Roofing in Saville 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, Saville Township's enacted Uniform Construction Code ordinance (Ordinance #04-2, effective July 1, 2004) says "Saville Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Uniform Construction Code, Act 45 of 1999," and assigns administration to the "Perry County COG" by intermunicipal agreement, while the Township's Permits page says the Township's "third party inspection agency certified to conduct inspections to ensure compliance with the State UCC" is Building Inspection Underwriters of PA, 25 E McClure St., New Bloomfield (717-582-4483), and that the Township Secretary (717-438-3536) takes applications by appointment. Ordinance #04-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" as "the municipal building code of Saville Township," keeps pre-July 1, 1999 building code ordinances that "equal or exceed the requirements of the Code," and adds no permit clause of its own. The Township's separate Building Permits ordinance (Ordinance 2009-01, recorded May 1, 2009, a scanned document read from its page images) says "It shall also be unlawful to undertake any construction of buildings or other eligible facilities which are otherwise exempted from coverage under the UCC unless a Saville Township Building Permit has been obtained from the Saville Township Building Permit Officer," and, of "minor repairs to existing buildings or structures and facilities that are specifically exempted under the provisions of the Uniform Construction Code, Sections 403.1, 403.42 and 403.62," that "A Building Permit from Saville Township will be required for any of these forms of UCC exempted construction or facilities." It defines "Minor repair" as "the replacement of existing work with equivalent materials for the purpose of its routine maintenance and upkeep." The ordinance names no roof work. The Township's pages name no code edition; this record does not decide which edition the Township applies.

The Township's Permits page lists replacement of roof shingles among work needing no permit, and the Township's 2009 Building Permits ordinance requires a Township permit for construction the Uniform Construction Code exempts. The Township's Permits page (read October 12, 2026) says "No permits are needed to replace roof shingles or to replace siding, storm doors, and windows. These are considered routine maintenance and upkeep of the dwelling or structure," and also says "As a general rule, building permits are required for any construction which changes the outside dimensions of an existing structure or adds a new structure." The page and the 2009 ordinance point in different directions for a shingle replacement: the page says no permit, and the ordinance's own words reach construction and minor repairs that the Uniform Construction Code exempts. This record does not decide which of them states the Township's requirement for an ordinary reroof, or whether replacing shingles is "construction" under the ordinance. Ordinance #04-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" as "the municipal building code of Saville Township," keeps pre-July 1, 1999 building code ordinances that "equal or exceed the requirements of the Code," and adds no permit clause of its own. The Township's separate Building Permits ordinance (Ordinance 2009-01, recorded May 1, 2009, a scanned document read from its page images) says "It shall also be unlawful to undertake any construction of buildings or other eligible facilities which are otherwise exempted from coverage under the UCC unless a Saville Township Building Permit has been obtained from the Saville Township Building Permit Officer," and, of "minor repairs to existing buildings or structures and facilities that are specifically exempted under the provisions of the Uniform Construction Code, Sections 403.1, 403.42 and 403.62," that "A Building Permit from Saville Township will be required for any of these forms of UCC exempted construction or facilities." It defines "Minor repair" as "the replacement of existing work with equivalent materials for the purpose of its routine maintenance and upkeep." The ordinance names no roof work. 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." Ask the Township Secretary, 717-438-3536, before starting. Read for this answer: Ordinance #04-2 (both pages) and Ordinance 2009-01 (the applicability, classification and definitions sections, from the page images), the Township's home page with its Permits and Fee Schedule sections, and its Documents page listing the ordinances. The Township's ordinance list names no other building ordinance, and the Township publishes no code library.