Roofing in Washington Township (Lehigh 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, Washington Township in Lehigh County issues building permits from its Zoning/Building Office at the municipal building, 7951 Center Street, Emerald; the Township's UCC Permit Application & Permit Procedures sheet says the applicant submits the Uniform Construction Code application "directly to the Township office for BCO review," that the building code official contacts "a PA State Certified Construction Code Official (CCO) or inspector for plan review and approval," and that the "BCO issues Building Permit." The Township publishes a selection of its ordinances online; its ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code is not among them and was not read for this record, and no codified Township code was found online. The Township's permit pages and forms name no code edition.

Washington Township's pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. The procedures sheet says "Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a residential or nonresidential building, structure or facility" or its systems "regulated by the Zoning Ordinance and/or the Uniform Construction Code (UCC) shall first apply to the Washington Township Zoning/Building Office," and names no roof work. The Township's fee schedule, headed "TOWNSHIP FEES FOR 2009-PRESENT," has no roofing line; its page headed "Do I need a Zoning Permit or a Building Permit?" lists residential building permit work without naming roof work and says "Any structural changes require permit/inspection." The Township's questions and answers page and its building and zoning permit applications name no roof work. The Township publishes a selection of its ordinances online; its ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code is not among them and was not read for this record, and no codified Township code was found online. 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 does not state whether the Township requires a permit for a house reroof; the procedures sheet says "It is strongly recommended you contact the Zoning Officer/Building Code Official (BCO) prior to applying for permits," at the Township office (610-767-8108), open Monday through Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm. Read for this answer: the Township's UCC Permit Application & Permit Procedures sheet, Uniform Construction Permit Application, zoning permit application and instructions, and fee schedule; and its Forms and Documents, Zoning, FAQs, Ordinances and General Information pages.