Morrisville Borough - Code Enforcement (Barry Isett & Associates, Inc.)

Borough of Morrisville, Pennsylvania (Bucks County)

city

35 Union Street, Morrisville, PA 19067

Required

No Morrisville Borough text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. Section 129-20D of the Borough Code says "The Borough shall exempt and not require an owner or authorized agent to obtain a permit to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a commercial or residential building, structure or facility" for work "that is identified in Chapter 403.42 (c) or Chapter 403.62 (c) of the Construction Code except that the Borough shall not exempt and shall require a permit for the following:" Its residential list names fences, retaining walls over two feet, sidewalks and driveways, window replacement, garage doors, "Replacement of existing siding," uncovered decks and certain piping; it does not name roofing. Section 129-19B charges a fee "for each and every building within the Borough to be constructed, altered, repaired, or improved," and the fee schedule itself is kept in the Borough offices, not in the code. The Borough's PA UCC Building Permit Application Submittal Requirements (posted September 8, 2026) and its UCC Permit Application name no roof work, and the Code Enforcement page lists no work that needs or does not need a permit. Under state law, Act 45 section 104(b)(5) and (6) list "Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress" and "Repairs to residential buildings" among work the Act does not apply to, "except as might be required by ordinances in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503," and 34 Pa. Code 403.62(c) says "A permit is not required for the exceptions listed in § 403.1(b) (relating to scope) and the following, if the work does not violate a law or ordinance." Whether Section 129-20D's exemption reaches an ordinary reroof turns on reading the regulation it cites, and neither the Borough's code nor its pages name reroofing as permit work or as exempt, so this record does not decide whether the Borough requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. Ask the Borough's code enforcement contact before work starts. The Borough's submittal requirements say "All documentation must be submitted as a single packet via PDF file(s)," that "Permit packets shall be submitted to the Morrisville Borough office staff for a completion check prior to review," and that all contractors and subcontractors submit an "Annual Contractor Registration Application," a "Copy of active Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration" and a "Certificate of Insurance naming Morrisville Borough as certificate holder," with property owners working on their own property exempt. The municipal building is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 215-295-8181. Read for this answer: Chapter 129 of the Borough Code, Building and Construction Codes, in full; Chapter A476, Fees; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Code Enforcement page; the PA UCC Building Permit Application Submittal Requirements; and the UCC Permit Application. The Borough's fee schedule was not found published online.

The 2021 International Residential Code, as adopted by the State in the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC). 34 Pa. Code 403.21(a)(7) adopts "The 'International Residential Code of 2021,' except that:" followed by the State's list of exclusions and modifications, effective January 1, 2026 (55 Pa.B. 7701). None of the State's changes touches Chapter 9, Roof Assemblies, or Section R803, Roof Sheathing, so those apply as the International Code Council publishes them. Work on existing buildings is also pointed to the State's existing-building code: "The repair, alteration, change of occupancy, addition and relocation of existing buildings must comply with Chapter 34 of the 'International Building Code of 2021' or with the 'International Existing Building Code of 2021'" (34 Pa. Code 403.21(f)). The UCC is the minimum everywhere in the state: "no municipality may propose or enact any ordinance which is less than the minimum requirement of the Uniform Construction Code" (Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act 45 of 1999, section 503(b)). The Act also lists work it "shall not apply to", including "Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress" or to "Repairs to residential buildings," in each case "except as might be required by ordinances" kept in force under section 303(b)(1) or adopted under section 503 (Act 45 section 104(b)(5) and (6); 34 Pa. Code 403.1(b)(8) and (9)). The Act defines a repair as "The reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing building for the purpose of its maintenance." So whether the code's roofing rules reach a given house reroof depends on the municipality's own ordinances. Everything above is Pennsylvania state law, the same in every municipality. Locally, Morrisville Borough administers the code through a retained agency: Section 129-2 of the Borough Code says the Borough "hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," Section 129-4 lets Borough Council retain "one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of the Borough of Morrisville," and the Borough's Code Enforcement page names Barry Isett & Associates, Inc., at 484-861-3468, as its contact; permit packets go to the Borough office at 35 Union Street. Section 129-3 adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," as the Borough's municipal building code, and Section 129-15 keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code, without naming them. Article VII of Chapter 129 (Ord. No. 942, June 23, 2004) still names the "International Residential Code, 2003 Edition," while the Borough's current submittal requirements say "Pennsylvania has implemented the ICC 2021 Code series with amendments as voted by the RAC"; this record has not read the 2003 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Borough applies.

Not required — No impact-resistance requirement under state law. The State's adoption of the 2021 International Residential Code (34 Pa. Code 403.21) contains no hail or impact rule, and it makes no change to the code's roof assemblies chapter, which itself has no UL 2218, Class 4 or hail-impact requirement for roof coverings. A municipality could add one only by an ordinance that equals or exceeds the Uniform Construction Code under Act 45 section 503, filed with the Department of Labor and Industry; none of the filings on the Department's register of municipal code change ordinances mentions hail or impact resistance. An owner may still choose an impact-rated roof covering. Everything above is Pennsylvania state law, the same in every municipality. Locally, Morrisville Borough administers the code through a retained agency: Section 129-2 of the Borough Code says the Borough "hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," Section 129-4 lets Borough Council retain "one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of the Borough of Morrisville," and the Borough's Code Enforcement page names Barry Isett & Associates, Inc., at 484-861-3468, as its contact; permit packets go to the Borough office at 35 Union Street. Chapter 129 of the Borough Code, read in full, adds no impact-resistance rule; no UL 2218 or Class 4 requirement appears in it. Article VII of Chapter 129 (Ord. No. 942, June 23, 2004) still names the "International Residential Code, 2003 Edition," while the Borough's current submittal requirements say "Pennsylvania has implemented the ICC 2021 Code series with amendments as voted by the RAC"; this record has not read the 2003 edition's roof-covering text.

No Morrisville Borough text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. Section 129-20D of the Borough Code says "The Borough shall exempt and not require an owner or authorized agent to obtain a permit to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a commercial or residential building, structure or facility" for work "that is identified in Chapter 403.42 (c) or Chapter 403.62 (c) of the Construction Code except that the Borough shall not exempt and shall require a permit for the following:" Its residential list names fences, retaining walls over two feet, sidewalks and driveways, window replacement, garage doors, "Replacement of existing siding," uncovered decks and certain piping; it does not name roofing. Section 129-19B charges a fee "for each and every building within the Borough to be constructed, altered, repaired, or improved," and the fee schedule itself is kept in the Borough offices, not in the code. The Borough's PA UCC Building Permit Application Submittal Requirements (posted September 8, 2026) and its UCC Permit Application name no roof work, and the Code Enforcement page lists no work that needs or does not need a permit. Under state law, Act 45 section 104(b)(5) and (6) list "Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress" and "Repairs to residential buildings" among work the Act does not apply to, "except as might be required by ordinances in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503," and 34 Pa. Code 403.62(c) says "A permit is not required for the exceptions listed in § 403.1(b) (relating to scope) and the following, if the work does not violate a law or ordinance." Whether Section 129-20D's exemption reaches an ordinary reroof turns on reading the regulation it cites, and neither the Borough's code nor its pages name reroofing as permit work or as exempt, so this record does not decide whether the Borough requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. Ask the Borough's code enforcement contact before work starts. State law sets no square-footage or percentage threshold for roof work; any threshold is set locally. The Uniform Construction Code "does not apply to" "Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress, except as required by ordinances in effect under sections 303(b)(1) or 503 of the act" or to "Repairs to residential buildings, except as required by ordinances in effect under sections 303(b)(1) and 503 of the act" (34 Pa. Code 403.1(b)(8) and (9)), and "A permit is not required for the exceptions listed in § 403.1(b) (relating to scope) and the following, if the work does not violate a law or ordinance" (34 Pa. Code 403.62(c)). For houses the regulation adds: "An ordinary repair does not require a permit." Its list of work that is not an ordinary repair names cutting away a load-bearing wall, "The removal or cutting of any structural beam or load-bearing support," changes to a required means of egress, and new or relocated piping, wiring or mechanical work (34 Pa. Code 403.62(d)); roofing is not named. A municipality may require more: under Act 45 section 503(c) it "may enact ordinances pursuant to this section which adopt additional code requirements for alterations or repairs to residential buildings," after a public hearing and after filing the proposed ordinance with the Department of Labor and Industry. These rules concern a "Residential building," which the regulation defines as "Detached one-family and two-family dwellings and townhouses which are not more than three stories above grade plane in height with a separate means of egress and their accessory structures" (34 Pa. Code 401.1). Everything above is Pennsylvania state law, the same in every municipality. Locally, Morrisville Borough administers the code through a retained agency: Section 129-2 of the Borough Code says the Borough "hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," Section 129-4 lets Borough Council retain "one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of the Borough of Morrisville," and the Borough's Code Enforcement page names Barry Isett & Associates, Inc., at 484-861-3468, as its contact; permit packets go to the Borough office at 35 Union Street. No Borough text read for this record sets an area or cost threshold for roof work.

Two layers at most where the state code reaches the job. Pennsylvania adopts the 2021 International Residential Code without changing its reroofing section, R908 (34 Pa. Code 403.21(a)(7); the State's list of changes names no Chapter 9 section). Section R908.3.1.1 says "A roof recover shall not be permitted where any of the following conditions occur," and the third condition is "Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering." So one existing layer may be covered once, and a roof that already has two layers is torn off to the deck. The same section also bars a recover "Where the existing roof or roof covering is water soaked or has deteriorated to the point that the existing roof or roof covering is not adequate as a base for additional roofing" and "Where the existing roof covering is slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile." The existing-building code the State also adopts, the 2021 International Existing Building Code (34 Pa. Code 403.21(f)), carries the same three conditions in Section 705.2.1.1. These rules bind work the Uniform Construction Code reaches. The Act does not apply to "Repairs to residential buildings" or to alterations that make no structural change, "except as might be required by ordinances" (Act 45 section 104(b)(5) and (6)), so whether R908 binds a particular house reroof turns on that exclusion and on the municipality's own ordinances. Everything above is Pennsylvania state law, the same in every municipality. Locally, Morrisville Borough administers the code through a retained agency: Section 129-2 of the Borough Code says the Borough "hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," Section 129-4 lets Borough Council retain "one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of the Borough of Morrisville," and the Borough's Code Enforcement page names Barry Isett & Associates, Inc., at 484-861-3468, as its contact; permit packets go to the Borough office at 35 Union Street. Chapter 129 of the Borough Code changes nothing in the code's reroofing provisions, and the Borough's pages say nothing on roof layers. Article VII of Chapter 129 (Ord. No. 942, June 23, 2004) still names the "International Residential Code, 2003 Edition," while the Borough's current submittal requirements say "Pennsylvania has implemented the ICC 2021 Code series with amendments as voted by the RAC"; this record has not read the 2003 edition's reroofing text and does not decide which edition the Borough applies.

State rules from the base code, where the state code reaches the job. Pennsylvania adopts the 2021 International Residential Code without changing Section R803, Roof Sheathing (34 Pa. Code 403.21(a)(7); the State's changes to Chapter 8 are to ridge framing and attic ventilation). Lumber roof sheathing follows Table R803.1: over rafters or beams 24 inches apart it must be at least 5/8 inch net thick. Wood structural panels "shall be identified for grade, bond classification and performance category by a grade mark or certificate of inspection issued by an approved agency," and their spans "shall not exceed the values set forth in Table R503.2.1.1(1) or APA E30." For shingles, "Asphalt shingles shall be fastened to solidly sheathed decks" (R905.2.1), and on any reroof "The structural roof components shall be capable of supporting the roof covering system and the material and equipment loads that will be encountered during installation of the roof covering system" (R908.2). These rules bind work the Uniform Construction Code reaches; the Act does not apply to "Repairs to residential buildings" or to alterations that make no structural change, "except as might be required by ordinances" (Act 45 section 104(b)(5) and (6)). Act 45 section 104(b)(5) excludes alterations "which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress" and says only that "a structural change does not include a minor framing change needed to replace existing windows or doors"; 34 Pa. Code 403.62(d)(2) lists "The removal or cutting of any structural beam or load-bearing support" as not an ordinary repair. Neither names roof sheathing; this record does not decide whether replacing it is either. Everything above is Pennsylvania state law, the same in every municipality. Locally, Morrisville Borough administers the code through a retained agency: Section 129-2 of the Borough Code says the Borough "hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," Section 129-4 lets Borough Council retain "one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of the Borough of Morrisville," and the Borough's Code Enforcement page names Barry Isett & Associates, Inc., at 484-861-3468, as its contact; permit packets go to the Borough office at 35 Union Street. Chapter 129 of the Borough Code changes nothing in the code's roof sheathing provisions, and the Borough's pages draw no separate line for roof sheathing. Article VII of Chapter 129 (Ord. No. 942, June 23, 2004) still names the "International Residential Code, 2003 Edition," while the Borough's current submittal requirements say "Pennsylvania has implemented the ICC 2021 Code series with amendments as voted by the RAC"; this record has not read the 2003 edition's sheathing text and does not decide which edition the Borough applies.

6% Pennsylvania sales and use tax, with a local tax added on purchases made in Allegheny County (1%) and Philadelphia (2%). On a reroof the roofer pays the tax on the materials and does not add it to the homeowner's bill. The Department of Revenue says: "The Pennsylvania sales tax rate is 6 percent. By law, a 1 percent local tax is added to purchases made in Allegheny County, and 2 percent local tax is added to purchases made in Philadelphia." Roof work is a construction activity: the rule's list of items "presumed to become a permanent part of real estate" includes "Roofing (repairs)" (61 Pa. Code 31.11). For construction activities, "A contractor shall pay tax upon the purchase price ... of all property, including materials, equipment, components and supplies, which he furnishes and installs" (61 Pa. Code 31.12(a)(1)), and the rule's example says the contractor "does not charge sales tax on this transaction to his customer. The contractor may include the tax he must pay in his bid proposal but not as a separately stated item." Apart from limited exceptions set out in the rule, the same holds on jobs for tax-exempt owners: "a contractor erecting a building, repairing a roof, replacing a door for a governmental agency, ... school district, charitable or religious organization, and the like, shall pay tax upon the property which he consumes" (61 Pa. Code 31.13(a)). Everything above is Pennsylvania state law, the same in every municipality. Morrisville Borough is in Bucks County. The Borough's code pages say nothing on sales tax.