Permit
Ask Rockland first
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 Rockland requires.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Rockland, PA
Rockland has 1,398 homes, and half of them were standing by 1985. 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 Rockland
Layers
Two layers means a tear-off
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). 42% of Rockland’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
Ice barrier
Rockland’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 Rockland’s says.
Rules as read on October 24, 2026. The state’s code edition and the rest of its rules: roof replacement in Pennsylvania.
Homes and roofs in Rockland
Of 1,398 occupied homes in Rockland, 1,367 (98%) are owner-occupied. By year built, 14% before 1940, 24% before 1960, 42% before 1980; 12% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 97% detached houses.
Of the 67 Berks County municipalities on this site, Rockland has the 59th largest share of homes built before 1980: 42%, against a county range of 18% to 97%.
ZIP codes: 19522 · 19539
Rockland and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockland | 1985 | 42% | 98% | 2% | 13 |
| Pike | 1978 | 53% | 92% | 1% | 17 |
| Fleetwood | 1967 | 60% | 72% | 36% | 15 |
| Topton | 1938 | 77% | 72% | 36% | 13 |
| District | 1979 | 51% | 85% | 1% | 16 |
| Ruscombmanor | 1980 | 51% | 87% | 2% | 18 |
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 Rockland
NOAA’s storm reports show 13 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Rockland, topping out at 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 Rockland, 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 Rockland’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; 97% 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 | Roofs that will carry solar later | Standing seam that carries its own loads can skip the tear-off (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 14% 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 | Coating is not a replacement |
Checking a contractor in Pennsylvania
Before signing for a roof in Rockland, 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).
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 Rockland
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Rockland?
Ask Rockland first. 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 Rockland requires.
Do the old shingles have to come off in Rockland?
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). 42% of Rockland’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
How old are the houses in Rockland?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Rockland was built in 1985, 42% of homes were built before 1980, 98% are owner-occupied.
Does Rockland get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 13 days within 10 miles of Rockland 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 Rockland?
Before signing for a roof in Rockland, 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 Rockland, 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
- The number of layers, if anyone has counted
- Your timing for a complete replacement
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Rockland
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.