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 Lewis Township is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Lewis Township, Union County, PA
Half of the 647 homes in Lewis Township were built before 1976. 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 Lewis Township
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). 55% of Lewis Township’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
Ice barrier
Lewis Township’s climate table decides
IRC R905.1.2 calls for an ice barrier where Table R301.2 says so; in Pennsylvania the municipality completes that table. Lewis Township’s answer is with the township code office.
Rules as read on October 24, 2026. Everything else the state requires: roof replacement in Pennsylvania.
Homes and roofs in Lewis Township
Owners live in 415 of Lewis Township’s occupied homes, or 76%. By year built, 25% before 1940, 33% before 1960, 55% before 1980; 16% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 88% detached houses, 11% manufactured homes.
Of the 12 Union County municipalities on this site, Lewis Township has the 6th largest share of homes built before 1980: 55%, against a county range of 35% to 90%.
ZIP codes: 17844 · 17880
Lewis Township and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis Township, Union County | 1976 | 55% | 76% | 1% | 3 |
| Mifflinburg | 1960 | 71% | 66% | 8% | 3 |
| West Buffalo | 1989 | 35% | 78% | 6% | 4 |
| Limestone Township, Union County | 1984 | 42% | 92% | 0% | 3 |
| Buffalo Township, Union County | 1980 | 50% | 57% | 15% | 6 |
| Center | 1984 | 45% | 73% | 1% | 6 |
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 Lewis Township
Within 10 miles of Lewis Township, hail of an inch or more was reported on 3 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 1.5 in on April 14, 2019.
That is fewer than most places in the state on this site (median 12 days).
Tropical Storm Debby (DR-4815, September 2024) is the latest of 1 federal storm declaration covering Union County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Lewis Township, 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; 88% 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; 25% here predate 1940 | Can’t be roofed over; check the framing for the weight |
| 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 Lewis 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 Lewis Township
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Lewis 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 Lewis Township is the one to ask before work starts.
Do the old shingles have to come off in Lewis Township?
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). 55% of Lewis Township’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
How old are the houses in Lewis Township?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Lewis Township was built in 1976, 55% of homes were built before 1980, 76% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Lewis Township?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 3 days within 10 miles of Lewis 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 Lewis 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 Lewis Township, and search it.
What they will ask on the phone
- Where the house is: the Lewis Township address or ZIP
- One story or two (or more), detached or attached
- What is on the roof now (asphalt shingles, metal, slate, tile, or a flat membrane) and roughly how old it is
- How many layers are on it, if you know
- That the job is a full replacement or a new roof, and your timing
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Lewis Township
- That the house is yours and the decision is yours
The full list: before you call.