Roofing in Brookville, 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, Brookville Borough administers the code through a third-party agency: Section 89-1 of the Borough Code says "This municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Borough's Permit Process page says the applicant submits the building permit application, plot or floor plan and fee to "PennSafe Building Inspections Services," 175 Beaver Drive, DuBois (814-375-1111), whose Building Official reviews it and "issues the Building Permit or denies the application accordingly." Section 89-2 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 this municipality," and Chapter 89 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. The Borough's General Permit Information page says "All residential construction must now follow the International Residential Code/2009" and names no later edition; this record has not read the 2009 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Borough applies.

No Brookville Borough text read for this record says in terms whether a house reroof needs a building permit. A page headed "Construction Exempt from Permits" under the Borough's "Planning & Zoning Department / Zoning Hearing Board" heading (read October 9, 2026) says "Repair and replacement projects, which do NOT involve structural changes to a building, do not require a permit." and "For example, shingle replacement will not require a permit." It does not say which permit it means, and the UCC building permit is issued by the agency, not by that department. The Borough's "Permits Requiring Building Code Inspections" page lists "Construct or alter a structure" among activities needing an application, and its General Permit Information page says "Please call the Borough office at 849-5321 before beginning any construction project." Article I of Chapter 89 of the Borough Code, the Borough's Uniform Construction Code ordinance (Ord. No. 1031, 2004), names no roof work either way and adds no permit clause of its own; Article II (Ord. No. 1042, 2005) requires permits and inspections only "for electrical service upgrades and/or service renovations to all existing residential structures." Section 89-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the code"; the Borough Code as published carries no other building code chapter. Section 89-6 leaves fees to resolution and Chapter 111 sets only a zoning inspection fee; the Borough has published no building permit fee schedule, and its General Permit Information page says "The fee for the permit is determined by the cost of the proposed improvement project." The agency's own list of permit applications offers residential packets for new houses, additions and garages, decks and porches, pools, fences, demolition and solar panels, and a roof packet only for "Commercial Roof". The enacted text names no roof work on houses either way. 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 needs a building permit in Brookville; ask the agency (814-375-1111) before starting. Where a permit is needed, the Borough's inspections page says "It is unlawful for any contractor or subcontractor to perform any work for which a permit is required unless a permit is obtained and posted as required by the Building Code." Applications go to the agency at 175 Beaver Drive, DuBois; the Borough office is at 18 Western Avenue, Suite A, Brookville (814-849-5320). Read for this record: Chapter 89 of the Borough Code, Construction Code, Uniform, Chapter 111, Fees, and Chapter 161, Property Maintenance, in full, and the Code's table of contents; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Borough's Planning & Zoning Department pages; and the agency's list of permit applications.