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 London Grove is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in London Grove, PA
The median home in London Grove was built in 1997; there are 2,825 of them. What the code requires when that roof is replaced, and who signs off, is below.
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 London Grove
Layers
Two layers means a tear-off
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. With 26% of London Grove’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
Ice barrier
London Grove’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. London Grove’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 London Grove
Owners live in 2,617 of London Grove’s occupied homes, or 96%. By year built, 8% before 1940, 15% before 1960, 26% before 1980; 44% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 83% detached houses, 7% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 9% manufactured homes.
44% of homes here were built in 2000 or later. HUD’s useful-life table gives an asphalt-shingle roof 20 years, so roofs on houses from the early 2000s are reaching that age.
Of the 71 Chester County municipalities on this site, London Grove has the 66th largest share of homes built before 1980: 26%, against a county range of 12% to 80%.
ZIP codes: 19311 · 19390
London Grove and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Grove | 1997 | 26% | 96% | 7% | 10 |
| West Grove | 1971 | 59% | 77% | 21% | 10 |
| Avondale | 1938 | 69% | 62% | 25% | 10 |
| Penn Township, Chester County | 2002 | 19% | 78% | 12% | 9 |
| New Garden | 1994 | 26% | 77% | 7% | 12 |
| Londonderry Township, Chester County | 1998 | 40% | 94% | 9% | 11 |
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 London Grove
NOAA’s storm reports show 10 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around London Grove, topping out at 1.75 in on July 25, 2010. The most recent was May 3, 2025.
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 London Grove, 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; 83% 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; 8% 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
Pennsylvania’s home improvement law (HICPA § 3, § 6) requires registration with the Attorney General from $5,000 a year of such work and puts the number on every estimate; ask for it in London Grove and look it up.
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 London Grove
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in London Grove?
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 London Grove is the one to ask before work starts.
Do the old shingles have to come off in London Grove?
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. With 26% of London Grove’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
How old are the houses in London Grove?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in London Grove was built in 1997, 26% of homes were built before 1980, 96% are owner-occupied.
Does London Grove get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 10 days within 10 miles of London Grove 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 London Grove?
Pennsylvania’s home improvement law (HICPA § 3, § 6) requires registration with the Attorney General from $5,000 a year of such work and puts the number on every estimate; ask for it in London Grove and look it up.
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in London Grove, 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 London Grove
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.