Permit
Ask Tatamy first
Under 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8), alterations to a house that make no structural change are outside the state code. So the borough code office in Tatamy is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Tatamy, PA
Tatamy has 452 homes, and half of them were standing by 1968. 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 Tatamy
Layers
One old layer can stay; two cannot
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). 58% of Tatamy’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
Ice barrier
Tatamy’s climate table decides
IRC R905.1.2 calls for an ice barrier where Table R301.2 says so; in Pennsylvania the municipality completes that table. Ask the borough code office or the contractor what Tatamy’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 Tatamy
Owners live in 343 of Tatamy’s occupied homes, or 76%. By year built, 33% before 1940, 45% before 1960, 58% before 1980; 28% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 68% detached houses, 13% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 17% buildings of two to four units.
On a house built before 1940, ask what the deck is (boards or plywood) and whether slate sits under the later layers: slate can’t be roofed over.
Of the 34 Northampton County municipalities on this site, Tatamy has the 18th largest share of homes built before 1980: 58%, against a county range of 20% to 91%.
ZIP codes: 18085
Tatamy and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tatamy | 1968 | 58% | 76% | 13% | 14 |
| Forks | 2000 | 20% | 91% | 26% | 14 |
| Palmer | 1979 | 51% | 82% | 15% | 16 |
| Nazareth | 1938 | 86% | 42% | 16% | 17 |
| Wilson | 1938 | 88% | 59% | 47% | 16 |
| Upper Nazareth | 1998 | 31% | 82% | 10% | 21 |
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 Tatamy
NOAA’s storm reports show 14 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Tatamy, topping out at 1.75 in on May 27, 2010. The most recent was July 3, 2025.
Federal major-disaster declarations for storms in Northampton County since 2006: 6, most recently DR-4618, Remnants of Hurricane Ida, declared September 2021. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Tatamy, 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 Tatamy’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; 68% 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; 33% here predate 1940 | Can’t be roofed over; check the framing for the weight |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Porches, additions, low-slope rears | Seams at walls and drainage |
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 Tatamy 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 Tatamy
Is a permit required for a new roof in Tatamy, PA?
Ask Tatamy first. Under 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8), alterations to a house that make no structural change are outside the state code. So the borough code office in Tatamy is the one to ask before work starts.
Do the old shingles have to come off in Tatamy?
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). 58% of Tatamy’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
How old are the houses in Tatamy?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Tatamy was built in 1968, 58% of homes were built before 1980, 76% are owner-occupied.
Does Tatamy get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 14 days within 10 miles of Tatamy 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 Tatamy?
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 Tatamy and look it up.
What they will ask on the phone
- Where the house is: the Tatamy address or ZIP
- How many stories the house has, and whether it is detached or attached
- The roof you have today, shingle, metal, slate, tile or flat, and its rough age
- 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 Tatamy
- That the house is yours and the decision is yours
The full list: before you call.