Roofing in West Nantmeal 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 Nantmeal Township's Forms page, read October 12, 2026, lists "UCC Permit Application (This form is REQUIRED for ALL permit applications)" and its Building Permit Insert, and the Township office is at 455 N. Manor Road, Elverson (610-286-9722), open Monday to Wednesday, 9:00am to 2:00pm. Section 75-1 of the Township Code says "The Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the Act" and Section 75-4 says "The Building Code shall be administered and enforced by the Building Code Official, who shall be appointed by resolution of the Board of Supervisors." Chapter 75 names the International Residential Code, 2003 Edition, the International Existing Building Code, 2003 Edition, and the International Building Code, 2003 Edition, "as now and as hereafter supplemented, reissued, amended and revised," and the Township's pages name no edition; this record has not read the 2003 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Township applies.

No West Nantmeal Township text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. Section 75-2 of the Township Code, kept in force from 2004 under Ordinance No. 94, says "All repairs and alterations to residential buildings shall comply with the Township's Building Code adopted on June 14, 2004, and any successor code adopted by the Township pursuant to Act 45 of 1999." That sentence says "comply" and names no permit and no roof work, and this record does not decide whether it requires a permit for a house reroof. Section 75-6 deletes the exemption in Section 403.62(c)(1)(xvii) and says "The Township shall require a building permit for the installation of all decks." The Township's Resolution 2023-1 fee schedule (January 3, 2023) says "Building and/or Zoning Permits are required before beginning projects to enlarge, repair, change, add to or demolish a structure, install improvements, or install equipment or systems in a structure." That sentence names no roof work, and this record does not decide whether a house reroof is a repair or a change under it. The same schedule's building permit fees name new construction and additions, alterations ("$.45 s/f of GBA" for Use Groups R-3 and R-4), demolition and accessory structures, and no roofing line. The Township's home page says "Before beginning any project on your property whether it be a fence, shed, or an addition" the owner should check with the Zoning Officer "to see if a permit is required." Read for this answer: Chapter 75 of the Township Code (Articles I to III in full, and the contents of Articles IV to IX); every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof", which returned no roofing permit text, and for "reroofing", which returned none; the Township's Forms, Ordinances, home and Services pages; the UCC permit application and Building Permit Insert; and Resolution 2023-1, read in full from its rendered page images. Ask the Township office at 610-286-9722 before work starts.