Permit
Lewistown’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 borough code office can say what Lewistown requires.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Lewistown, PA
Lewistown has 4,522 homes, and half of them were standing by 1938. 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 Lewistown
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). 93% of Lewistown’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
Ice barrier
Lewistown’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 Lewistown’s says.
Rules as read on October 24, 2026. The state’s code edition and the rest of its rules: roof replacement in Pennsylvania.
Homes and roofs in Lewistown
Of 3,802 occupied homes in Lewistown, 1,504 (40%) are owner-occupied. By year built, 55% before 1940, 79% before 1960, 93% before 1980; 2% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 44% detached houses, 22% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 17% 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 12 Mifflin County municipalities on this site, Lewistown has the largest share of homes built before 1980: 93%, against a county range of 52% to 93%.
Lewistown and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewistown | 1938 | 93% | 40% | 22% | 7 |
| Granville | 1971 | 73% | 78% | 3% | 6 |
| Burnham | 1952 | 87% | 74% | 8% | 7 |
| Derry Township, Mifflin County | 1962 | 75% | 78% | 7% | 6 |
| Milford Township, Juniata County | 1976 | 59% | 80% | 3% | 4 |
| Brown | 1970 | 59% | 82% | 8% | 7 |
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 Lewistown
NOAA’s storm reports show 7 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Lewistown, topping out at 2 in on June 16, 2022. The most recent was June 9, 2025.
That is fewer than most places in the state on this site (median 12 days).
A report says hail fell near Lewistown, not that it damaged a roof. When wind or hail damage means a new roof.
What goes on the roof next
HUD’s useful-life figures are for planning; a warranty is a separate promise. For Lewistown’s houses: 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; 44% 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; 55% 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 (22% of homes here are attached) | 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 Lewistown, 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 Lewistown
Is a permit required for a new roof in Lewistown, PA?
Lewistown’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 borough code office can say what Lewistown requires.
Is a roof-over allowed in Lewistown, 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). 93% of Lewistown’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
How old are the houses in Lewistown?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Lewistown was built in 1938, 93% of homes were built before 1980, 40% are owner-occupied.
Does Lewistown get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 7 days within 10 miles of Lewistown 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 Lewistown?
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 Lewistown, and search it.
What they will ask on the phone
- Your address or ZIP code in Lewistown
- How many stories the house has, and whether it is detached or attached
- The roof you have today, shingle, metal, slate, tile or flat, and its rough age
- The number of layers, if anyone has counted
- Your timing for a complete replacement
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Lewistown
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.