Permit
Ask Pittston first
The state code does not cover a reroof that changes no structure (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). So the city code office in Pittston is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Pittston, PA
Half of the 3,850 homes in Pittston were built before 1947. 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 Pittston
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). 84% of Pittston’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
Ice barrier
Set by the local climate table
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 city code office or the contractor what Pittston’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 Pittston
47% of the occupied homes in Pittston are lived in by their owners: 1,650 households, the people this line is for. Counting by decade, 42% before 1940, 61% before 1960, 84% before 1980 of the housing was in place, and 9% dates from 2000 on. (ACS 2020–2024.)
The housing is 46% detached houses, 16% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 20% buildings of two to four units.
Older houses hide their history: ask the contractor to confirm the deck (board or sheet) and every layer above it before pricing, because slate or two layers mean a full tear-off.
Of the 63 Luzerne County municipalities on this site, Pittston has the 18th largest share of homes built before 1980: 84%, against a county range of 19% to 97%.
Pittston and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittston | 1947 | 84% | 47% | 16% | 21 |
| West Pittston | 1942 | 77% | 53% | 19% | 20 |
| Hughestown | 1955 | 86% | 71% | 6% | 19 |
| Duryea | 1952 | 79% | 70% | 6% | 19 |
| Exeter Borough | 1968 | 69% | 77% | 11% | 20 |
| Dupont | 1948 | 89% | 66% | 5% | 19 |
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 Pittston
NOAA’s storm reports show 21 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Pittston, topping out at 1.75 in on February 25, 2017. The most recent was July 1, 2022.
That is more hail days than 95% of the places in the state on this site.
At the county level, Pittston shares Luzerne County’s record of 4 storm disaster declarations since 2006, the newest DR-4618 (Remnants of Hurricane Ida, September 2021). (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
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; 46% 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 | A complete standing-seam system may go over the old roof (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 42% here predate 1940 | Can’t be roofed over; check the framing for the weight |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Low-slope roofs and rear sections (16% of homes here are attached) | Where the roof meets a wall or parapet |
Checking a contractor in Pennsylvania
Before signing for a roof in Pittston, get the contractor’s PA registration number: the home improvement law requires registration with the Attorney General above $5,000 a year of such work, and the number on contracts and estimates (HICPA § 3, § 6).
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 Pittston
Is a permit required for a new roof in Pittston, PA?
Ask Pittston first. The state code does not cover a reroof that changes no structure (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). So the city code office in Pittston is the one to ask before work starts.
Do the old shingles have to come off in Pittston?
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). 84% of Pittston’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
When were most homes in Pittston built?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Pittston was built in 1947, 84% of homes were built before 1980, 47% are owner-occupied.
Does Pittston get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 21 days within 10 miles of Pittston 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 Pittston have?
Before signing for a roof in Pittston, get the contractor’s PA registration number: the home improvement law requires registration with the Attorney General above $5,000 a year of such work, and the number on contracts and estimates (HICPA § 3, § 6).
What they will ask on the phone
- Where the house is: the Pittston address or ZIP
- One story or two (or more), 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
- That you want a new roof or a full replacement, and when you want the work done
- Whether the house is in a historic district or an HOA
- That the house is yours and the decision is yours
The full list: before you call.