Permit
Richmond’s ordinance decides
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 Richmond is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Richmond, PA
Half of the 1,471 homes in Richmond were built before 1978. 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 Richmond
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). 53% of Richmond’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
Ice barrier
Richmond’s climate table decides
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). The contractor or the township code office in Richmond will know.
Rules as read on October 24, 2026. Everything else the state requires: roof replacement in Pennsylvania.
Homes and roofs in Richmond
Owners live in 1,163 of Richmond’s occupied homes, or 79%. By year built, 21% before 1940, 31% before 1960, 53% before 1980; 14% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 75% detached houses, 5% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 16% manufactured homes.
Of the 67 Berks County municipalities on this site, Richmond has the 38th largest share of homes built before 1980: 53%, against a county range of 18% to 97%.
ZIP codes: 19522 · 19564
Richmond and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 1978 | 53% | 79% | 5% | 13 |
| Fleetwood | 1967 | 60% | 72% | 36% | 15 |
| Maidencreek | 1996 | 18% | 90% | 19% | 15 |
| Kutztown | 1962 | 71% | 49% | 27% | 12 |
| Ruscombmanor | 1980 | 51% | 87% | 2% | 18 |
| Greenwich | 1983 | 44% | 88% | 4% | 9 |
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 Richmond
Within 10 miles of Richmond, hail of an inch or more was reported on 13 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 2 in on May 29, 2019. The most recent was September 7, 2023.
Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (DR-4267, March 2016) is the latest of 2 federal storm declarations covering Berks County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Richmond, 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; 75% 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 | Standing seam that carries its own loads can skip the tear-off (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 21% here predate 1940 | Sound slate can be reused (R908.5); broken slate cannot |
| 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
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 Richmond 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 Richmond
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Richmond?
Richmond’s ordinance decides. 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 Richmond is the one to ask before work starts.
Do the old shingles have to come off in Richmond?
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). 53% of Richmond’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
How old are the houses in Richmond?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Richmond was built in 1978, 53% of homes were built before 1980, 79% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Richmond?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 13 days within 10 miles of Richmond 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 Richmond?
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 Richmond and look it up.
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in Richmond, 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
- 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 Richmond
- That you are the owner and the one who decides
The full list: before you call.