Roofing in West Pennsboro Township (Cumberland 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 Pennsboro Township takes Uniform Construction Code applications for Middle Department Inspection Agency: the Township's Planning & Permits page says "If a UCC (Building) Permit is required, you'll be directed to West Pennsboro Township to drop off your application for the building inspection agency (MDIA) review," and that once the plans are approved "you will be called by the staff at West Pennsboro Township with the cost of the inspections." The Township has not published the ordinance by which it adopted the Uniform Construction Code, and this record has not read it. The Township's pages name no code edition.

No West Pennsboro Township text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. The Planning & Permits page (read October 9, 2026) says "Once the Zoning Application has been obtained from the township, you may proceed with your project unless a UCC (Building) Permit is required," and does not say which work needs a UCC permit or name roof work either way. Section 1.10 of the Township's Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2025-03) says "No zoning permit shall be required for repairs or maintenance of any Structure or land provided such repairs do not change the use or the exterior dimensions of the Structure, or otherwise violate the provisions of this Ordinance"; that clause speaks to the zoning permit only. The Township's 2026 fee schedule (Resolution 2026-01) lists zoning permit fees by project value and has no building permit or roofing line. The Township has not published the ordinance by which it adopted the Uniform Construction Code, and this record has not read it. 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." Because the Township's adoption ordinance is unpublished and neither the Township nor its agency has published a statement on reroofs, this record does not decide whether the Township requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. The Township office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at (717) 243-8220. Read for this answer: the Township's Planning & Permits, Ordinances & Resolutions and Contact pages; the UCC (Building) permit application, which lists Alteration and Repair among its types of work without naming roofs; the zoning permit application; the Zoning Ordinance, whose permit article names no roof work; and the 2025 and 2026 fee schedules. The Township's ordinance list does not include a Uniform Construction Code ordinance.