Roofing in Summit Hill, 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, Summit Hill Borough has a contracted agency run its Uniform Construction Code permits: its Code Enforcement page (read October 10, 2026) says "UCC & Code Enforcement: Lehigh Engineering, LLC," at 200 Mahantongo Street, Pottsville, the Borough's residential UCC permit application says "ALL BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS SHALL BE FILED WITH LEHIGH ENGINEERING, LLC" and gives the agency's phone, 570-628-2300, and Section 172-1 of the Borough Code says the Borough "elects to administer and enforce" the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act. The Borough office, at 40 West Amidon Street, is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. Article I of Chapter 172 of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 3-2004, June 14, 2004, Sections 172-1 to 172-6), read October 10, 2026, adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," by reference "as the municipal building code of the Borough of Summit Hill," names no roof work and adds no permit clause of its own for house repairs; Article II (Ord. No. 5-2014) concerns certificates of occupancy for uncertified buildings and names no roof work. The Borough's Code and pages name no code edition.

Summit Hill Borough's code and pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. Article I of Chapter 172 of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 3-2004, June 14, 2004, Sections 172-1 to 172-6), read October 10, 2026, adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," by reference "as the municipal building code of the Borough of Summit Hill," names no roof work and adds no permit clause of its own for house repairs; Article II (Ord. No. 5-2014) concerns certificates of occupancy for uncertified buildings and names no roof work. The Borough has published nothing on reroofing. Its residential UCC permit application lists "TYPE OF WORK IMPROVEMENT" boxes for new building, addition, alteration, change of use, demolition, swimming pool and accessory structure, and its residential fee worksheet lists "Roof over Porch or Patio $175.00" and "Renovation (2.5% of Total Cost (Min. $900)" with no reroofing line. Section 475-45 of the Zoning chapter says "It shall be unlawful to commence the excavation for or the construction or erection of any building, or to commence the moving or alteration of any building, including an accessory building, until the Zoning Officer has issued a zoning permit for such work" and "No zoning permit shall be required for the repair, maintenance, or interior remodeling of any building, structure, or grounds, provided such repairs, maintenance, or remodeling do not change the use or otherwise violate the provisions of this chapter"; that is a zoning permit, and this record does not decide whether a house reroof is repair or maintenance under it. 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." Ask the Borough office (570-645-2305) or the agency (570-628-2300) before starting. The residential application says "Activities commenced prior to the issuance of permits or submittal of plans required by the Municipality pursuant to the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code shall be subject to an additional twenty five percent (25%) administrative fee." Read for this answer: Chapter 172, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 172-1 to 172-11), in full; Article XI of Chapter 475, Zoning, Administration and Enforcement; Chapter 224, Fees; Chapter 350, Property Maintenance; 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 Code Enforcement, Zoning, Forms & Documents, Administration, Contact and FAQs pages; its residential UCC permit application with fee worksheet; its Zoning Application; and its 2026 fee schedule resolution.