Roofing in Bedford Township, 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, Bedford Township's Permit Contact Information page says "The Building Code Enforcement Agency for Bedford Township is Pennsylvania Municipal Code Alliance," at 125 South Richard Street, Bedford, and that applicants "must first notify the Township Office for a (Land Development Application/Check List)"; once the Supervisors sign off, "We will then issue a permit if no inspections are required, if inspections are required you will then take your sealed copy to the Pennsylvania Municipal Code Alliance for your Building Permit." The Township's website does not publish the ordinance by which it adopted the Uniform Construction Code, and this record has not read it. The Township's pages name no code edition.

No Bedford Township text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. The Township's Land Development Application asks for the "TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION" and an estimated value for "NEW ADDITION/REPAIRS/OTHER" and names no roof work; neither it, the Township's Land Development & Permits page, which says building construction is "regulated by Township ordinances, and permits are required," nor the Permit Contact Information page says whether a reroof needs a permit. The Township's pages do not link the agency's own reroof guidance, and that guidance does not name the Township. The Township's website does not publish the ordinance by which it adopted the Uniform Construction Code, and this record has not read it. 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." Because the Township's adoption ordinance is unread and neither the Township nor its agency has published a statement on reroofs that names the Township, this record does not decide whether the Township requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. The Permit Contact Information page says "If you do not have the required Land Development Application and Building Permit, you will be stopped by the building code officer with a cease and desist order" and "There are fines involved when you violate this order," and for questions says to call the Pennsylvania Municipal Code Alliance at 814-310-2326. The Township office, 1007 Shed Road, Bedford, PA 15522, is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 4:30, at 814-623-8296. Read for this answer: the Township's Land Development & Permits, Permit Contact Information and Forms, Misc. Ordinance & Links pages; its Land Development Application and application supplement; the ordinances it posts, including its 2014 subdivision and land development ordinance; and the Pennsylvania Municipal Code Alliance's locations, permit applications and FAQ pages.