Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Montgomery or Bucks County?
Usually yes, but it depends on the township. Horsham, Upper Dublin, Abington, Upper Moreland, Hatboro, Lansdale and Ambler all list re-roofing as work that needs a permit, while some places only require one above a share of the roof or for attached homes. Search your township in the table to see what its own rules say.
By Jim Armstrong, owner of Armstrong Roofing LLC. Updated .
Why the answer changes from one township to the next
In Pennsylvania, each township and borough decides how it handles residential re-roofing. That's why the house on one side of County Line Road needs a permit and the one on the other side might not. Most of the places we work around Horsham do want one; a few only ask for it once you're replacing more than a set share of the roof, and a couple exempt detached single-family houses.
What the official sources we found say, in short:
- Permit for a re-roof: Horsham, Upper Dublin, Abington, Upper Moreland (Willow Grove), Hatboro, Lansdale and Ambler.
- Only above part of the roof: Lower Gwynedd and Doylestown Borough (20% or more), Montgomery Township and Chalfont (more than 25%).
- Depends on the house: Newtown and Warrington treat detached single-family homes differently from townhomes and twins.
- No permit for a straight re-shingle: Lower Moreland, and Lower Makefield (Yardley) when there are no structural changes. Whitpain (Blue Bell) appears to only ask for one when plywood is replaced.
- Couldn't confirm: Warminster and Doylestown Township. Call them.
Rules change: Townships update their fee schedules and forms every year or two, and some of the pages we found are a few years old. Treat the table as a starting point and confirm with your township before work starts.
What the permit means on a real job
A permit is mostly paperwork and an inspection, and it protects you more than it slows anything down. Where a township inspects, they're checking that the old roof came off properly, the deck is sound, and things like ice and water barrier at the eaves went on, which is what we put on every replacement anyway. Chalfont's form even calls out ice shield by name.
Where it trips people up is twins and townhomes. Several townships treat attached homes differently because of the fire separation at the shared wall, so a roof on a Lansdale twin or a Newtown townhome can need a permit even where a detached house would not.
(Question for Jim: does Armstrong pull the permit on every job that needs one, and is the fee included in the quote or listed separately?)
What it looked like on one of our jobs
(Question for Jim: one recent job where a permit was needed: township, how long the permit took, when the inspection happened, and anything the inspector asked for)
You can see the scope of recent replacements, like this Warminster roof, on our projects page.
Questions to ask any roofer about the permit
- Who is pulling the permit? It should be the contractor, in the contractor's name, with their PA home improvement registration number on it.
- Is the fee in the price? Fees are usually based on the cost of the job. Ask whether it is included or added on.
- When is the inspection? Some townships inspect at tear-off and again at the end, so the deck can be checked before it is covered.
- Is the house attached? Twins, row homes and townhomes often have extra rules at the shared wall.
If a roofer says your township never needs a permit, ask them to show you where it says that. If you'd like a straight answer for your house, call us or book a free inspection. For what the whole job costs, see how much a new roof costs.
When you don't need a permit at all
Small repairs like a few shingles, a vent boot or a flashing fix are below the thresholds in the townships that publish one. If you're not replacing the roof, the permit question usually doesn't come up.
Related questions
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Horsham?
Yes. Horsham Township lists re-roofing among the work that needs a permit. Check the township's permit requirements page or call code enforcement to confirm before work starts.
Is a permit needed for a partial roof replacement?
It depends on how much. Lower Gwynedd and Doylestown Borough skip the permit under 20% of the roof, and Montgomery Township and Chalfont at 25% or less. Other townships ask for a permit for any re-roof.
Who pulls the roofing permit, me or the roofer?
Normally the roofing contractor applies, in their name. Ask any roofer you're comparing whether the permit and its fee are included in their price.
Do townhomes and twins have different rules?
Often, yes. Newtown and Warrington, for example, treat attached homes differently from detached houses because of the fire separation at the shared wall.