Roofing in Schuylkill Haven, 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, The Borough of Schuylkill Haven takes permit applications through its Zoning-Code Department and administers the code through Comprehensive Inspection Agency, LLC: Section 92-1 of the Borough Code says the Borough "hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," Section 92-3 allows "the retention of one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of the Borough of Schuylkill Haven," and the Borough's permit packet names Comprehensive Inspection Agency, LLC, of Cressona, under the heading "Third Party Commercial & UCC inspection agency contact information." Section 92-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" and incorporates it by reference "as the municipal building code of the Borough of Schuylkill Haven," and Chapter 92 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. Neither Chapter 92 nor the Borough's pages name a code edition.

No Borough of Schuylkill Haven text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. The Borough's permit packet (read October 9, 2026) asks applicants to "Submit/return only the permit application and any plans to the Schuylkill Haven Zoning-Code Department" and says "The zoning-Code department will review the application and assess the fees as they apply"; neither it nor the Zoning & Code Enforcement page says whether a reroof needs a permit. Article I of Chapter 92 of the Borough Code, Uniform Construction Code (Ord. No. 1017, adopted June 30, 2004), adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" and adds no permit clause and no roof words of its own; Section 92-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the code," and the Borough Code as published holds no other building code chapter. The zoning chapter's permit section, Section 210-107, requires a Borough permit for the "Erection, construction, movement, placement or extension of a structure, building or sign" and names no roof work. The Borough's fee schedule (adopted April 2008) prices building permits by value of project, and the agency's residential fee schedule in the packet has a line "Alteration, Renovations & Repairs (if applicable)"; neither has a roofing line. 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." Because the Borough's only general building permit clause is the state code's own, adopted by reference, and neither the Borough nor its agency has published a statement on reroofs, this record does not decide whether the Borough requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. The packet says "Work is not allowed to commence until" "A payment in full is received and the valid permit is clearly, visibly posted on the job site," and that applicants will be notified within 15 days if a permit is approved or denied. Applications go by mail or email to the Borough at 333 Centre Avenue, Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972-1007. The Zoning & Code Enforcement office is open 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday, at 570-385-2841, extension 107. Read for this answer: Chapter 92 of the Borough Code, Building Construction (Sections 92-1 to 92-8), in full; Chapter 114, Fees and Permits, in full, whose fee schedule is a separate resolution; Chapter 160, Property Maintenance, in full; Article I of the zoning chapter, Administration, in full; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no permit provision naming roof work; the Borough's Zoning & Code Enforcement and Applications & Forms pages; and the Borough's 29-page permit packet, with the permit application, the Borough fee schedule and the agency's fee schedule.