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)). The borough code office can say what Montoursville requires.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Montoursville, PA
Half of the 2,536 homes in Montoursville were built before 1956. 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 Montoursville
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). 85% of Montoursville’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
Ice barrier
Set by the local climate table
Whether an eave membrane is a code item depends on the climate table the municipality filled in when it adopted the code (IRC R905.1.2, Table R301.2). Ask the borough code office or the contractor what Montoursville’s says.
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 Montoursville
Of 2,283 occupied homes in Montoursville, 1,499 (66%) are owner-occupied. Counting by decade, 25% before 1940, 63% before 1960, 85% before 1980 of the housing was in place, and 10% dates from 2000 on. (ACS 2020–2024.)
The housing is 71% detached houses, 3% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 11% buildings of two to four units.
Of the 26 Lycoming County municipalities on this site, Montoursville has the 6th largest share of homes built before 1980: 85%, against a county range of 42% to 93%.
Montoursville and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montoursville | 1956 | 85% | 66% | 3% | 14 |
| Fairfield | 1982 | 47% | 85% | 10% | 13 |
| Clinton Township, Lycoming County | 1976 | 58% | 76% | 2% | 12 |
| Loyalsock | 1975 | 61% | 73% | 11% | 10 |
| South Williamsport | 1954 | 77% | 65% | 9% | 10 |
| Upper Fairfield | 1976 | 58% | 84% | 0% | 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.
Hail and storms near Montoursville
Within 10 miles of Montoursville, hail of an inch or more was reported on 14 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 1.75 in on July 18, 2016. The most recent was June 22, 2024.
Lycoming County has had 3 federal major-disaster declarations for storms since 2006; the latest was DR-4815, Tropical Storm Debby (September 2024). (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; 71% 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; 25% 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 | Where the roof meets a wall or parapet |
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 Montoursville, 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 Montoursville
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Montoursville?
Local ordinance, not the state. The state code does not cover a reroof that changes no structure (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). The borough code office can say what Montoursville requires.
Is a roof-over allowed in Montoursville, or is it 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). 85% of Montoursville’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
When were most homes in Montoursville built?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Montoursville was built in 1956, 85% of homes were built before 1980, 66% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Montoursville?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 14 days within 10 miles of Montoursville 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 Montoursville 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 Montoursville, and search it.
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in Montoursville, or at least the ZIP code
- How many stories the house has, and whether it is detached or attached
- What covers the roof now and about when it went on
- How many layers are on it, if you know
- Your timing for a complete replacement
- 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.