Roofing in Perkiomen 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, Perkiomen Township issues construction permits from the Township Building, 1 Trappe Road, Collegeville, through its Code Enforcement Officer, whom the Township's staff page describes as "Appointed by the board of supervisors" and handling "the zoning and building issues within the township." Section 129-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time," as the municipal building code, and Chapter 129 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. Neither Chapter 129 nor the Township's permit pages name a code edition.

Perkiomen Township text read for this record names no roof work as permit work or as exempt. The Township's Construction Permit Application (dated March 15, 2024, read October 9, 2026) says "Residential building permits required for any "structural" work within/onto a dwelling/premise including but not limited to additions, alterations, decks, porches, pools, demolition, etc." and lists "Roof" among the boxes under "TYPE OF WORK OR IMPROVEMENT"; it does not say whether a reroof is structural work. The 2026 fee schedule (Resolution 2026-6) prices "Construction Permit for Alterations, Fit-outs, Repairs, and Demolition" by construction value and has no roofing line. Chapter 129 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 180, 2004) adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" by reference and names no roof work either way; Section 129-5 keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code, and names none. No Township text read for this record says whether an ordinary reroof needs a 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." Read for this record: Chapter 129 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 129-1 to 129-6), in full; Chapter 155, Fees; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no permit provision naming roof work; and the Township's forms page, staff page, 2026 fee schedule, Construction Permit Application, Building Permit Application Check List and building inspection requirements sheet. Where a permit is needed, the Township's check list says review takes "Fifteen (15) Business Days for Residential" from receipt of a completed application, and the 2026 fee schedule says "FAILURE TO OBTAIN NECESSARY PERMIT(S) SHALL RESULT IN PERMIT FEES(S) BEING DOUBLED." The Code Enforcement Office is at 610-489-4034 ext. 120, and the Township Building is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.