 4 adds no permit clause of its own and names no roof work. Section 105 keeps building code ordinances adopted "on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code"; the Township's published chapters (1 to 27) contain no separate building chapter, and this record has not found an older building ordinance. The Township's pages name no code edition; this record does not decide which edition the Township applies.

No Ontelaunee Township text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. The Township's Building/Zoning page (read October 12, 2026) and its Zoning and Building Permit Application (the second part of which is headed "ONTELAUNEE TOWNSHIP BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION" and asks for the "Type of Work: (select one) New Addition Alteration Repair Other:") name no roof work, either as needing a permit or as exempt. Section 102 adopts the Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa.Code, Chapters 401-405, and says it is "hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of Ontelaunee Township," and Article I of Chapter 4 adds no permit clause of its own and names no roof work. Section 105 keeps building code ordinances adopted "on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code"; the Township's published chapters (1 to 27) contain no separate building chapter, and this record has not found an older building ordinance. 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 decide whether the Township requires a permit for an ordinary reroof; ask the Township office, 610-926-4240, before starting. Read for this answer: Chapter 4, Code Enforcement, Article I (Sections 101 to 106) and Article III headings; Chapter 7, Flood Plain; Chapter 13, Licenses; Chapter 27, Zoning, searched in full for "roof" (which found definitions, design and height provisions and no permit provision for roof work); the Building/Zoning page; and the Township's Zoning and Building Permit Application. No fee schedule was found published.