Rochester Township - Zoning and Building Department

Township of Rochester, Pennsylvania (Beaver County)

city

1013 Elm Street, Rochester, PA 15074

Required

No Rochester Township text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt, so this record does not decide whether the Township requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. The Building Inspector page (read October 12, 2026) says "The International Construction Code (ICC) is in effect for all construction within Rochester Township, with the exception of a few items that have been excluded pursuant to The Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, as amended," and "However, a Zoning Permit is required for all construction activity, including items excluded by the Act." The 2025 fee schedule of United Code Consultants (transcribed from the rendered page images) lists "Residential Building Permit (Misc.)" for "Structural Alterations," a "Residential Deck or Porch Roof" permit and a "Residential Zoning Permit," and has no line for reroofing. The Township's FAQs page says "All additions and porches with roofs attached to the dwelling require a "Building Permit"" and does not mention reroofing. Chapter 60 of the Township Code adopts "The 2009 International Building Code, the 2009 International Fire Code, the 2009 International Residential Code" and other 2009 codes (Ord. No. 438, December 16, 2010), and its 2024 amendment (Ord. No. 491) adopts the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code; this record has not read the 2009 International Residential Code's text. Chapter 53, Building Construction, says "No person, firm or corporation shall erect, construct, reconstruct or remodel any structure within the Township involving any connection with any sewer line or lateral without having first obtained a building permit from the Township Secretary," which names no roof work. The Zoning chapter says "A zoning permit is needed to: 1. Erect, reconstruct, move, structurally alter, or enlarge any structure or building" and describes a building permit as "A permit indicating that a proposed construction, alteration or reconstruction of a structure is in accordance with the provisions of the Township's Construction Code (Chapter 60) and Building Requirements (Chapter 53)." None of these texts names roof work or says whether a house reroof is "construction activity" or an "alteration," and this record does not decide either question. 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." Read for this answer: Chapter 53, Building Construction, and Chapter 60, Construction Codes, International, of the Township Code; Ordinance No. 491; the Zoning chapter's permit sections (1104 to 1111); every page of searches of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no permit provision naming roof work on houses; the Township's Building Inspector, Forms and Documents and FAQs pages; and the 2025 United Code Consultants fee schedule. The Township's Fee Schedule and its residential deck guide are image-only files and were not read. Ask the Zoning and Building Department before work starts: the Township office is open 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday to Friday, at 724-774-0135, and the Building Inspector page lists the Building Inspector at 724-328-3633.

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, Rochester Township's Zoning and Building Department, at 1013 Elm Street, Rochester, lists a Building Inspector on its Building Inspector page, which says "Confirmation of compliance with the ICC is by site inspections by certified building inspection officers," and the Township's Forms and Documents page posts a 2025 fee schedule of United Code Consultants headed "RESIDENTIAL FEES" that adds "PA State Building Permit Fee" to "all Building Permits." Chapter 60 of the Township Code adopts "The 2009 International Building Code, the 2009 International Fire Code, the 2009 International Residential Code" and other 2009 codes (Ord. No. 438, December 16, 2010), and its 2024 amendment (Ord. No. 491) adopts the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code; this record has not read the 2009 International Residential Code's text. Chapter 53, Building Construction, says "No person, firm or corporation shall erect, construct, reconstruct or remodel any structure within the Township involving any connection with any sewer line or lateral without having first obtained a building permit from the Township Secretary," which names no roof work. The Zoning chapter says "A zoning permit is needed to: 1. Erect, reconstruct, move, structurally alter, or enlarge any structure or building" and describes a building permit as "A permit indicating that a proposed construction, alteration or reconstruction of a structure is in accordance with the provisions of the Township's Construction Code (Chapter 60) and Building Requirements (Chapter 53)." None of these texts names roof work or says whether a house reroof is "construction activity" or an "alteration," and this record does not decide either question. The Township's pages name "the ICC" without an edition and Chapter 60 names the 2009 editions; this record has not read the 2009 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Township applies.

No Rochester Township text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. The Building Inspector page (read October 12, 2026) says "The International Construction Code (ICC) is in effect for all construction within Rochester Township, with the exception of a few items that have been excluded pursuant to The Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, as amended," and "However, a Zoning Permit is required for all construction activity, including items excluded by the Act." The 2025 fee schedule of United Code Consultants (transcribed from the rendered page images) lists "Residential Building Permit (Misc.)" for "Structural Alterations," a "Residential Deck or Porch Roof" permit and a "Residential Zoning Permit," and has no line for reroofing. The Township's FAQs page says "All additions and porches with roofs attached to the dwelling require a "Building Permit"" and does not mention reroofing. Chapter 60 of the Township Code adopts "The 2009 International Building Code, the 2009 International Fire Code, the 2009 International Residential Code" and other 2009 codes (Ord. No. 438, December 16, 2010), and its 2024 amendment (Ord. No. 491) adopts the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code; this record has not read the 2009 International Residential Code's text. Chapter 53, Building Construction, says "No person, firm or corporation shall erect, construct, reconstruct or remodel any structure within the Township involving any connection with any sewer line or lateral without having first obtained a building permit from the Township Secretary," which names no roof work. The Zoning chapter says "A zoning permit is needed to: 1. Erect, reconstruct, move, structurally alter, or enlarge any structure or building" and describes a building permit as "A permit indicating that a proposed construction, alteration or reconstruction of a structure is in accordance with the provisions of the Township's Construction Code (Chapter 60) and Building Requirements (Chapter 53)." None of these texts names roof work or says whether a house reroof is "construction activity" or an "alteration," and this record does not decide either question. 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." 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, Rochester Township's Zoning and Building Department, at 1013 Elm Street, Rochester, lists a Building Inspector on its Building Inspector page, which says "Confirmation of compliance with the ICC is by site inspections by certified building inspection officers," and the Township's Forms and Documents page posts a 2025 fee schedule of United Code Consultants headed "RESIDENTIAL FEES" that adds "PA State Building Permit Fee" to "all Building Permits." No Township text read sets an area, percentage 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, Rochester Township's Zoning and Building Department, at 1013 Elm Street, Rochester, lists a Building Inspector on its Building Inspector page, which says "Confirmation of compliance with the ICC is by site inspections by certified building inspection officers," and the Township's Forms and Documents page posts a 2025 fee schedule of United Code Consultants headed "RESIDENTIAL FEES" that adds "PA State Building Permit Fee" to "all Building Permits." The Township's pages say nothing on roof layers. The Township's pages name "the ICC" without an edition and Chapter 60 names the 2009 editions; the text above is the 2021 edition's, the 2009 edition's reroofing text was not read for this record, and this record does not decide which edition the Township 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, Rochester Township's Zoning and Building Department, at 1013 Elm Street, Rochester, lists a Building Inspector on its Building Inspector page, which says "Confirmation of compliance with the ICC is by site inspections by certified building inspection officers," and the Township's Forms and Documents page posts a 2025 fee schedule of United Code Consultants headed "RESIDENTIAL FEES" that adds "PA State Building Permit Fee" to "all Building Permits." The Township's pages and fee schedule draw no line for roof sheathing. The Township's pages name "the ICC" without an edition and Chapter 60 names the 2009 editions; the text above is the 2021 edition's, the 2009 edition's sheathing text was not read for this record, and this record does not decide which edition the Township 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. Rochester Township is in Beaver County. The Township's pages and fee schedule say nothing on sales tax.