Roofing in Scott Township (Columbia 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, Scott Township in Columbia County "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" as its municipal building code (Chapter 68 of the Township Code, Sections 68-1 and 68-2), and Section 68-3 lets the Township act through "third-party agencies." The Township's 2026 zoning permit packet tells applicants to apply to the building code official of Barry Isett & Associates, Inc. for a building permit and says "BARRY ISETT & ASSOCIATES, INC., WILL PERFORM ALL BUILDING INSPECTIONS INCLUDING THE EXTERIOR SEWER LINE." The Township Building is at 350 Tenny Street, Bloomsburg. Chapter 68 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions, and the Township's pages name no code edition.

No Scott Township text read for this record says in terms whether a residential reroof needs a Uniform Construction Code permit. Section 135-87 of the Township's Zoning chapter requires "A building and zoning permit" before the "erection, construction, addition or alteration of any building or portion thereof," and says "Building and zoning permits shall not be required for" a list that includes "General maintenance and repair to existing buildings or structures, including siding, roofing, painting, the addition of storm windows and similar activities." That section sits in the Zoning chapter's administration article and is applied by the Zoning Officer; Chapter 68, which adopts the Uniform Construction Code, says nothing on roof work. No Township page or form read for this record says in terms whether a residential reroof needs a Uniform Construction Code permit. The zoning permit packet says "A BUILDING PERMIT MAY NOT BE NECESSARY IN ALL CASES." The 2026 residential UCC permit fee schedule has a line for "Alterations, Renovations and Repairs to Existing Residential Buildings" priced at "0.015 x cost of construction (materials and labor)" with a $150.00 minimum and no roofing line; "Roof Replacements" appear only on its non-residential schedule. 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 home page says zoning permit applications can be printed from its Forms and Applications page and that building permits are available by email from the Township. The 2026 building permit fee schedule says "Work performed without approved permits will be assessed at 150% of the normal permit fee rate," and Resolution 4-16-25 adds a $65.00 penalty fee for failing to obtain a needed zoning permit before construction starts. The Township office is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at 570-784-9114. Read for this answer: Chapter 68 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 68-1 to 68-7), in full; Sections 135-86 and 135-87 of the Zoning chapter and its definition of building permit; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Township's home, Contacts and Forms and Applications pages; the Application for PA UCC Construction Permit; the 2026 zoning permit packet; the 2026 building permit fee schedule; and the zoning permit fees in Resolution 4-16-25.