City of Washington - Code Enforcement and Permits

City of Washington, Pennsylvania (Washington County)

city

55 West Maiden Street, Washington, PA 15301

Required

The City of Washington's Code Enforcement FAQ says installing a roof on a house requires a City Maintenance/Improvement Permit, a local permit separate from a UCC building permit. The City's Code Enforcement FAQ (read October 7, 2026) answers "Do I need a permit to install a new roof?" with "Yes, installing a roof on a residential property requires a Maintenance/Improvement Permit. Installing a roof on a commercial property requires a full building permit." Its Licenses, Permits & Fees page says "Zoning Permits are also required for the following: shingle replacement, siding replacement, window and door replacement when not changing the size and structure of the opening. $75.00 FEE," and the City's 2026 fee schedule lists a "Residential Maintenance & Improvement Permit" at $60.00. The Municipal Consulting Services, LLC application posted on the same City page says "A UCC Permit is not required for the following items: (A zoning permit will still be required by the City of Washington)" and lists "Roofing surfaces (shingles/metal surfaces. NOT sheathing or truss work)." So the permit the City's pages name for a house reroof that leaves the sheathing and trusses alone is the City's own, not a UCC building permit; work on sheathing or trusses is outside that line. Section 130-35 of the City Code (Ord. No. 1817, April 9, 2009, which adopts the 2009 International Residential and Building Codes) says "any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure ... shall first make application to the Building Officials and obtain the required permits," and Section 130-36 says "Work exempt from permits shall be stipulated within said code under Section R105.2 of the 2009 IRC and Section 105.2 of the 2009 IBC"; this record has not read that 2009 text. Section 350-79B of the zoning chapter says "Zoning permits shall be secured prior to commencing a use or starting any construction, erection or alteration of any building, structure, sign or portion thereof." None of these sections names roof work. 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." This record does not decide whether a UCC building permit is needed for a house reroof here. In practice, expect the City to require its Maintenance/Improvement Permit, and by its permits page a $75 zoning permit, before a house is reroofed, whatever the answer on a UCC building permit; the City pages read for this record state no penalty for roof work done without one. City Hall is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, at 724-223-4200. Read for this answer: Chapter 130 of the City Code, Construction Codes, Articles II, IV, V and VII in full; Section 350-79 of the zoning chapter; every page of a search of the whole City Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the City's Licenses, Permits & Fees, Code Enforcement FAQ and Codes and Ordinances pages; the City's 2026 fee schedule and its 2026 UCC fee schedule; the Municipal Consulting Services, LLC residential application; and the City's zoning permit application.

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, The City of Washington elects to administer and enforce the code itself (Section 130-43 of the City Code, Ord. No. 1730 of 2004) and adopts the Uniform Construction Code as its municipal building code (Section 130-44). The City's Licenses, Permits & Fees page posts the residential UCC building permit application of Municipal Consulting Services, LLC, which is filed with the City of Washington at 55 West Maiden Street and paid to the City; the City's posted UCC fee schedules carry the web address of another firm, Harshman CE Group, and this record does not decide which firm inspects for the City. Chapter 130 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. Article V of Chapter 130 names the 2009 International Residential Code, Article VII adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time," and the City's pages and the posted application name no edition; this record has not read the 2009 edition's text and does not decide which edition the City applies.

The City of Washington says installing a roof on a house requires its own Maintenance/Improvement Permit, a local permit separate from a UCC building permit. The City's Code Enforcement FAQ (read October 7, 2026) answers "Do I need a permit to install a new roof?" with "Yes, installing a roof on a residential property requires a Maintenance/Improvement Permit. Installing a roof on a commercial property requires a full building permit." Its Licenses, Permits & Fees page says "Zoning Permits are also required for the following: shingle replacement, siding replacement, window and door replacement when not changing the size and structure of the opening. $75.00 FEE," and the City's 2026 fee schedule lists a "Residential Maintenance & Improvement Permit" at $60.00. The Municipal Consulting Services, LLC application posted on the same City page says "A UCC Permit is not required for the following items: (A zoning permit will still be required by the City of Washington)" and lists "Roofing surfaces (shingles/metal surfaces. NOT sheathing or truss work)." So the permit the City's pages name for a house reroof that leaves the sheathing and trusses alone is the City's own, not a UCC building permit; work on sheathing or trusses is outside that line. Section 130-35 of the City Code (Ord. No. 1817, April 9, 2009, which adopts the 2009 International Residential and Building Codes) says "any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure ... shall first make application to the Building Officials and obtain the required permits," and Section 130-36 says "Work exempt from permits shall be stipulated within said code under Section R105.2 of the 2009 IRC and Section 105.2 of the 2009 IBC"; this record has not read that 2009 text. None of these sections names roof work. 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." This record does not decide whether a UCC building permit is needed for a house reroof here. In practice, expect the City to require its Maintenance/Improvement Permit, and by its permits page a $75 zoning permit, before a house is reroofed, whatever the answer on a UCC building permit; the City pages read for this record state no penalty for roof work done without one. 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, The City of Washington elects to administer and enforce the code itself (Section 130-43 of the City Code, Ord. No. 1730 of 2004) and adopts the Uniform Construction Code as its municipal building code (Section 130-44). The City's Licenses, Permits & Fees page posts the residential UCC building permit application of Municipal Consulting Services, LLC, which is filed with the City of Washington at 55 West Maiden Street and paid to the City; the City's posted UCC fee schedules carry the web address of another firm, Harshman CE Group, and this record does not decide which firm inspects for the City. No City 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, The City of Washington elects to administer and enforce the code itself (Section 130-43 of the City Code, Ord. No. 1730 of 2004) and adopts the Uniform Construction Code as its municipal building code (Section 130-44). The City's Licenses, Permits & Fees page posts the residential UCC building permit application of Municipal Consulting Services, LLC, which is filed with the City of Washington at 55 West Maiden Street and paid to the City; the City's posted UCC fee schedules carry the web address of another firm, Harshman CE Group, and this record does not decide which firm inspects for the City. Chapter 130 changes nothing in the code's reroofing provisions, and the City's pages say nothing on roof layers. Article V of Chapter 130 names the 2009 International Residential Code, Article VII adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time," and the City's pages and the posted application name no edition; 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 City 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, The City of Washington elects to administer and enforce the code itself (Section 130-43 of the City Code, Ord. No. 1730 of 2004) and adopts the Uniform Construction Code as its municipal building code (Section 130-44). The City's Licenses, Permits & Fees page posts the residential UCC building permit application of Municipal Consulting Services, LLC, which is filed with the City of Washington at 55 West Maiden Street and paid to the City; the City's posted UCC fee schedules carry the web address of another firm, Harshman CE Group, and this record does not decide which firm inspects for the City. Chapter 130 changes nothing in the code's roof sheathing provisions. The posted UCC application exempts "Roofing surfaces (shingles/metal surfaces. NOT sheathing or truss work)" from a UCC permit, so sheathing or truss work is outside that exemption. Article V of Chapter 130 names the 2009 International Residential Code, Article VII adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time," and the City's pages and the posted application name no edition; 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 City 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. The City of Washington is in Washington County. The City's permit pages and fee schedules say nothing on sales tax.