Roofing in Bradford Township (McKean 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, Bradford Township in McKean County takes zoning permit applications at its Municipal Building, 136 Hemlock Street, Bradford, and its Zoning/Building Permits page says that once the zoning application is approved "you must also file for a BUILDING PERMIT which is issued by our building inspector" at KNA Inspections, 309 Interstate Parkway, Bradford. The Township's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code is not among the ordinances it publishes, and this record has not read it. Its published code still carries Chapter 5, Part 1, which adopts the "BOCA National Building Code, 1996 Edition" (Ordinance 1998-7-3); this record has not read that model code's text. Section 120.1.F of the Zoning chapter says "The changing of color, composition, siding, or roofing of existing structures which do not increase the size of the structure may not require a building permit." The Township's Code Enforcement page says "Bradford Township has adopted both the International Property Maintenance Code and the International Residential Code" and names no edition, and its published Chapter 5 names the 1996 BOCA National Building Code; the 1996 code's text was not read for this record, and this record does not decide which edition the Township applies.

Bradford Township's page lists "New Roof" among work that does not need a building permit and "New Roof (Contact Zoning Officer for specifications)" among work that needs a zoning permit. The Zoning/Building Permits page lists "New Roof" under "You do NOT need a building permit for:" together with "Non-Structural Renovations/Repairs," siding and windows. The same page lists "New Roof (Contact Zoning Officer for specifications)" under "You will need a zoning permit for:" and the Township's FAQ answers "Do I need a zoning permit for a new roof?" with "Sometimes (PLEASE CALL)." The zoning permit is a Township permit separate from the building permit; the page sets the zoning permit fee at $35.00 and says "Anyone who starts construction without an approved permit in place shall be charged TWO (2x) the rate." The Township's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code is not among the ordinances it publishes, and this record has not read it. Its published code still carries Chapter 5, Part 1, which adopts the "BOCA National Building Code, 1996 Edition" (Ordinance 1998-7-3); this record has not read that model code's text. Section 120.1.F of the Zoning chapter says "The changing of color, composition, siding, or roofing of existing structures which do not increase the size of the structure may not require a building 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." The Township office, open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., is at 814-368-3564. Read for this record: the Township's Zoning/Building Permits page, its FAQ and its Code Enforcement page; the Ordinances page and the published Chapters 4 (Buildings), 5 (Code Enforcement), 13 (Licenses, Permits and General Business Regulations) and 27 (Zoning) of the Township's code.