Permit
Ask West Earl first
Pennsylvania’s code leaves residential alterations without structural change to local ordinance (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). The township code office can say what West Earl requires.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in West Earl, PA
Half of the 2,803 homes in West Earl were built before 1983. What the code requires when that roof is replaced, and who signs off, is below.
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 West Earl
Layers
Two layers means a tear-off
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). With 42% of West Earl’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
Ice barrier
West Earl’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). West Earl’s answer is with the township code office.
Rules as read on October 24, 2026. Everything else the state requires: roof replacement in Pennsylvania.
Homes and roofs in West Earl
Owners live in 2,293 of West Earl’s occupied homes, or 82%. By year built, 10% before 1940, 18% before 1960, 42% before 1980; 21% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 75% detached houses, 14% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 5% manufactured homes.
Of the 59 Lancaster County municipalities on this site, West Earl has the 40th largest share of homes built before 1980: 42%, against a county range of 27% to 87%.
ZIP codes: 17508 · 17522 · 17540
West Earl and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Earl | 1983 | 42% | 82% | 14% | 25 |
| Akron | 1971 | 72% | 63% | 11% | 24 |
| Upper Leacock | 1975 | 57% | 56% | 14% | 25 |
| Ephrata Township | 1997 | 31% | 69% | 11% | 19 |
| Ephrata Borough | 1971 | 61% | 56% | 30% | 19 |
| Earl Township, Lancaster County | 1986 | 43% | 63% | 21% | 16 |
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 West Earl
NOAA’s storm reports show 25 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around West Earl, topping out at 1.75 in on June 10, 2008. The most recent was June 30, 2024.
That is more hail days than 99% of the places in the state on this site.
Federal major-disaster declarations for storms in Lancaster County since 2006: 3, most recently DR-4267, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm, declared March 2016. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near West Earl, 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 | 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; 10% 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 | Where the roof meets a wall or parapet |
Checking a contractor in Pennsylvania
A contractor who does $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year must be registered with the Pennsylvania Attorney General, and the number has to be on every contract and estimate (HICPA § 3, § 6). Ask for it before anyone starts on a roof in West Earl, and search it.
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 West Earl
Is a permit required for a new roof in West Earl, PA?
Ask West Earl first. Pennsylvania’s code leaves residential alterations without structural change to local ordinance (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). The township code office can say what West Earl requires.
Do the old shingles have to come off in West Earl?
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). With 42% of West Earl’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
How old are the houses in West Earl?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in West Earl was built in 1983, 42% of homes were built before 1980, 82% are owner-occupied.
How many hail days has West Earl had?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 25 days within 10 miles of West Earl 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 West Earl?
A contractor who does $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year must be registered with the Pennsylvania Attorney General, and the number has to be on every contract and estimate (HICPA § 3, § 6). Ask for it before anyone starts on a roof in West Earl, and search it.
What they will ask on the phone
- Your address or ZIP code in West Earl
- 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 West Earl
- That you are the owner and the one who decides
The full list: before you call.