Roofing in Bethel Park, 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 Municipality of Bethel Park administers the code itself: Section 26.3 of its Code says "Administration and enforcement of the Code within the Municipality of Bethel Park shall be undertaken by the Building Code Official and the Construction Code Official," with plumbing left to the Allegheny County Health Department and electrical inspections to state-certified third-party agencies, and its Community Services Department, which includes Building Inspections, takes residential permit applications. Its Residential Building Permit Application (revised December 26, 2025) says "PA-UCC & THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODES ARE ENFORCED." Section 26.2 of the Code adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," "as the municipal building code of the Municipality of Bethel Park," and Sections 26.5 and 26.6 add survey, footing, carbon monoxide, radon and floodplain rules and fill in the design-criteria table; none of them touches roofing. No ordinance reaching residential reroofing was found in Chapter 26 of the Code (Building), Article I (Uniform Construction Code, Sections 26.1 to 26.10) and Article III (Building Permit Fees, Sections 26.11 and 26.12), or in a search of the whole Code for roof provisions, all read for this record.

The Municipality of Bethel Park has published nothing read for this record that names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. Its Residential Building Permit Application lists project types such as additions, accessory structures, a porch roof, structural alterations and decks, and its permit packet page, handouts and fee schedule name no reroofing permit. Section 26.2 of the Code adopts the Uniform Construction Code by reference, and no Municipal ordinance read for this record 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 therefore does not state whether a Municipal ordinance requires a permit for a reroof. Before starting one, ask the Department at 412-831-6800, ext. 131, whether it requires a permit. Where a permit is required, Section 26.11 of the Code charges, in addition to the fee, "two times that stated therein when construction has begun without the required building permit having been issued," at least $100 and at most $1,000, and Section 26.8 sets a fine of "not more than $1,000, plus costs" for violating the ordinance. Applications can be dropped off at the Community Services Department, Bethel Park Municipal Building, 5100 W. Library Ave., 2nd floor, or sent by email; the office is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, the application asks for the contractor's registration number, and inspections are requested "24 hrs. prior to the required inspection."