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 East Marlborough is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in East Marlborough, PA
Half of the 2,905 homes in East Marlborough were built before 1988. 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 East Marlborough
Layers
No third layer
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). 34% of East Marlborough’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
Ice barrier
East Marlborough’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 Marlborough’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 East Marlborough
Owners live in 2,625 of East Marlborough’s occupied homes, or 92%. By year built, 12% before 1940, 19% before 1960, 34% before 1980; 27% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 78% detached houses, 19% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses).
Of the 71 Chester County municipalities on this site, East Marlborough has the 52nd largest share of homes built before 1980: 34%, against a county range of 12% to 80%.
ZIP codes: 19348 · 19375
East Marlborough and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Marlborough | 1988 | 34% | 92% | 19% | 15 |
| Kennett Square | 1957 | 75% | 56% | 15% | 11 |
| Newlin | 1982 | 45% | 92% | 1% | 16 |
| Kennett | 1991 | 38% | 77% | 19% | 10 |
| Pocopson | 1986 | 42% | 99% | 13% | 17 |
| Avondale | 1938 | 69% | 62% | 25% | 10 |
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 Marlborough
Within 10 miles of East Marlborough, hail of an inch or more was reported on 15 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 1.75 in on July 25, 2010. The most recent was September 7, 2023.
Remnants of Hurricane Ida (DR-4618, September 2021) is the latest of 5 federal storm declarations covering Chester County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near East Marlborough, 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; 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; 12% 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 (19% 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 East Marlborough, 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 Marlborough
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in East Marlborough?
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 East Marlborough is the one to ask before work starts.
Do the old shingles have to come off in East Marlborough?
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). 34% of East Marlborough’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
How old are the houses in East Marlborough?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in East Marlborough was built in 1988, 34% of homes were built before 1980, 92% are owner-occupied.
Does East Marlborough get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 15 days within 10 miles of East Marlborough 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 Marlborough?
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 Marlborough, and search it.
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in East Marlborough, 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 Marlborough
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.