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 Earl Township is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Earl Township, Lancaster County, PA
Earl Township has 2,521 homes, and half of them were standing by 1986. 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 Earl Township
Layers
One old layer can stay; two cannot
On a roof that already carries two layers, or slate or tile, the code allows no recover: it is a tear-off (IRC R908.3.1.1). 43% of Earl Township’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
Ice barrier
Earl Township’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. Ask the township code office or the contractor what Earl Township’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 Earl Township
Of 2,406 occupied homes in Earl Township, 1,525 (63%) are owner-occupied. By year built, 13% before 1940, 25% before 1960, 43% before 1980; 25% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 53% detached houses, 21% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 12% manufactured homes.
Of the 59 Lancaster County municipalities on this site, Earl Township has the 37th largest share of homes built before 1980: 43%, against a county range of 27% to 87%.
ZIP codes: 17557
Earl Township and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earl Township, Lancaster County | 1986 | 43% | 63% | 21% | 16 |
| New Holland | 1970 | 63% | 69% | 20% | 16 |
| East Earl | 1979 | 52% | 74% | 15% | 13 |
| Ephrata Township | 1997 | 31% | 69% | 11% | 19 |
| West Earl | 1983 | 42% | 82% | 14% | 25 |
| Terre Hill | 1956 | 74% | 57% | 4% | 14 |
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 Earl Township
Within 10 miles of Earl Township, hail of an inch or more was reported on 16 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 1.75 in on June 10, 2008. The most recent was July 1, 2022.
Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (DR-4267, March 2016) is the latest of 3 federal storm declarations covering Lancaster County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Earl Township, not that it damaged a roof. When wind or hail damage means a new roof.
What goes on the roof next
Useful life is HUD’s planning figure, not a warranty. 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; 53% 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 | Roofs that will carry solar later | Standing seam that carries its own loads can skip the tear-off (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 13% here predate 1940 | Never a base for a new layer (R908.3.1.1); heavy |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Low-slope roofs and rear sections (21% of homes here are attached) | Seams at walls and drainage |
Checking a contractor in Pennsylvania
A contractor who does $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year must be registered with the Pennsylvania Attorney General, and the number has to be on every contract and estimate (HICPA § 3, § 6). Ask for it before anyone starts on a roof in Earl Township, and search it.
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 Earl Township
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Earl Township?
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 Earl Township is the one to ask before work starts.
Do the old shingles have to come off in Earl Township?
On a roof that already carries two layers, or slate or tile, the code allows no recover: it is a tear-off (IRC R908.3.1.1). 43% of Earl Township’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
How old are the houses in Earl Township?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Earl Township was built in 1986, 43% of homes were built before 1980, 63% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Earl Township?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 16 days within 10 miles of Earl Township 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 Earl Township?
A contractor who does $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year must be registered with the Pennsylvania Attorney General, and the number has to be on every contract and estimate (HICPA § 3, § 6). Ask for it before anyone starts on a roof in Earl Township, and search it.
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in Earl Township, 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
- Whether there is one layer or more, if you know
- That you want a new roof or a full replacement, and when you want the work done
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Earl Township
- That you are the owner and the one who decides
The full list: before you call.