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 borough code office in Wyoming is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Wyoming, PA
Half of the 1,651 homes in Wyoming were built before 1950. 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 Wyoming
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). 85% of Wyoming’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
Ice barrier
Wyoming’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 borough code office in Wyoming will know.
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 Wyoming
Owners live in 951 of Wyoming’s occupied homes, or 62%. By year built, 30% before 1940, 67% before 1960, 85% before 1980; 5% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 56% detached houses, 14% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 20% buildings of two to four units.
Of the 63 Luzerne County municipalities on this site, Wyoming has the 17th largest share of homes built before 1980: 85%, against a county range of 19% to 97%.
Wyoming and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 1950 | 85% | 62% | 14% | 16 |
| West Wyoming | 1957 | 87% | 80% | 8% | 16 |
| Swoyersville | 1957 | 81% | 80% | 14% | 16 |
| Exeter Borough | 1968 | 69% | 77% | 11% | 20 |
| Forty Fort | 1942 | 95% | 57% | 8% | 16 |
| Laflin | 1975 | 72% | 90% | 21% | 17 |
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 Wyoming
Within 10 miles of Wyoming, hail of an inch or more was reported on 16 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 1.75 in on February 25, 2017. The most recent was July 1, 2022.
Remnants of Hurricane Ida (DR-4618, September 2021) is the latest of 4 federal storm declarations covering Luzerne County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Wyoming, 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 Wyoming’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; 56% 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; 30% 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 | Coating is not a replacement |
Checking a contractor in Pennsylvania
Before signing for a roof in Wyoming, 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 Wyoming
Does a roof replacement in Wyoming need a 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 borough code office in Wyoming is the one to ask before work starts.
Can a new roof go over the old one in Wyoming?
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). 85% of Wyoming’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
How old are the houses in Wyoming?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Wyoming was built in 1950, 85% of homes were built before 1980, 62% are owner-occupied.
How many hail days has Wyoming had?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 16 days within 10 miles of Wyoming 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 Wyoming?
Before signing for a roof in Wyoming, 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 Wyoming, 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 Wyoming
- That you are the owner and the one who decides
The full list: before you call.