Permit
Local ordinance, not the state
Under 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8), alterations to a house that make no structural change are outside the state code. The borough code office can say what Lehighton requires.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Lehighton, PA
Half of the 2,234 homes in Lehighton were built before 1942. 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 Lehighton
Layers
Two layers means a tear-off
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). 93% of Lehighton’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
Ice barrier
Lehighton’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 borough code office or the contractor what Lehighton’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 Lehighton
Of 1,912 occupied homes in Lehighton, 951 (50%) are owner-occupied. By year built, 47% before 1940, 65% before 1960, 93% before 1980; 1% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 48% detached houses, 21% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 16% buildings of two to four units.
On a house built before 1940, ask what the deck is (boards or plywood) and whether slate sits under the later layers: slate can’t be roofed over.
Of the 15 Carbon County municipalities on this site, Lehighton has the 2nd largest share of homes built before 1980: 93%, against a county range of 21% to 95%.
Lehighton and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lehighton | 1942 | 93% | 50% | 21% | 12 |
| Mahoning Township, Carbon County | 1973 | 63% | 87% | 1% | 12 |
| Franklin Township, Carbon County | 1974 | 56% | 84% | 2% | 12 |
| Jim Thorpe | 1938 | 82% | 87% | 27% | 11 |
| East Penn | 1989 | 40% | 87% | 4% | 14 |
| Palmerton | 1947 | 79% | 58% | 24% | 13 |
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 Lehighton
NOAA’s storm reports show 12 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Lehighton, topping out at 3 in on May 26, 2011. The most recent was July 3, 2025.
Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (DR-1649, June 2006) is the latest of 1 federal storm declaration covering Carbon County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Lehighton, 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; 48% 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; 47% here predate 1940 | Sound slate can be reused (R908.5); broken slate cannot |
| 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
Before signing for a roof in Lehighton, get the contractor’s PA registration number: the home improvement law requires registration with the Attorney General above $5,000 a year of such work, and the number on contracts and estimates (HICPA § 3, § 6).
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 Lehighton
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Lehighton?
Local ordinance, not the state. Under 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8), alterations to a house that make no structural change are outside the state code. The borough code office can say what Lehighton requires.
Do the old shingles have to come off in Lehighton?
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). 93% of Lehighton’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
How old are the houses in Lehighton?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Lehighton was built in 1942, 93% of homes were built before 1980, 50% are owner-occupied.
Does Lehighton get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 12 days within 10 miles of Lehighton 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 Lehighton?
Before signing for a roof in Lehighton, get the contractor’s PA registration number: the home improvement law requires registration with the Attorney General above $5,000 a year of such work, and the number on contracts and estimates (HICPA § 3, § 6).
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in Lehighton, 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 Lehighton
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.