Roofing in Avalon, 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, Avalon Borough's Codes page says "Avalon Borough currently employs Harshman CE Group LLC for all building issues (new, rehabilitation, roofing, decks, demo, retaining walls over 4 feet, pools, etc.) and all code enforcement issues (property maintenance)"; Harshman CE Group, LLC is a third-party inspection agency at 2455 Park Avenue, Washington, PA (724-993-4505), and building permit applications are taken at the Borough building, 640 California Avenue. Chapter 155, Article I of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 1285, adopted 5-18-2004) elects to administer the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and says "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa.Code, Chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of the Borough of Avalon"; it adds no local permit rule and no amendment, and its section 155-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code. A code-wide search of the Borough Code for "roof" returned no section that requires or exempts a permit for roof work, and "reroofing" returned no result. No Borough page read for this record names an edition of the residential code.

Avalon Borough's pages read for this record point two ways on a house reroof. The Residential UCC Building Permit Application that the Borough posts on its Codes and Forms pages, a Harshman CE Group form, says "A UCC Permit is not required for the following items" and lists "Roofing Surfaces (shingles/metal surfaces. NOT sheathing or truss work)" beside fences, low retaining walls and decks, and replacement doors and windows. The Borough's own Codes page, under the heading "BUILDING PERMITS & CODE ENFORCEMENT," lists "roofing" among the "building issues" Harshman CE Group handles and adds "Not sure if you need a permit? Please call Avalon Borough or Harshman LLC before starting your project." The Borough's 2026 General Fee Schedule (Resolution No. 26-1346, effective January 1, 2026), read in full, has no building permit or roofing line. Chapter 155, Article I of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 1285, adopted 5-18-2004) elects to administer the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and says "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa.Code, Chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of the Borough of Avalon"; it adds no local permit rule and no amendment, and its section 155-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code. A code-wide search of the Borough Code for "roof" returned no section that requires or exempts a permit for roof work, and "reroofing" returned no result. 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 state whether a house reroof in Avalon needs a permit; call the Borough (412-761-5820) or Harshman CE Group (724-993-4505) before starting, and expect sheathing or truss work to need a permit under the application's own wording. The application also says "Municipal Permits including, but not limited to, zoning, driveway, land development, sewage and utility may be required prior to the issuance of a building permit." Read for this answer: the Borough's Codes and Forms pages and Contact Sheet, the Residential UCC Building Permit Application (scanned, read from its page images), the 2026 General Fee Schedule (scanned, read from its page images), Chapter 155 of the Borough Code in full, and code-wide searches for "roof" and "reroofing."