Roofing in Union Township (Lebanon 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, Union Township does not take building permit applications itself: the Township's Zoning Permit Procedures sheet (read October 10, 2026) says "Union Township will no longer be receiving building permit applications, nor performing reviews nor collecting fees" and "Commonwealth Code Inspections Services in Manheim, PA is the Building Code Official for all projects in Union Township," and points to that firm's website for "all building permit matters." The Township's Zoning Information page links "Building Permit Information" to the same firm's site (717-664-2347), and the Township building is at 3111 State Road 72, Jonestown (717-865-4039). The Township's pages name no residential code edition. The Township's ordinance electing to administer the Uniform Construction Code is not published on the Township's Ordinances page and was not read for this record.

Union Township's own pages name no roof work as permit work or as exempt. Its Zoning Information page says "Before starting any major construction or building project, please consult with the Township Zoning Officer to determine what permits, fees, and other requirements may be needed," and its zoning permit application lists "New Structure," "Replace Structure" and "Add to Structure" among its project types without naming roofing. Section 16.B of the Township's zoning ordinance (Ordinance 137) says "No zoning permit shall be required for repairs to and maintenance of any building, structure, sign or land, provided that such repairs do not change the use, alter the exterior dimensions of the building, structure or sign, or otherwise violate the provisions of this Ordinance," which speaks to the zoning permit only, and adds that "no provision of this Ordinance shall eliminate the applicability of the Uniform Construction Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the construction, alteration or maintenance of any building or structure." The Township's 2025 fee schedule names no building permit fee for roof work. The Township's ordinance electing to administer the Uniform Construction Code is not among the 12 ordinances its Ordinances page lists and was not read for this record, and none of the Township's pages or the building code official's pages read says whether a house reroof needs a building permit. 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 Township office (717-865-4039) or the building code official (717-664-2347) before starting. Read for this answer: the Township's Home, Zoning & Planning, Zoning Information, Zoning Permit Application, Forms & Applications, Fee Schedule, Ordinances, Directory and Contact Us pages; the Zoning Permit Procedures sheet; the zoning permit application; the 2025 fee schedule; Ordinance 137 (zoning) in full, including Sections 12.D.12 and 16.B; the Township's ordinance list (12 ordinances, none electing to administer the Uniform Construction Code); and the building code official's home, information and forms, Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, contact, residential permit application and residential building plans pages, none of which names roof replacement as permit work or as exempt.