Roofing in Susquehanna Township (Dauphin 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, Susquehanna Township administers the code itself: Section 5-101 of the Township Code says "Susquehanna Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act 45 of 1999," and the Community Development Department's page says its Building & Code Enforcement staff "Issues residential and commercial building permits" and "Performs structural, electrical, plumbing, etc. inspections"; commercial plans go to the Middle Department Inspection Agency. Section 5-102 of the Township Code (Ordinance 04-09, 2004) adopts the 2003 International Building Code and makes local changes to the 2003 International Residential Code, including its Table 301.2(1) entry "Ice Shield Underlayment Required = Yes," while the Township's Permit Information page says "The State of Pennsylvania has adopted the 2021 International Construction Codes / and Amendments (ICC), effective January 1, 2026." This record has not read the 2003 editions' roofing text. Part 1 of Chapter 5 changes nothing in the code's roof covering provisions.

Susquehanna Township's Community Development Department has published nothing read for this record that names roofing as permit work or as exempt. The Township's Building/Zoning Permit Application (revised 01.23) lists "Reroofing over existing shingles" as one of three roof construction boxes beside "Roof Trusses" and "Roof Field Frame," on a general application for every kind of building and zoning permit; it is not a roofing permit form, and it does not say that a reroof needs a permit. The department's Permit Information page names no roof work. The Township's 2026 fee schedule (Resolution 25-R-18, adopted December 11, 2025) lists among its "Residential Work Classifications" dwellings, basement refinishing, accessory structures, pools and "REMODELING/RENOVATIONS" at "1% cost/value $100 minimum," with no roofing line. Part 1 of Chapter 5 of the Township Code (Sections 5-101 and 5-102) elects to enforce the Act and makes local changes to the 2003 codes; it has no permit clause of its own for house repairs or alterations and names no roof work. The Department of Labor and Industry's register of municipal code change ordinances lists a Susquehanna Township ordinance that "Requires a building permit for all residential alterations and repairs, except where excluded from permit requirements by the International Residential Code," "Enacted 5 / 08 / 08," and records "Ordinance repealed and challenge ended on 8 / 26 / 08." 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; the Permit Information page says "For any questions please call 717-909-9251." Where a permit is needed, residential applications may be e-mailed or delivered to the municipal office with two sets of plans and a site plan, "Residential Building Permits require an Application Fee of $100.00," and the fee schedule doubles the permit fee for work begun before a required permit is issued ("Permit Fees Doubled"). The office is open 8 am to 4:30 pm. Read for this answer: Part 1 of Chapter 5 of the Township Code (Sections 5-101 and 5-102), in full; a search of the whole Township Code for "roof," which found no permit provision naming roof work; the Community Development and Permit Information pages; the Building/Zoning Permit Application; the 2026 fee schedule's building section; and the first two pages of the 2026 third-party agency fee schedule.