Roofing in Scott Township (Lackawanna 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's Zoning and Code Enforcement page says "For structures that require building code inspections, you can choose to use either Northeast Inspection Consultants or Building inspection underwriters as your 3 rd party inspector" and "All permits from these companies are obtained through the Township Zoning Department," at the Township office, 1038 Montdale Road. The Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance is not published online and was not read, and no Township page names a code edition.

Scott Township's pages and ordinances read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. The Zoning and Code Enforcement page says "Any building over 120 sq.ft. requires a permit as well as any deck, fence wall or swimming pool" and "If you are unsure as to the need fro a permit for your project please contact us prior to beginning any construction," and adds that "The Township policy allows for up to triple the permit fee in cases where a permit should have been obtained but was not." No Township page or form read names roof work either as permit work or as exempt. The Township's Ordinances page posts its Zoning Ordinance and several health and safety ordinances but no Uniform Construction Code ordinance, and no codified Township code was found online, so the Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance, any permit or exemption section in it, and any older building ordinance it keeps in force were not read. The Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 03-7-24), Section 602.1, says "A building and/or zoning permit shall be required prior to the erection, addition, or alteration of any building or structure" and "No Zoning Permit shall be required in cases or normal maintenance activities, minor repairs or alterations which do not structurally change a building or structure"; that section sits in the zoning ordinance and 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." This record does not state whether the Township requires a permit for a house reroof; ask the Township office (570-319-1296) before starting. The Township's online permit portal says "For questions about building permits or applications please call (570) 319-1296." The office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 4:00. Read for this answer: the Township's Zoning and Code Enforcement, Forms and Applications and Ordinances pages; its online permit portal; its Zoning Permit Information sheet; the Zoning Ordinance in full; and the subcode application page of Northeast Inspection Consultants linked from the Township's forms page. The Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance and any building permit fee schedule are not published online and were not read.