Roofing in Reading Township (Adams 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, Reading Township, Adams County (not the City of Reading in Berks County), uses a third-party agency for the code: the Township's Contact Us page lists Pennsylvania Municipal Code Alliance (PMCA) under "Permit/ Zoning/Code Enforcement," and the Township's 2026 fee resolution (Resolution 2026-14) prices "Building Permits / Use and Occupancy Permits, Inspections, Enforcement" under its BUILDING (UCC) heading and attaches PMCA's 2026 fee schedules. Chapter 5, Part 1 of the Township code (Ord. 2004-5) says "The Township of Reading 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, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of the Township of Reading." Neither Chapter 5 nor the Township's permit pages name an edition of the International Residential Code, and Chapter 5 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions.

No Township text read requires a permit for residential repairs or alterations or names roof work. Chapter 5, Part 1 adopts the Uniform Construction Code by reference and adds only a definition of utility and miscellaneous use structures (sheds and garages under 500 square feet). The zoning chapter's permit section (Section 27-1603) says "No such zoning permit shall be required in case of normal maintenance activities, minor repairs, and alterations which do not structurally change a building or structure." The PMCA supplemental fee schedule attached to the Township's 2026 fee resolution lists "Residential Re-Roof $160 (with structural repairs, framing & final)"; PMCA's Re-Roof Application Packet says "A Building Permit is required if there is a structural repair." PMCA's website answers its question "I am re-roofing my residential structure" with a letter dated July 20, 2018, addressed "Dear Municipal Official" and naming no municipality, which says "a residential Re-roof still requires compliance with the provisions of the UCC but does not require a building permit" and "If structural work is required such as replacing studs, headers, rafters or trusses a permit would now be required." No Reading Township page read repeats that statement. 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 Reading Township; ask the Township office at 717-624-4222, option 3, and PMCA at 717-496-4996 before starting. The Township's Services page says permits are processed at the Township office and that payment must be by check, cash or money order to Reading Township. Read for this answer: the Township's Services/Permits, Contact Us and Code of Ordinances pages; Chapter 5 (Code Enforcement), Chapter 4 (Buildings) and Chapter 27 (Zoning) of the Township code, with a search of each for "roof"; the Township's Zoning / Land Use Permit Application; Resolution 2026-14 with its attached PMCA fee schedules; and PMCA's FAQ page, re-roof letter and Re-Roof Application Packet.