Roofing Rules in Pennsylvania: What Pittsburgh, PA Homeowners Should Know
Before a new roof goes on a house in Pittsburgh, PA, a handful of state laws and local permit rules shape the deal. This page explains contractor registration, written contracts, your cancel right, deposit limits and permits in plain words, so you know what to ask and what to expect before you sign.
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Pennsylvania doesn't license roofers, but it does keep a public list of home improvement contractors and sets firm rules for contracts and payments. Permits are run by each municipality, so the City and its suburbs don't follow one rulebook. This is a summary of public law, not legal advice.
- Registration, not a license. Contractors doing $5,000 or more of home improvement a year register with the Pennsylvania Attorney General. Look the roofer up before signing.
- Written contract over $500. Signed by both sides and listing the registration number, price, dates, work, materials and insurance amounts.
- Three business days to cancel. The window opens at signing, wherever the signing happens.
- Deposit limits. On contracts over $5,000, the deposit tops out at one-third of the price, plus special-order materials. Nothing is owed before signing.
- Local permits. The City's PLI and each suburb's own office decide what needs a permit.
- Deductibles. You pay your own. An offer to cover or waive it is a red flag.
Checking a Roofer's Registration
Pennsylvania has no state roofing license. Instead, any contractor that does $5,000 or more of home improvement work in a year must register with the Pennsylvania Attorney General. Each registration number begins with "PA", and the contractor has to print it on its contracts and its ads. If a roofer's paperwork carries no number, ask why before going any further.
To check, type the business name into the Attorney General's online contractor search at hicsearch.attorneygeneral.gov, or call the AG's toll-free line at 1-888-520-6680. A listing shows the company has filed with the state. It doesn't rate the work, so a fixed local address and a few references from past jobs still matter.
Contractors must also carry liability insurance of at least $50,000 for personal injury and $50,000 for property damage, and the contract has to state the amounts. The Attorney General points out that this insurance rule says nothing about the quality of anyone's work. Ask to see proof of the coverage, plus workers' compensation when the roofer has people on payroll.
For any job over $500, the contract must be in writing and signed by you and the contractor. Make sure it shows:
- The registration number, with its "PA" prefix.
- The total price, including any extras you agreed to.
- Start and finish dates for the work.
- A description of the work and materials, detailed enough to match against the estimate.
- The contractor's insurance amounts, as the law requires.
A contract missing required parts may not be enforceable against the homeowner. Changes that come up mid-job, such as extra sheets of decking, belong in a written change order that both sides sign. Get the manufacturer and labor warranties in writing too, and ask who registers the manufacturer warranty.
Your Right to Cancel
Pennsylvania gives you three business days after signing a home improvement contract to change your mind, whether you signed at the kitchen table or in an office across town. The contract itself has to include a notice that explains how to cancel. If you use it, keep a copy of what you sent and write down the date.
Payment rules sit alongside the cancel right. No contractor may take money before the contract is signed. On a contract over $5,000, the deposit can't be more than one-third of the price, plus the cost of any special-order materials. A demand for cash only, or for the full price up front, is a reason to slow down.
Local Rules Around Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code applies statewide, yet every municipality runs its own permit office and ordinances. The state's list of residential work exempt from permits doesn't mention roofing, so the answer depends on where the house sits. Structural work, such as rafters, trusses or replacing decking, is the part most likely to need a permit anywhere; ask the local office.
In the City of Pittsburgh, the Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections (PLI) treats roofing as minor-alteration permit work. A home in a City historic district also needs zoning review. Under the City's historic-district guidelines adopted in November 2025, exterior work visible from the street is reviewed: like-for-like roofing can get staff approval, while a change of material, such as slate to asphalt shingles, goes to the Historic Review Commission. Confirm with PLI before tear-off.
Outside the City, PLI's rules don't apply, and each suburb answers for itself. A few nearby examples:
- Penn Hills, PA. The Municipality's Code Enforcement Department lists "New/Re-Roof" among work that needs a permit. Call 412-342-1086.
- Mt. Lebanon, PA. The Inspection Office says a residential roof permit is needed for structural roof repairs, and commercial roof work always needs one. Call 412-343-3408.
- Moon Township, PA. The Township's permit page lists "roof covering" among projects that don't need a permit, though a new roof over a patio does. Community Development: 412-262-1700, ext. 116.
- Cranberry Township, PA (Butler County). Planning & Development Services handles building permits. Call 724-776-4806 before work starts.
- Bethel Park, PA. The Building Inspection Division of Community Development handles permits. Call 412-831-6800 (ext. 131 for residential).
Wherever you live, ask the roofer who pulls any permit, and check whether a homeowners association has to sign off on colors or materials first. Town pages go deeper: Penn Hills, Mt. Lebanon, Moon Township, Cranberry Township and Bethel Park.
Paying Your Own Deductible
The deductible on a roof claim is yours to pay. A contractor who offers to cover or waive it while billing your insurer the full price is a red flag. Misstating a claim to an insurer is insurance fraud under state law.
A roofer can document storm damage with photos and write an estimate. The claim itself stays between you and your insurer, or a licensed public adjuster or attorney you decide to hire.
Public adjusters are licensed by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. A contractor who is also a public adjuster has to use separate contracts for each role, can't act as both at once on the same job, and can't start repairs until the insurer decides the claim.
Insurance Discounts for Stronger Roofs
Some insurers give a premium credit for impact-rated (Class 4) shingles. Each company sets its own terms, and some offer nothing at all, so call yours before you let a possible credit decide your shingle. Ask what paperwork it wants once the job is done.
Questions About the Law
Does Pennsylvania license roofers?
No. There is no state roofing license. Contractors that do $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year must register with the Pennsylvania Attorney General and print the "PA" registration number on contracts and ads. You can look any company up on the Attorney General's online contractor search or by calling 1-888-520-6680 before you sign anything.
Can I back out of a roofing contract after I sign it?
Yes, within three business days after signing, no matter where the contract was signed. The cancellation notice has to be part of the contract, so read it when you get your copy. Send your cancellation the way the notice describes, keep a copy, and note the date you sent it.
How much can a roofer ask for up front?
Nothing before the contract is signed. On a contract over $5,000, the deposit can't exceed one-third of the price, plus the cost of special-order materials. Later payments follow the schedule written into the contract. A request for the whole price in advance, or for cash only, is worth questioning.
Where do I complain about a roofer?
Complaints about a home improvement contractor go to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection. Questions about your policy, a claim or a public adjuster go to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. Keep your contract, receipts and photos handy.
Laws and Pages Cited
Each source below was read on 2026-10-09.
- The Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, 73 P.S. § 517.1 et seq. Registration, contracts, the cancel right, deposits and payment timing. Read on the Attorney General's copy of Act 132 of 2008.
- Attorney General contractor lookup. The online search at hicsearch.attorneygeneral.gov, plus the AG's registration pages.
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department. Its public adjuster page for homeowners (pa.gov).
- 34 Pa. Code § 403.62. The state's residential permit exemptions.
- City of Pittsburgh PLI. Standard permit application requirements and the "Work Not Requiring a Permit" list.
- City of Pittsburgh historic districts. General design guidelines, adopted November 2025.
- Municipal permit pages. Penn Hills (pennhillspa.gov), Mt. Lebanon (mtlebanon.org), Moon Township's permit forms page, Cranberry Township (cranberrytownship.org) and Bethel Park (bethelparkpa.gov).
Questions About the Rules?
If you'd like a local roofer to look at the house and write up an estimate, you can request one here. We hand your request to one independent local roofer, who contacts you, prices the job and does any work you agree to. This site is a referral service rather than a contractor, so it never quotes, signs or performs roofing jobs. The roofing company pays us for each referral, and you never pay us or receive anything from us.