Roofing in Wernersville, 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, Wernersville Borough takes permit applications at the Borough Hall, 100 North Reber Street, and its home page lists "Apply for Permits (building, plumbing, fence, shed, sidewalk, etc)" among the things done there. The Borough's home page links "Code Enforcement & Zoning Officers & Permit Applications" to a third-party code agency's site, that agency's municipality list names Wernersville Borough, and the agency's General Information sheet for the Borough lists the agency under "Building Code Official Information" and says "Applications are submitted to, and permits picked up at the Borough office at the above address." The Borough's Ordinances page lists ordinances on dogs, trees, trash, weeds, snow and ice, trailers, noise, sidewalks and curbs, property transfer, rentals, open burning, recreational equipment, animal waste and property maintenance, and no ordinance on building permits or the Uniform Construction Code. The Borough's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code and its fee schedule are not published on its website, no Wernersville code library was found on eCode360 or Municode, and they were not read for this record. The Borough's pages name no residential code edition.

Wernersville Borough's own pages name no roof work as permit work or as exempt. The Borough's FAQ answers "When do I need to optain a permit for work being done at my home?" with "Permits are required by the borough for the following:" followed by a list of sidewalks, driveways, swimming pools, fences, sheds and "Additions and changes to the structure of the home," and adds "If you are unsure if you need a permit, please call us at (610) 678-1486." The list names no roof work and does not say that work outside it needs no permit. The agency's permit application asks whether the project will include "the construction, enlargement, alteration, structural repair, relocation, or demolition of a building," lists a $100.00 residential building application fee, names no roof work, and does not say whether a house reroof is an alteration or a repair. The Borough's Ordinances page lists ordinances on dogs, trees, trash, weeds, snow and ice, trailers, noise, sidewalks and curbs, property transfer, rentals, open burning, recreational equipment, animal waste and property maintenance, and no ordinance on building permits or the Uniform Construction Code. The Borough's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code and its fee schedule are not published on its website, no Wernersville code library was found on eCode360 or Municode, and they were not read for this record. No page 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 Borough office (610-678-1486) or the agency's main line (610-777-1311) before starting. Read for this answer: the Borough's home, FAQ, contact, services and Ordinances pages; the agency's home, permitting, municipality information and building inspections pages; the agency's General Information sheet for the Borough; and the agency's permit application in full (six pages).