Roofing in Upper Milford 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, Upper Milford Township issues building permits itself, from the Township office at 5671 Chestnut Street, Zionsville: the Township's Contact page lists its Zoning Officer/Building Code Official among Township staff and names Key Codes Inspection Agency as its "Commercial and Electrical Inspector," and the Zoning page says house plans "must be approved by the Building Inspector before a building permit will be issued." The Township's Code of Ordinances, published through the online code library linked from the Township's Forms & Documents page, could not be opened for this record, so the Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance, any permit or exemption section in it, and any older building ordinance it keeps in force were not read. The Township's Building Permit Application Submission Checklist says "All plans submitted shall conform to the 2009 International Residential Code, for one and two family dwellings"; the text above is the 2021 edition's, the 2009 edition's text was not read for this record, and this record does not decide which edition the Township applies.

No Upper Milford Township text read names reroofing of a house as permit work or as exempt. The Township's Zoning page (read October 9, 2026) says building permits are "Required for new construction and additions or alterations extending the exterior of existing structures," and adds that "most any activity, addition or change to your property, with the exception of routine maintenance and some landscaping, will require a permit" and to "check with the Township when contemplating any activity, project, improvement or change on your property to see what (if any) permit is required." Its 2026 fee schedule (Resolution No. 2026-013) carries a "Roof Replacement" line only under its Commercial Building Fees; the residential building fees list no roof replacement line, and their only roof line is "Roof Structure (i.e. Roof over Existing Patio/Deck." The Building Permit / Zoning Use Permit Application has boxes for alteration and repair work and names no roof work. The Township's Code of Ordinances, published through the online code library linked from the Township's Forms & Documents page, could not be opened for this record, so the Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance, any permit or exemption section in it, and any older building ordinance it keeps in force were not read. 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." Neither the Township's pages nor its residential fees name reroofing, and the Township's code could not be read, so this record does not decide whether the Township requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. Ask the Township at 610-966-3223 before work starts. The Township's checklist asks for the contractor's workers' compensation insurance information and a contractor registration form, every permit application carries a non-refundable $60.00 processing fee, and the inspection sheet says "WORK SHALL NOT PROCEED UNTIL THE FIELD INSPECTION HAS BEEN APPROVED." The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. Read for this answer: the Township's Zoning, Contact, Administration and Forms & Documents pages, the 2026 fee schedule (Resolutions No. 2026-012 and 2026-013), the Building Permit / Zoning Use Permit Application, the Building Permit Application Submission Checklist and the Residential Building Permit Inspection Sheet. The Township's codified ordinances could not be read.