Roofing in Palmerton, 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, The Borough of Palmerton administers the code itself, with plan review and inspections by a certified construction code official the applicant chooses: Section 49A-1 of the Borough Code says "This municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Borough's UCC Permit Application & Permit Procedures say the applicant "selects a PA State Certified Construction Code Official (CCO) or inspector for plan review and approval" and that the Borough's Building Code Official (BCO) "issues building permit." Section 49A-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" and incorporates it by reference "as the municipal building code of this municipality," and Chapter 49A changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. Neither Chapter 49A nor the Borough's pages name a code edition.

No Borough of Palmerton text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. The Borough's UCC Permit Application & Permit Procedures (read October 9, 2026) say "Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a residential or nonresidential building, structure or facility" or to work on a building system "regulated by the Uniform Construction Code (UCC) shall first apply to the Borough of Palmerton, in order to obtain the required permit(s) prior to the start of construction," and "It is strongly recommended you contact the Zoning Officer/Building Code Official (BCO) prior to applying for permits." They do not name roof work either way. Chapter 49A of the Borough Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Ord. No. 620, 2004), adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" and adds no permit clause and no roof words of its own; Section 49A-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the code," and Part 1 of Chapter 42, Building Construction, is reserved, so none appears in the Borough Code as published. The Borough's 2026 fee resolution (Resolution 752-26) charges "UCC Permit $75.00" and prices a Borough building permit by floor area for new structures, additions, garages, pools, sheds, decks, fences, walls and major and minor interior or exterior renovations; it has no roofing line. Section 104.D of the Zoning Ordinance says "No one shall erect, alter or modify any structure, building or part of a building" until a zoning permit has been issued, and names no roof work. 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." Because the Borough's application restates the state code's own permit clause for work the code regulates, the Borough's fee and zoning permit lines name no roof work, and neither the Borough nor an inspection agency has published a statement on reroofs, this record does not decide whether the Borough requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. The procedures say "The applicant is responsible for any review and/or inspection costs associated with hiring their CCO" and "Permits must be posted and plans must be on job site at all times." The Borough Building and the Code Enforcement Officer are at 610-826-2505. Read for this answer: Chapter 49A of the Borough Code, Construction Codes, Uniform, and Chapter 42, Building Construction, in full; Chapter 97, Property Maintenance; Article 1 of the Zoning Ordinance, including its permit section; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no permit provision naming roof work; the Borough's Forms and Contact pages; the UCC Permit Application & Permit Procedures; and the 2026 fee resolution.