Roofing in Upper Saucon 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 Saucon Township administers the code through a retained agency: the Township's Resolution No. 2026-05 recites that the Township "elected to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code" by adopting Ordinance No. 130 on May 25, 2004, and its Department of Community Development, at 5500 Camp Meeting Road, Center Valley, says it administers "the Township Building Code, including review of building plans and issuance of building permits" and lists Keycodes Inspection Agency as its "Building Code Official/Plans Examiner/Building Inspector" (610-866-9663). The Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance, Ordinance No. 130, is not posted with the ordinances on the Township's website, and the Township's ordinances are not published online as a codified code, so this record has not read that ordinance or any other Township ordinance on building permits. The Township's pages and fee schedule name no code edition, and this record does not state which edition the Township applies beyond the State's adoption described above.

Upper Saucon Township's fee schedule lists a residential roof replacement fee under a heading for new construction only. The Township's 2026 comprehensive fee schedule, adopted by the Board of Supervisors as Exhibit A to Resolution No. 2026-05 on January 5, 2026 (read October 7, 2026), lists in its "2026 Fee Schedule - Residential Inspection Services" a "ROOF REPLACEMENT" fee of "$127.00 - includes one site visit," among flat-rate fees on a page headed "FLAT RATE COSTS (NEW CONSTRUCTION ONLY) - CONTINUED" that also prices demolition, minor alterations and retaining walls; its commercial schedule lists "Roof Replacement" at $470.00 for the first 5,000 square feet. The Township's building permit application instructions say "No work shall begin on any project until a building permit has been issued." The Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance, Ordinance No. 130, is not posted with the ordinances on the Township's website, and the Township's ordinances are not published online as a codified code, so this record has not read that ordinance or any other Township ordinance on building permits. 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." The roof replacement fee is printed under a heading limited to new construction, and the Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance is not published, so this record does not decide whether the fee line applies to a reroof of an existing house and does not state whether a house reroof needs a building permit; ask the Department of Community Development or Keycodes Inspection Agency before the job starts. Questions about an application go to Keycodes Inspection Agency at 610-866-9663, and the instructions say residential applications are filed with four sets of building plans and a site plan, and that the Uniform Construction Code allows a 15 business day review period. The Township office is at 610-282-1171, open 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Read for this answer: the Department of Community Development page; the Township Forms, Applications and Reports/Studies page; the Uniform Construction Code building permit application and its instructions; the 2026 comprehensive fee schedule (Resolution No. 2026-05 with Exhibit A), whose residential page was checked against the printed page; the Township's FAQ page; and the Township's Ordinances page, which does not post the Uniform Construction Code ordinance.