Roofing in South Abington 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, South Abington Township takes building permit applications at its Township office, 104 Shady Lane Road: its Forms/Permits page offers the Building / Electrical Permit form to "Complete form and send in," and its FAQ says "SOUTH ABINGTON TOWNSHIP requires permits for any type of structural alteration, editions, new construction, retaining walls" and refers questions to the Township Manager. The Township's 2021 Zoning Ordinance says "Building permit administration shall be governed by provisions of the current building code adopted by South Abington Township." The Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance and any codified Township code were not found published online, and were not read for this record. The Township's pages name no edition of the International Residential Code.

South Abington Township's FAQ says "Building permits not required for:" and lists "Residential roofs as long as the structure is not being changed." The Township's FAQ (read October 9, 2026), under "Building Permits/Zoning," says "Building permits not required for:" and lists "Residential roofs as long as the structure is not being changed," beside siding and replacement windows on the same condition. The Township's Building / Electrical Permit form lists "Roofing - Total square feet" among its types of 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." The Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance and fee schedule were not found published, so this record does not state whether the Township requires a permit for a house reroof; ask the Township office (570-586-2111, extension 3) before starting, and get a permit if the structure is being changed. Read for this answer: the Township's FAQ, Forms/Permits and Zoning pages, its Building / Electrical Permit form, and the Building Permits provisions of its 2021 Zoning Ordinance. No fee schedule was found published.