Roofing in Yardley, 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, Yardley Borough administers the code itself or through a retained official: Section 5-101 of the Borough Code says "Yardley Borough hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code, Act 45 of 1999," and the Borough's staff page lists a Building Code Official/Building Inspector who "administers and enforces the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code." The Borough's Building & Property permit applications are taken at Borough Hall, 56 South Main Street, or sent electronically to that official. Section 5-102 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa.Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the Municipal Building Code of Yardley Borough," and Part 1 of Chapter 5 adds no permit clause of its own and names no roof work. Section 5-105 keeps building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the code"; the published Borough Code has no separate building chapter, and this record has not found an older building ordinance. The Borough's pages name no code edition; this record does not decide which edition the Borough applies.

No Yardley Borough text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. The Borough's Permit Guide (read October 12, 2026) describes the Building & Electrical Permit as "For construction and structural projects, including new buildings, additions, decks, garages, sheds, renovations, and electrical work regulated under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC)," and lists "Roof modifications (where applicable)" among projects under "Building or Renovating." The Guide does not say whether replacing a roof covering is one of them. Section 5-102 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa.Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the Municipal Building Code of Yardley Borough," and Part 1 of Chapter 5 adds no permit clause of its own and names no roof work. Section 5-105 keeps building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the code"; the published Borough Code has no separate building chapter, and this record has not found an older building ordinance. In the Historic District, Section 11-103 says "No portion of a structure located in the Historic District and seen from a public right-of-way shall be erected, reconstructed, altered, restored, demolished or razed in whole or in part, unless a certificate of appropriateness has been obtained," and Section 11-601 lists "Roof shingle replacement" among work exempt from the plans, drawings and samples that may be required with an application. The Permit Guide lists "roofing" among exterior work needing review in the Historic District. These are historic-district rules, not building permit rules, and this record does not decide whether a house in the District needs a certificate of appropriateness for a reroof. 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 decide whether the Borough requires a permit for an ordinary reroof; ask the Borough office, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, at 215-493-6832, or the Building Code Official at 610-723-7719 (the number the Submit a Permit page gives for that official), before starting. The fee schedule says that where work is started without the required permits "the applicable permit fees shall be DOUBLED." Read for this answer: Chapter 5, Part 1 (Sections 5-101 to 5-106) and the headings of Parts 2 and 3; Chapter 11, Historic District, Sections 11-103 and 11-601; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof," for "reroofing" and for "shingle"; the Borough's Permit Guide, Submit a Permit page and Staff & Professionals page; its UCC permit application; and its May 2025 fee schedule.