Roofing in Springettsbury 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, Springettsbury Township administers the code itself: Section 128-1 of the Township Code says "Springettsbury Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Code," and the Community Development Department's Building Inspections page says "The Township employs full-time inspectors, supplemented by third party inspectors when needed." Article I of Chapter 128 of the Township Code (Sections 128-1 to 128-8) adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," by reference as the Township's building code, has no permit clause of its own for house repairs or alterations, and names no roof work. Section 128-5.E says that as the Uniform Construction Code "is amended to include or adopt new or updated versions of any building or other codes, such codes automatically shall be updated as part of this article." The department's Community Development page, however, says "The Pennsylvania State legislature adopted the 2018 International Building Codes on February 12, 2022. Residential and Commercial Building permit applications will be reviewed and inspected for compliance with the 2018 International Building Codes." So the department's own page names the 2018 codes while the State's rule names the 2021 edition; this record has not read the 2018 edition's roofing text. Chapter 128 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions.

Springettsbury Township's Community Development Department has published nothing read for this record that names roofing as permit work or as exempt. The department's Building Permits page (read October 6, 2026) lists what "Building Permits are required for," from "New Building Construction" and "Building Alterations" to swimming pools, and names no roof work; it also says the Uniform Construction Code "applies to the construction, alteration, repair, movement, equipment, removal, demolition, location, maintenance, occupancy or change of occupancy of every building or structure." It does not say whether a reroof needs a permit, and no residential permit application is posted on the department's pages. The Township's fee schedule (Exhibit A to Chapter A330 of the Township Code, as amended January 22, 2026 by Resolution 2026-29) charges residential permits by "0.015 x cost of construction, min. $25" with no roofing line, and its building inspection fee schedule lists "Attached garages, additions, alterations, renovations" by floor area, also with no roofing line. Article I of Chapter 128 of the Township Code (Sections 128-1 to 128-8) adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," by reference as the Township's building code, has no permit clause of its own for house repairs or alterations, 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 therefore does not state whether the Township requires a permit for a reroof; ask the department at 717-757-3521 before work starts. Where a permit is needed, the application must include a completed form, a site plan, construction drawings and specifications, residential review takes 15 business days, and the fee schedule charges "Permit Fee x 2" for "Work started/completed without permit." Inspections are scheduled Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, at 717-757-3521, at least 48 hours ahead. Read for this answer: Article I of Chapter 128 of the Township Code (Sections 128-1 to 128-8), in full; Chapter A330, Fee Schedule, with its Exhibit A, plan review and building inspection fee schedules; a search of the whole Township Code for "roof," which found no permit provision naming roof work; and the department's Building Permits, Building Inspections and Community Development pages.