Roofing in West Brandywine 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, West Brandywine Township issues building permits through its Codes Administration Office, at the Township building, 198 Lafayette Road: Section 72-1 of the Township Code says "This municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Township's 2026 fee schedule speaks of "permits issued by the Codes Administration Office," with the Township's own building permit application carrying approval lines for its Building Inspector and Building Code Official. Section 72-2 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time" as the municipal building code, and Chapter 72 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. Chapter 65 of the Township Code names the International Residential Code, 2000 Edition, while the Township's Permits & Forms page says "The Township is currently utilizing the International Code Council Building Code 2021" and its permit application names the "2021 International Building Code," and neither names a residential edition; this record has not read the 2000 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Township applies.

West Brandywine Township's code and pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. Chapter 72 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Ord. No. 04-02, April 15, 2004, read October 9, 2026), names no roof work either way and adds no permit clause of its own for house repairs. Its Section 72-5 keeps in force building code ordinances "adopted by this municipality on or before July 1, 1999" that equal or exceed the code. Separately, Chapter 65, Building Construction, still adopts the International Building Code and the International Residential Code, 2000 Edition (Ord. Nos. 03-03 and 03-04, February 6, 2003), the latter for regulating the "alteration, repair" and "replacement" of one- and two-family dwellings and "providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor"; this record has not read that edition's permit sections and does not decide whether or how Chapter 65 applies to a house today. The Township's 2026 fee schedule (Resolution No. 06-2026) has no roofing line; it prices "Alterations to existing residential buildings (e.g. Photovoltaic Solar Roof Mount Systems)" by estimated cost. The Township's Permits & Forms and Codes & Zoning pages say nothing on roofing permits, and its building permit application names roofing only as a contractor line and a construction detail. 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; ask the Codes Administration Office (610-380-8200) before starting. The building permit application says "Work shall not commence prior to the issuance of a building permit," and the Permits & Forms page says any contractor or subcontractor doing business in the Township "will be required to obtain a Contractor Insurance Verification Registration prior to commencing any work" and that residential applications need "2 original hardcopies of all permit applications and supporting documentation." The Township office is open Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Read for this answer: Chapter 72 (Sections 72-1 to 72-7), Chapter 65 (Sections 65-1 to 65-5) and Chapter 137, Property Maintenance, of the Township Code, in full; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no permit provision naming roof work; the Township's Permits & Forms and Codes & Zoning pages; and its building permit application (revised March 2026) and 2026 fee schedule.