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 Providence is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Providence, PA
Providence has 2,604 homes, and half of them were standing by 1986. 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 Providence
Layers
No third layer
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). 41% of Providence’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
Ice barrier
Set by the local climate table
IRC R905.1.2 calls for an ice barrier where Table R301.2 says so; in Pennsylvania the municipality completes that table. Providence’s answer is with the township code office.
Checked against the code text on October 24, 2026. Code edition, permit and contract rules for the whole state: roof replacement in Pennsylvania.
Homes and roofs in Providence
91% of the occupied homes in Providence are lived in by their owners: 2,363 households, the people this line is for. Counting by decade, 12% before 1940, 20% before 1960, 41% before 1980 of the housing was in place, and 23% dates from 2000 on. (ACS 2020–2024.)
The housing is 58% detached houses, 6% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 36% manufactured homes.
36% of homes in Providence are manufactured homes (939). A roof on a manufactured home is its own kind of job; tell the person on the line that it is one.
Of the 59 Lancaster County municipalities on this site, Providence has the 43rd largest share of homes built before 1980: 41%, against a county range of 27% to 87%.
ZIP codes: 17560
Providence and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | 1986 | 41% | 91% | 6% | 18 |
| Quarryville | 1977 | 53% | 58% | 18% | 10 |
| Strasburg Township | 1981 | 49% | 84% | 3% | 19 |
| Eden | 1986 | 39% | 83% | 4% | 12 |
| East Drumore | 1978 | 56% | 78% | 4% | 7 |
| Pequea | 1987 | 40% | 69% | 29% | 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 Providence
NOAA’s storm reports show 18 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Providence, topping out at 1.75 in on June 9, 2009. The most recent was July 2, 2022.
That is more hail days than 85% of the places in the state on this site.
At the county level, Providence shares Lancaster County’s record of 3 storm disaster declarations since 2006, the newest DR-4267 (Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm, March 2016). (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; 58% 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; 12% 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 | Seams at walls and drainage |
Checking a contractor in Pennsylvania
Before signing for a roof in Providence, 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 Providence
Is a permit required for a new roof in Providence, PA?
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 Providence is the one to ask before work starts.
Do the old shingles have to come off in Providence?
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). 41% of Providence’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
When were most homes in Providence built?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Providence was built in 1986, 41% of homes were built before 1980, 91% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Providence?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 18 days within 10 miles of Providence 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 Providence have?
Before signing for a roof in Providence, 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
- The street address in Providence, or at least the ZIP code
- The number of stories, and whether the house stands alone
- Whether it is a manufactured home
- What is on the roof now (asphalt shingles, metal, slate, tile, or a flat membrane) and roughly how old it is
- 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.