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 Fell is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Fell, PA
Fell has 1,083 homes, and half of them were standing by 1958. 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 Fell
Layers
No third layer
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). 71% of Fell’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
Ice barrier
Set by the local climate table
IRC R905.1.2 calls for an ice barrier where Table R301.2 says so; in Pennsylvania the municipality completes that table. Fell’s answer is with the township code office.
Checked against the code text on October 24, 2026. The state’s code edition and the rest of its rules: roof replacement in Pennsylvania.
Homes and roofs in Fell
82% of the occupied homes in Fell are lived in by their owners: 787 households, the people this line is for. Counting by decade, 31% before 1940, 53% before 1960, 71% before 1980 of the housing was in place, and 12% dates from 2000 on. (ACS 2020–2024.)
The housing is 81% detached houses, 14% buildings of two to four units.
Older houses hide their history: ask the contractor to confirm the deck (board or sheet) and every layer above it before pricing, because slate or two layers mean a full tear-off.
Of the 34 Lackawanna County municipalities on this site, Fell has the 14th largest share of homes built before 1980: 71%, against a county range of 42% to 88%.
ZIP codes: 18407
Fell and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fell | 1958 | 71% | 82% | 2% | 9 |
| Carbondale | 1955 | 80% | 51% | 6% | 12 |
| Carbondale Township | 1979 | 52% | 71% | 0% | 15 |
| Forest City | 1951 | 80% | 67% | 3% | 7 |
| Greenfield | 1976 | 59% | 88% | 0% | 9 |
| Mayfield | 1944 | 78% | 81% | 1% | 18 |
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.
Hail and storms near Fell
Since 2006 the National Weather Service has logged hail of 1 inch or larger on 9 separate days within 10 miles of Fell; the largest was 1.75 in on June 9, 2011. The most recent was April 30, 2024.
At the county level, Fell shares Lackawanna County’s record of 3 storm disaster declarations since 2006, the newest DR-4408 (Severe Storms and Flooding, November 2018). (OpenFEMA.)
Storm reports are what observers logged, not a measure of damage to any 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; 81% 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 | Low pitches and long runs | A complete standing-seam system may go over the old roof (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 31% here predate 1940 | Can’t be roofed over; check the framing for the weight |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Additions and porch roofs | Coating is not a replacement |
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 Fell, and search it.
Contracts, deposits and the right to cancel: checking a roofing contractor. What moves the price: new roof cost in Pennsylvania.
Questions about a new roof in Fell
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Fell?
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 Fell is the one to ask before work starts.
Can a new roof go over the old one in Fell?
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). 71% of Fell’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
When were most homes in Fell built?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Fell was built in 1958, 71% of homes were built before 1980, 82% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Fell?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 9 days within 10 miles of Fell from 2006 through 2025 (NOAA Storm Prediction Center). A report means hail fell nearby, not that a roof was damaged.
What license or registration should a roofer in Fell have?
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 Fell, and search it.
What they will ask on the phone
- Your address or ZIP code in Fell
- How many stories the house has, and whether it is detached or attached
- What covers the roof now and about when it went on
- Whether there is one layer or more, if you know
- That the job is a full replacement or a new roof, and your timing
- Whether the house is in a historic district or an HOA
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.