Roofing in Plymouth, 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, Plymouth Borough, Luzerne County, issues building permits from its Municipal Offices at 162 West Shawnee Avenue: its Building Permit Application is filed with the Borough, approved by a "Code Administrator," and paid by check or money order to Plymouth Borough, and it says "To schedule inspections please call or email us at the following: Office 570-270-3900." Article I of Chapter 90 of the Borough Code says "This municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," as "the municipal building code of this municipality" (effective July 8, 2004). Article III of Chapter 90 (Ord. No. 2-2006, August 8, 2006) also adopts the "International Residential Code, 2006 edition" as the Borough's Residential Code "for regulating and governing the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, location, removal and demolition" of one- and two-family dwellings and "providing for the issuance of permits," with no change to its roofing provisions, and Article V adopts the "International Existing Building Code, 2006 edition"; the Borough's permit application names no edition and refers to "PA Act 45 (Uniform Construction Code) and any additional approved building code requirements adopted by the Municipality". This record has not read the 2006 editions' text and does not decide which edition the Borough applies.

No Borough text read names roof work as permit work or as exempt. Chapter 90 adopts the Uniform Construction Code by reference and, in Article III, the 2006 edition of the International Residential Code, whose own permit and exemption sections were not read for this record. The Borough's Building Permit Application offers "Alteration" among its types of work, prices residential work by cost of work, and says "FEES WILL BE DOUBLED FOR THOSE FAILING TO SECURE PERMIT PRIOR TO START OF WORK"; it names no roof work. Article III of Chapter 90 (Ord. No. 2-2006, August 8, 2006) also adopts the "International Residential Code, 2006 edition" as the Borough's Residential Code "for regulating and governing the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, location, removal and demolition" of one- and two-family dwellings and "providing for the issuance of permits," with no change to its roofing provisions, and Article V adopts the "International Existing Building Code, 2006 edition"; the Borough's permit application names no edition and refers to "PA Act 45 (Uniform Construction Code) and any additional approved building code requirements adopted by the Municipality". 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 permit is required for a house reroof in Plymouth Borough; ask the Borough's Code Enforcement office at 570-779-1011 before starting. The Borough's Inspection Procedures sheet says "It is the responsibility of the owner or the contractor to call for all inspections" and to have the permit number available. Read for this answer: Chapter 90 of the Borough Code (Construction Codes, Uniform), Articles I, III and V in full; Chapter 109 (Fees); every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Borough's Forms, Departments and Code Enforcement pages; its Building Permit Application with the Residential Permit Fee Schedule; and its Inspection Procedures sheet.