Roofing in Carroll Township (Washington 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, Carroll Township in Washington County administers the code through a third-party agency, Harshman CE Group: the Township's Zoning Office page lists "Contracted Building Inspection Service: Harshman CE Group" at 724-993-4505, the Residential UCC Building Permit Application the Township posts is that firm's form, and the Township's 2025 fee schedule (Resolution No. 2025-886) says "Building Permit Fee established by Third Party Inspector." Chapter 112 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 2004-1) adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" as the municipal building code. The Township office is at 130 Baird Street, Monongahela. Chapter 112 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions, and the Township's pages name no code edition.

Carroll Township's building inspection agency lists roofing surfaces among work that needs no UCC permit, and the Township's own Building Permit Ordinance requires a Zoning Officer permit to repair or alter any building. The Residential UCC Building Permit Application posted on the Township's Zoning Office page says "A UCC Permit is not required for the following items:" and lists "Roofing Surfaces (shingles/metal surfaces. NOT sheathing or truss work)," and the same form says "Municipal Permits including, but not limited to, zoning, driveway, land development, sewage and utility may be required prior to the issuance of a building permit." Chapter 92 of the Township Code, the Building Permit Ordinance (Ord. No. 5 of 1957, amended through 1991), says "It shall be unlawful for any person or persons, partnership or corporation to erect or construct any new building ... or to repair, alter, enlarge or remove any existing building within the limits of said Township, until there has first been secured by the owner or owners of said building a permit issued by the Zoning Officer of said Carroll Township," and Section 92-8 has plans submitted to the Zoning Officer so that they "meet the requirements of Chapter 260, Zoning, and other ordinances." Chapter 92 names no roof work and lists no exemption. Section 112-5 keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code. The Township's 2025 fee schedule has a "Zoning Permit Application Fee $75" and no roofing line, and the agency's 2025 fee schedule attached to it prices residential "Repairs and Alterations" at 1.5% of construction cost and has no roofing line. This record does not decide whether a reroof needs the Chapter 92 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." Section 92-10 sets a civil fine of "not less than $100 nor more than $600" for a violation of Chapter 92. The Zoning Office page lists office hours of 8:00am to 3:00pm Tuesday and Thursday, the agency is at 724-993-4505, and the Township office is at 724-483-7330. Read for this record: Chapter 92 of the Township Code, Building Permits, and Chapter 112, Construction Codes, Uniform, in full; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Township's 2025 fee schedule with the agency's 2025 fee schedule, read from their page images; the Residential UCC Building Permit Application; and the Township's Zoning Office, Documents and Forms and Contact pages.