Permit
Norwegian’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 township code office can say what Norwegian requires.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Norwegian, PA
Half of the 981 homes in Norwegian were built before 1983. 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 Norwegian
Layers
One old layer can stay; two cannot
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). 45% of Norwegian’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
Ice barrier
Norwegian’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 township code office or the contractor what Norwegian’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 Norwegian
Of 963 occupied homes in Norwegian, 841 (87%) are owner-occupied. By year built, 20% before 1940, 23% before 1960, 45% before 1980; 18% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 79% detached houses, 9% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 4% manufactured homes.
Of the 41 Schuylkill County municipalities on this site, Norwegian has the 39th largest share of homes built before 1980: 45%, against a county range of 42% to 97%.
ZIP codes: 17951 · 17974
Norwegian and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwegian | 1983 | 45% | 87% | 9% | 4 |
| Pottsville | 1938 | 88% | 57% | 37% | 5 |
| Minersville | 1938 | 94% | 49% | 52% | 2 |
| Branch | 1959 | 78% | 93% | 14% | 3 |
| Cass Township, Schuylkill County | 1938 | 75% | 93% | 26% | 5 |
| St. Clair | 1938 | 88% | 74% | 29% | 4 |
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 Norwegian
Since 2006 the National Weather Service has logged hail of 1 inch or larger on 4 separate days within 10 miles of Norwegian; the largest was 1 in on June 8, 2015.
That is fewer than most places in the state on this site (median 12 days).
Remnants of Hurricane Ida (DR-4618, September 2021) is the latest of 5 federal storm declarations covering Schuylkill County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Norwegian, 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 Norwegian’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; 79% 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 | Standing seam that carries its own loads can skip the tear-off (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 20% here predate 1940 | Never a base for a new layer (R908.3.1.1); heavy |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Porches, additions, low-slope rears | 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 Norwegian, 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 Norwegian
Is a permit required for a new roof in Norwegian, PA?
Norwegian’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 township code office can say what Norwegian requires.
Is a roof-over allowed in Norwegian, 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). 45% of Norwegian’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
How old are the houses in Norwegian?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Norwegian was built in 1983, 45% of homes were built before 1980, 87% are owner-occupied.
How many hail days has Norwegian had?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 4 days within 10 miles of Norwegian 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 Norwegian?
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 Norwegian, and search it.
What they will ask on the phone
- Where the house is: the Norwegian 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
- Whether there is one layer or more, if you know
- That you want a new roof or a full replacement, and when you want the work done
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Norwegian
- That you are the owner and the one who decides
The full list: before you call.