Roofing in Polk Township (Monroe County), 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, Polk Township (Monroe County) adopts the code under Chapter 170 of the Township Code, where Section 170-2B says "Polk Township hereby elects to enforce the provisions of Act 45 of 1999 in any manner authorized thereunder." Building and zoning permit applications go to the Township's Zoning and Codes Enforcement Officer at 165 Polk Township Rd., Kresgeville, and the Township's application says "Building Permits will be submitted to Base Engineering Inc." Section 170-1 adopts "the provisions of the Codes set forth in Act 45 of 1999 as the Polk Township Uniform Construction Code Ordinance of 2004," and Chapter 170 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. The Township's applications say "ALL WORK SHALL CONFORM TO THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE AS APPLICABLE TO THE UCC" and name no code edition.

Polk Township's code and pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. Chapter 170 (Ord. No. 2004-02) adopts the code by reference, names no roof work either way and adds no permit clause of its own for house repairs; Section 170-4 leaves the building code fee schedule to resolution. The Township's new construction application lists building permit fees for new buildings, manufactured homes, "Industrialized/Interior Alterations," "Additions with full foundation or alternation" and sunrooms, with no roofing fee, and its Zoning & Building Permit application asks only for the job's costs by trade, including a "Roofing" cost line, with no roofing permit type. Separately, Section 400-1201D of the Zoning chapter lets "Ordinary repairs, structural strengthening, facade improvements and maintenance to existing structures" proceed "without a zoning permit" and notes "A Uniform Construction Code permit may be required in cases where a zoning permit is not required"; that section speaks to the zoning permit only. The Township's Zoning Office, Applications and zoning FAQ pages say nothing on reroofing. 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 Zoning and Codes Enforcement Officer (610-681-5376) before starting. The Township's application says "If an inspection is scheduled without a building permit, a $65 penalty per inspection will be imposed," and "A nonrefundable $50 fee must accompany the applications." The Township office lists hours of 08:00 am to 03:30 pm, and appointments are encouraged. Read for this answer: Chapter 170 of the Township Code, Construction Standards, in full; Article XII of the Zoning chapter; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," and a search for "building permit"; the Township's Zoning Office, Applications, zoning FAQ and contact pages; and its Zoning & Building Permit application and new construction application. No separate Township building permit fee schedule is published.