Permit
Ask Ashley first
Pennsylvania’s code leaves residential alterations without structural change to local ordinance (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). The borough code office can say what Ashley requires.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Ashley, PA
The median home in Ashley was built in 1945; there are 1,359 of them. Below: what the code asks of a replacement here, the permit, and the town’s own records.
New Roofing Costs connects homeowners with independent local roofing contractors. We do not perform roofing work.
Call (833) 781-1806 Replacement and new roofs only · homeowners
This number connects homeowners who are planning a new roof or a full roof replacement with independent local roofing contractors. It is not for leak repairs or patch jobs. The call must come from the homeowner who decides on the roof. Calls may be recorded.
The rules for a reroof in Ashley
Layers
No third layer
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. 84% of Ashley’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
Ice barrier
Ashley’s climate table decides
The code requires an ice barrier where the local climate table (Table R301.2) says so, and each Pennsylvania municipality fills that table in. The contractor or the borough code office in Ashley will know.
Rules as read on October 24, 2026. Code edition, permit and contract rules for the whole state: roof replacement in Pennsylvania.
Homes and roofs in Ashley
Of 1,056 occupied homes in Ashley, 715 (68%) are owner-occupied. By year built, 41% before 1940, 73% before 1960, 84% before 1980; 7% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 54% detached houses, 19% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 12% buildings of two to four units, 14% manufactured homes.
On a house built before 1940, ask what the deck is (boards or plywood) and whether slate sits under the later layers: slate can’t be roofed over.
Of the 63 Luzerne County municipalities on this site, Ashley has the 19th largest share of homes built before 1980: 84%, against a county range of 19% to 97%.
Ashley and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashley | 1945 | 84% | 68% | 19% | 13 |
| Hanover Township, Luzerne County | 1963 | 77% | 67% | 12% | 10 |
| Wilkes-Barre Township | 1957 | 80% | 46% | 17% | 15 |
| Wilkes-Barre | 1943 | 86% | 51% | 13% | 15 |
| Edwardsville | 1959 | 89% | 46% | 12% | 13 |
| Plymouth Borough | 1944 | 89% | 49% | 31% | 9 |
Median built: median year the homes were built. Before 1980: share of homes built then. Owners: share of homes that are owner-occupied. Row, twin: share of homes that are rowhouses, twins or townhouses. Census ACS 2020–2024. Hail days: days with hail of 1 inch or larger within 10 miles, 2006–2025, NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Storm record around Ashley
Since 2006 the National Weather Service has logged hail of 1 inch or larger on 13 separate days within 10 miles of Ashley; the largest was 1.75 in on February 25, 2017. The most recent was June 26, 2024.
Federal major-disaster declarations for storms in Luzerne County since 2006: 4, most recently DR-4618, Remnants of Hurricane Ida, declared September 2021. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Ashley, not that it damaged a roof. When wind or hail damage means a new roof.
What goes on the roof next
HUD’s useful-life figures are for planning; a warranty is a separate promise. For Ashley’s houses: More in the guides to shingles, metal, slate and flat roofs.
| Material | HUD useful life | Fits a house like | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles | 20 years | Most pitched roofs; 54% of homes here are detached | Wind class set by the design wind speed (IRC Table R905.2.4.1) |
| Metal (standing seam, panels) | 50 years | Simple roofs with long, unbroken slopes | Standing seam that carries its own loads can skip the tear-off (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 41% here predate 1940 | Can’t be roofed over; check the framing for the weight |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Low-slope roofs and rear sections (19% of homes here are attached) | Where the roof meets a wall or parapet |
Checking a contractor in Pennsylvania
Before signing for a roof in Ashley, get the contractor’s PA registration number: the home improvement law requires registration with the Attorney General above $5,000 a year of such work, and the number on contracts and estimates (HICPA § 3, § 6).
The price side is in what a new roof costs in Pennsylvania; the paperwork side in checking a roofing contractor.
Questions about a new roof in Ashley
Does a roof replacement in Ashley need a permit?
Ask Ashley first. Pennsylvania’s code leaves residential alterations without structural change to local ordinance (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). The borough code office can say what Ashley requires.
Is a roof-over allowed in Ashley, or is it a tear-off?
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. 84% of Ashley’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
How old are the houses in Ashley?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Ashley was built in 1945, 84% of homes were built before 1980, 68% are owner-occupied.
How many hail days has Ashley had?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 13 days within 10 miles of Ashley from 2006 through 2025 (NOAA Storm Prediction Center). A report means hail fell nearby, not that a roof was damaged.
How do I check a roofing contractor in Ashley?
Before signing for a roof in Ashley, get the contractor’s PA registration number: the home improvement law requires registration with the Attorney General above $5,000 a year of such work, and the number on contracts and estimates (HICPA § 3, § 6).
What they will ask on the phone
- Your address or ZIP code in Ashley
- The number of stories, and whether the house stands alone
- What covers the roof now and about when it went on
- How many layers are on it, if you know
- That the job is a full replacement or a new roof, and your timing
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Ashley
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.