Roofing in California, 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, California Borough's Permits page says "Applications for UCC permits are located under Misc. Permits," and the Borough's Misc. Applications page posts them as "McMillen Permits & Applications": the residential application is McMillen Engineering, Inc.'s "UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE (UCC) BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION - RESIDENTIAL" (115 Wayland Smith Drive, Uniontown, 724-439-8110). Section 89-1 of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 488, May 3, 2004) says "This municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act." Section 89-2 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time" by reference "as the municipal building code of this municipality," and Chapter 89 names no roof work either way. Section 89-5A keeps in force "All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by this municipality on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the code" and names none. Neither Chapter 89 nor the Borough's pages name a code edition.

No California Borough text read for this record names roof covering work as permit work or as exempt. Section 89-2 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time" by reference "as the municipal building code of this municipality," and Chapter 89 names no roof work either way. Section 89-5A keeps in force "All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by this municipality on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the code" and names none. The Borough's Permits page, under "Building Permits are required," lists "New roof structures and changes to the pitch of an existing roof structure" and "Any structural changes to residences or commercial properties" among "projects" that "are required to follow the Uniform Construction Code," and says "For further information please call the Zoning office at – 724-938-8786." McMillen Engineering's 2026 Residential Building Permit Fees list "Structural change to existing roof" at $100.00 and "Deck Roof or Porch Roof" at $100.00. No Borough or McMillen page read for this record names reroofing or roof covering replacement as permit work or as exempt. 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: Chapter 89 of the Borough Code, Construction Codes, Uniform, in full, and every mention of "roof" in the Borough Code as the Borough posts it; the Borough's Permits, Misc. Applications, Ordinances and Contact pages; and McMillen Engineering's 2026 residential fee list and residential building permit application posted there. The Borough's Permits page also says a zoning certificate is required where any person proposes to "occupy or use any structure hereafter constructed, reconstructed, moved, altered or enlarged." The Borough office is at 225 Third Street, California, 724.938.8878; McMillen Engineering is at 724-439-8110.