Roofing in Allegheny Township (Westmoreland County), Pennsylvania

Required

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, Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County, takes construction permit applications at its Zoning Office in the Township Community Building, 136 Community Building Road, Leechburg. Section 89-2 of the Township Code says the Township "hereby elects to administer and enforce" the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and the code, and the Township's Zoning and Code Enforcement page says "The Township currently is under contract with a third party contractor to perform building inspections. The company, Code.Sys, can be reached by contacting the Zoning Office." Section 89-1 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended and supplemented from time to time," and Chapter 89 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. Section 89-1 lists the 2003 editions of the International Codes, including "The International Residential Code 2003 (first printing)," while the Township's Zoning and Code Enforcement page says the Uniform Construction Code "presently adheres to the 2021 International Codes"; this record has not read the 2003 edition's text.

Allegheny Township text read for this record names no roof work as permit work or as exempt. The Township's Frequently Asked Questions page (read October 9, 2026) answers "When is a building permit needed?" with "Any time that you are constructing an addition, renovating an existing structure or building a new structure a permit will be required." Its 2026 Zoning and Construction Application offers the boxes "New Construction," "Alteration," "Repair" and "Demolition" under Building Permit and names no roof work; the Zoning and Code Enforcement page adds "When in doubt, residents should always contact the office to see what, if any, permits are required when constructing structures within Allegheny Township." Chapter 89 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 9-2004) adopts the Uniform Construction Code by reference, has no permit section of its own and names no roof work either way; Section 89-5 leaves fees to be set by resolution, and no fee resolution is published on the Township's site. Section 250-9 of the Zoning chapter requires "A building permit" "prior to the construction of any building or structure regulated by this chapter" and names no roof work. No Township text read for this record says whether an ordinary reroof needs 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." Read for this record: Chapter 89 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 89-1 to 89-6), in full; Section 250-9 of the Zoning chapter; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no permit provision naming roof work; and the Township's Zoning and Code Enforcement page, Frequently Asked Questions page and 2026 Zoning and Construction Application. Section 250-9 adds a late filing fee "as set by current resolution" where a building permit is sought after construction has begun, and Section 89-6 sets a fine of "not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution" for a violation of the chapter or the code. The administration office is open Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 724-842-4641.