Permit
Ask Decatur first
Pennsylvania’s code leaves residential alterations without structural change to local ordinance (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). The township code office can say what Decatur requires.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Decatur, PA
The median home in Decatur was built in 1978; there are 1,323 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 Decatur
Layers
Two layers means a tear-off
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. 52% of Decatur’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
Ice barrier
Decatur’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. Ask the township code office or the contractor what Decatur’s says.
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 Decatur
Owners live in 1,069 of Decatur’s occupied homes, or 93%. By year built, 16% before 1940, 29% before 1960, 52% before 1980; 12% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 82% detached houses, 15% manufactured homes.
Of the 12 Mifflin County municipalities on this site, Decatur has the smallest share of homes built before 1980: 52%, against a county range of 52% to 93%.
ZIP codes: 17841
Decatur and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | 1978 | 52% | 93% | 3% | 8 |
| Fermanagh | 1975 | 59% | 66% | 1% | 7 |
| Armagh | 1969 | 70% | 82% | 8% | 4 |
| West Beaver | 1981 | 48% | 78% | 2% | 6 |
| Derry Township, Mifflin County | 1962 | 75% | 78% | 7% | 6 |
| Fayette | 1972 | 65% | 74% | 0% | 7 |
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 Decatur
NOAA’s storm reports show 8 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Decatur, topping out at 2 in on June 16, 2022. The most recent was June 9, 2025.
A report says hail fell near Decatur, 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 Decatur’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; 82% 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; 16% here predate 1940 | Sound slate can be reused (R908.5); broken slate cannot |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Porches, additions, low-slope rears | Where the roof meets a wall or parapet |
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 Decatur 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 Decatur
Does a roof replacement in Decatur need a permit?
Ask Decatur first. Pennsylvania’s code leaves residential alterations without structural change to local ordinance (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). The township code office can say what Decatur requires.
Is a roof-over allowed in Decatur, 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. 52% of Decatur’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
How old are the houses in Decatur?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Decatur was built in 1978, 52% of homes were built before 1980, 93% are owner-occupied.
How many hail days has Decatur had?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 8 days within 10 miles of Decatur 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 Decatur?
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 Decatur and look it up.
What they will ask on the phone
- Your address or ZIP code in Decatur
- 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 Decatur
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.