Permit
Local ordinance, not the state
The state code does not cover a reroof that changes no structure (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). So the township code office in Brown is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Brown, PA
Half of the 1,711 homes in Brown were built before 1970. The rules below decide how much of the old roof has to come off and what goes under the new one.
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 Brown
Layers
Two layers means a tear-off
A new roof may go over one existing layer; with two or more, or over slate, clay or cement tile, everything comes off to the deck (IRC R908.3.1.1). 59% of Brown’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
Ice barrier
Brown’s climate table decides
IRC R905.1.2 calls for an ice barrier where Table R301.2 says so; in Pennsylvania the municipality completes that table. Brown’s answer is with the township code office.
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 Brown
Owners live in 1,214 of Brown’s occupied homes, or 82%. By year built, 18% before 1940, 35% before 1960, 59% before 1980; 16% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 78% detached houses, 8% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 4% manufactured homes.
Of the 12 Mifflin County municipalities on this site, Brown has the 11th largest share of homes built before 1980: 59%, against a county range of 52% to 93%.
ZIP codes: 17084
Brown and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | 1970 | 59% | 82% | 8% | 7 |
| Union Township, Mifflin County | 1971 | 66% | 70% | 8% | 7 |
| Burnham | 1952 | 87% | 74% | 8% | 7 |
| Derry Township, Mifflin County | 1962 | 75% | 78% | 7% | 6 |
| Lewistown | 1938 | 93% | 40% | 22% | 7 |
| Granville | 1971 | 73% | 78% | 3% | 6 |
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 Brown
Within 10 miles of Brown, hail of an inch or more was reported on 7 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 1.75 in on June 18, 2014. The most recent was June 9, 2025.
That is fewer than most places in the state on this site (median 12 days).
A report says hail fell near Brown, not that it damaged a roof. When wind or hail damage means a new roof.
What goes on the roof next
Lifespans come from HUD’s capital-needs table, not from a brochure. 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; 78% 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; 18% here predate 1940 | Never a base for a new layer (R908.3.1.1); heavy |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Porches, additions, low-slope rears | Coating is not a replacement |
Checking a contractor in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s home improvement law (HICPA § 3, § 6) requires registration with the Attorney General from $5,000 a year of such work and puts the number on every estimate; ask for it in Brown and look it up.
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 Brown
Is a permit required for a new roof in Brown, PA?
Local ordinance, not the state. The state code does not cover a reroof that changes no structure (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). So the township code office in Brown is the one to ask before work starts.
Is a roof-over allowed in Brown, or is it a tear-off?
A new roof may go over one existing layer; with two or more, or over slate, clay or cement tile, everything comes off to the deck (IRC R908.3.1.1). 59% of Brown’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
How old are the houses in Brown?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Brown was built in 1970, 59% of homes were built before 1980, 82% are owner-occupied.
How many hail days has Brown had?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 7 days within 10 miles of Brown 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 Brown?
Pennsylvania’s home improvement law (HICPA § 3, § 6) requires registration with the Attorney General from $5,000 a year of such work and puts the number on every estimate; ask for it in Brown and look it up.
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in Brown, or at least the ZIP code
- The number of stories, and whether the house stands alone
- What covers the roof now and about when it went on
- The number of layers, if anyone has counted
- Your timing for a complete replacement
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Brown
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.