Roofing in Wrightsville, 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, Wrightsville Borough's Permits and Ordinances page says "The Borough subcontracts the enforcement of the UCC to Solanco Engineering Associates LLC," and its Who Do I Contact page lists that firm, at 103 Fite Way, Suite C, Quarryville (717-786-0355), for zoning permits and building permits; the Borough office is at 601 Water Street, Wrightsville (717-252-2768). The Borough's Residential Permit Process sheet, transcribed from its rendered page image, names "Building Code Official - Solanco Engineering Associates LLC" and also says a building permit check "will be payable to Dependable Construction Code Services". Section 5-202 of the Borough Code (Ord. 2004-4, June 7, 2004) adopts the Uniform Construction Code in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, "as amended from time to time". Section 5-202 names no edition ("as amended from time to time") and the Borough's pages name none.

No Wrightsville Borough text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. Section 4-203 of the Borough Code says "It shall be unlawful for any person to build, alter or change the use of any building or structure in Wrightsville Borough without first having obtained a permit therefor as herein provided." Section 4-202 defines "alteration" to exclude "Repairs, unless such repairs are addressed by or require the oversight of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code," and defines "build" to include "restoration of any structure or part thereof" but not "repairing". Those sections use no roof word, and this record does not decide whether a house reroof is a repair, an alteration or a restoration under them. The Borough's Residential Permit Process sheet lists "Patio roofs - zoning and building permits" among projects that require a permit, and lists "General maintenance work" among projects that MAY require a permit, directing the reader to the Building Code Official at 717-786-0355; it names no reroofing, and its "Alterations" line covers work with no increase in ground floor exterior dimension, "including new facing, replacement siding, chimneys, etc." Read for this answer: Chapter 4, Part 2 (Sections 4-201 to 4-211) and Chapter 5, Part 2 (Sections 5-201 to 5-208) of the Borough Code in full; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing", which returned no roofing permit text; the Permits and Ordinances and Who Do I Contact pages; the Residential Permit Process sheet and application; and the Borough fee schedule, which names no roofing line. Ask the Building Code Official at 717-786-0355 before work starts.