Roofing in West Buffalo Township (Union 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, West Buffalo Township's permits run through the Central Keystone Council of Governments: its Union County Municipalities page (read October 10, 2026) says "All municipalities in Union County have adopted the PA Act 45 Building Code," lists "A zoning permit is required in West Buffalo Township," and gives the Council's office, 1610 Industrial Boulevard, Suite 400A, Lewisburg, as the contact for the Township's zoning forms, with the Township (PO Box 131, Mifflinburg) as the contact "for all other needs." The Township publishes no website of its own that was found. The Council's 2021 Code Update page says "as we transition to the 2021 Codes," and neither it nor any other page read names an older residential edition. The Township's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code was not found published and was not read for this record.

No page read for West Buffalo Township names a house reroof as permit work or as exempt. The Council's Residential Building Permits page says "A UCC Building Permit is required if you intend to construct, enlarge, convert, move, demolish or change the occupancy of any residential building (1-2 family dwelling)," lists among the permits required "Any roof repair/replacement of framing when attached to the house," and says to call "Your Local Borough or Township Office, even if your project does not require a UCC Building Permit, it may require approval from the Municipality or County"; that list speaks to roof repair or replacement of framing and does not say whether replacing only the roof covering needs a permit. The Council's Union County page says "Building permits will not be issued until all zoning requirements have been satisfied," and the Township's zoning permit application, posted by the Council, offers erecting a sign, establishing a business, constructing an addition, constructing an accessory structure, relocating a structure and constructing a new structure, with no roofing choice. The Township's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code and its fee schedule were not found published anywhere and were not read for this record. 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 Council (570-522-1326) or the Township (570-522-1348) before starting. Read for this answer: the Council's Union County Municipalities, Residential Building Permits, Additions or Alterations, Zoning, 2021 Code Update and FAQ pages; the zoning permit application the Council posts for the Township; and the Department of Labor and Industry's listing for the Council. No Township website, ordinance library or fee schedule for West Buffalo Township was found.