Roofing in Beaver Falls, 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, The City of Beaver Falls takes permit applications at its Code Enforcement & Zoning Office, 715 Fifteenth Street, and uses a third-party agency for Uniform Construction Code permits: the City's Code Enforcement page says the Department of Code Enforcement enforces "Minimum standards of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code," and the City's Zoning Permit Application says "you will need to procure an UCC building permit from the City's Third Party Agency, MDIA." The City's codified ordinances were not read for this record. The City's Code Enforcement page lists the 2018 International Building Code and the 2018 International Residential Code under "Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (PAUCC)"; the text above is the 2021 edition's, the 2018 edition's text was not read for this record, and this record does not decide which edition the City applies.

The City of Beaver Falls's Zoning Permit Application lists "Roof" among its types of application, a zoning permit separate from the UCC building permit. The City's Zoning Permit Application (read October 9, 2026) lists "Roof" among the boxes under "TYPE OF APPLICATION" for a zoning permit, priced "Residential - $75.00," and says "If structure is more than 200 sq. ft., or 30 inches off ground level, you will need to obtain an UCC building permit"; it does not say whether an ordinary reroof needs a zoning permit. The City's UCC/Building Permit Application names no roof work: its project description boxes are "DEMOLITION," "NEW BUILDING," "ADDITION," "REPAIR" and "RELOCATION," among others. The City's codified ordinances, including any ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code, were not read for this record. The City's Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance 3054), searched for roof work, names no roofing 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: the City's Code Enforcement and Rental Registration, Community Development and Documents pages; its UCC/Building Permit Application and Zoning Permit Application; and its Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance 3054), searched for roof work. The Code Enforcement & Zoning Office is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at 724-847-2800.