Roofing in Salisbury Township (Lancaster 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, Salisbury Township administers the code with a third-party agency: Section 157-2 of the Township Code says the Board of Supervisors "hereby elect to administer and enforce" the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Section 157-6 provides for "retention of one or more Construction Code Officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of Salisbury Township," and the Township's 2026 Application for Residential Building Permit and Plan Examination names Code Administrators, Inc., 1862 Charter Lane, Suite 101, Lancaster, beside the Township office at 5581 Old Philadelphia Pike, Gap, with review and inspection fees "PAYABLE TO 'Code Administrators'" and the administration fee payable to the Township. Chapter 157 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 5-18-04-1, read October 9, 2026) adopts "The Uniform Construction Code contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time" as the Township's Construction Code, repeals the Township's earlier building code ordinance of April 14, 1966, and adds no permit or exemption provision of its own for residential repairs or alterations; it names no roof work. The Township's permit pages and application name no code edition.

No Salisbury Township text read names reroofing as building permit work or as exempt from the building permit. Chapter 157 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 5-18-04-1, read October 9, 2026) adopts "The Uniform Construction Code contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time" as the Township's Construction Code, repeals the Township's earlier building code ordinance of April 14, 1966, and adds no permit or exemption provision of its own for residential repairs or alterations; it names no roof work. The Township's Permits page (read October 9, 2026) says "A zoning permit must be obtained before beginning any construction within the Township" and names no roof work. The 2026 fee schedule (Resolution #07-07-26-1) has residential UCC lines for new construction, "Additions/Alterations" and accessory structures, with plan review and inspection fees "payable to Third Party (TP) per TP schedule," and no roofing line; the residential application's permit-type boxes include Alteration and Repair and no roofing type. Separately, the Zoning chapter says "No zoning permit shall be required for repairs or maintenance of any structure or land, provided such repairs do not change the use or the exterior dimensions of the structure or otherwise violate the provisions of this chapter" (Section 340-144), and defines maintenance to include "the replacement of roofing materials exposed to the weather" (Section 340-11); that provision is about the zoning permit, not the building 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." The Township's only building permit clause is the Uniform Construction Code's own, adopted by reference, so this record does not decide whether the Township requires a building permit for an ordinary reroof. Ask the Township office at 717-768-8059 before work starts; it says "If you need any information pertaining to permits, please contact the Township Office Monday - Thursday from 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M." Applications go to the Township with one copy of plans in addition to a digital submission, and Code Administrators, Inc. can be reached at 717-859-3350. Read for this answer: Chapter 157 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 157-1 to 157-9), in full; Section 340-144 and the definitions in Section 340-11 of the Zoning chapter; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Township's Permits page, its residential building permit page and 2026 residential application, its zoning/building permit application, and the 2026 fee schedule (Resolution #07-07-26-1). Code Administrators, Inc.'s own fee schedule is not published with the Township's.