Roofing in Richmond 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, Richmond Township's Forms & Documents page says "ALL permits are reviewed and issued by Kraft Municipal Group in Shillington" and that permits "can be mailed or dropped off at either our office or Kraft Municipal Group," with fees payable to Richmond Township; it lists a residential building permit application fee of $100.00. The Township's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code is not posted on its website, and no Township page read names a code edition.

Richmond Township's pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. The Township's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code is not posted on its website, whose Ordinances page says the posted ordinances "are not the official version" and "The official version is available through the Township office"; the ordinances posted there (burning, property maintenance, stormwater and zoning) were not read as building permit law, so the Township's own permit rule for house repairs was not read. The Township's permit application packet asks whether the work includes "the construction, enlargement, alteration, structural repair, relocation, or demolition of a building" and names no roof work. The Township's posted 2026 building permit fee schedule, read in full from the rendered pages, has no roofing, reroofing or roof replacement line; its only roof words are "Roof over Decks, Porches, Patios, etc." among accessory structures and "Solar Electric System (Roof Mount)," and its alterations line lists "structural alterations, fire damage repair, bathroom and kitchen alterations requiring a permit, etc." The Township's FAQ answers "When is a permit required?" with "If you have any questions regarding permits or what the property is zoned for, you need to contact Kraft Municipal Group 610-777- 1311 Ext. 1". 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 Kraft Municipal Group (610-777-1311) or the Township office (610-944-0348) before starting. The fee schedule says "Any work that requires a permit which is started without an approved permit being issued automatically doubles the permit fees." Read for this answer: the Township's Forms & Documents, FAQ and Ordinances pages, its permit application packet and its posted 2026 building and zoning permit fee schedule.