Permit
East Allen’s ordinance decides
Under 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8), alterations to a house that make no structural change are outside the state code. The township code office can say what East Allen requires.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in East Allen, PA
East Allen has 2,190 homes, and half of them were standing by 1978. 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 East Allen
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). 53% of East Allen’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
Ice barrier
East Allen’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 East Allen’s says.
Rules as read on October 24, 2026. Everything else the state requires: roof replacement in Pennsylvania.
Homes and roofs in East Allen
Of 2,131 occupied homes in East Allen, 1,935 (91%) are owner-occupied. By year built, 7% before 1940, 19% before 1960, 53% before 1980; 6% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 85% detached houses, 14% manufactured homes.
Of the 34 Northampton County municipalities on this site, East Allen has the 19th largest share of homes built before 1980: 53%, against a county range of 20% to 91%.
East Allen and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Allen | 1978 | 53% | 91% | 1% | 23 |
| Bath | 1969 | 65% | 57% | 18% | 24 |
| Allen | 2001 | 36% | 81% | 32% | 23 |
| Hanover Township, Northampton County | 1991 | 32% | 83% | 11% | 23 |
| Northampton Borough | 1941 | 73% | 70% | 37% | 23 |
| North Catasauqua | 1951 | 83% | 78% | 20% | 24 |
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 East Allen
NOAA’s storm reports show 23 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around East Allen, topping out at 2 in on August 17, 2007. The most recent was July 3, 2025.
That is more hail days than 98% of the places in the state on this site.
Remnants of Hurricane Ida (DR-4618, September 2021) is the latest of 6 federal storm declarations covering Northampton County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near East Allen, 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; 85% 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; 7% 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 | 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 East Allen, 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 East Allen
Is a permit required for a new roof in East Allen, PA?
East Allen’s ordinance decides. Under 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8), alterations to a house that make no structural change are outside the state code. The township code office can say what East Allen requires.
Is a roof-over allowed in East Allen, or is it a tear-off?
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). 53% of East Allen’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
How old are the houses in East Allen?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in East Allen was built in 1978, 53% of homes were built before 1980, 91% are owner-occupied.
How many hail days has East Allen had?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 23 days within 10 miles of East Allen 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 East Allen?
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 East Allen, and search it.
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in East Allen, 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 East Allen
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.