Are Building Permits Required for Roof Replacement in Pennsylvania?

Building Permits

• Throughout the state of Pennsylvania, local municipalities govern the requirements for construction and home improvement work. Building permits are not necessary for most finish work, such as painting or simple repairs, but some towns require a permit to remove an existing roof and replace it with a new system. For example, Baldwin Township in Pennsylvania requires a permit for any type of construction such as decks, porches, garages, pools and fences with some exceptions such as replacing siding, windows or doors. Roof repairs such as shingling or patching an existing roof does not require a building permit as well. In Jackson Township, homeowners must obtain a proposed use permit for new construction, alterations, repairs and demolitions. When a homeowner applies for a proposed use permit, the town will determine if a building permit is necessary. Tredyffrin Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, requires a building permit for a roof replacement if the homeowner plans to replace more than 25 percent of the existing roof.

Additional Permits

• If the homeowner plans to perform additional work when replacing a roof, the state of Pennsylvania may require other permits as well. For example, if the repair work involves electrical, heating and ventilation or a fire suppression system, the job will require additional permits.

Inspection

• When homeowners obtain a building permit to replace the roof on the residence, building inspectors will inspect the work to ensure it meets building codes. The town will provide homeowners with a time frame for inspections when they receive the building permit.

Permit Application Requirements

• Applying for a building permit to replace the roof on a home requires the homeowner to supply the measurements for the roof or the cost of the construction work to determine the permit fee. The application also requires documentation such as a construction contract to validate the estimated cost of the roof replacement work. In addition, the town may require documentation for homeowner's association approval.