Roofing in Chester Heights, 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, Chester Heights Borough administers the code itself: Section 77-1 of the Borough Code says "The Borough of Chester Heights hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," the Borough's Appointed Borough Officials page (read October 10, 2026) lists a "Building Code Official" at the Borough's office number, a third-party engineering firm, and the Borough takes permit applications at its office, 53 W. Baltimore Pike, 2nd Floor. Section 77-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," as the municipal building code. Section 77-3 of the Borough Code, which says its list provides "the minimum requirements of the Uniform Construction Code," names "International Residential Code 2003" and the Borough's pages name no later edition, so this record has not read the 2003 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Borough applies.

Chester Heights Borough's own pages name no roof work as permit work or as exempt. Its Building Permit Application says it is "In connection with the erection of new buildings, additions, alterations, repairs, moving, removing or tearing down of any building or part of the same," which names no roof work, and its 2026 fee resolution lists "Permit Fee - Residential 3% of Construction Costs" with no roofing line. Section 185-112 of the zoning chapter says "A permit shall be required prior to the erection or alteration of any building, structure, or portion thereof," which names no roof work and does not say whether a house reroof is an alteration. Ordinance No. 225, adopted May 18, 2026 and listed under the Code's New Laws, adds a Historic Resources Impact Permit for owners of Class 1 historic resources, and its text speaks to replacing a roof or covering a portion of a roof other than as repair with substantially similar materials; it reaches only those properties. Chapter 61 of the Borough Code adopts "The BOCA National Building Code, 1990 Edition," and Section 77-4 keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the code"; this record has not read the 1990 BOCA code's text. No page read says whether a house reroof needs 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." Ask the Borough office (610-459-3400, Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm) before starting. Read for this answer: the Borough's Apply for Permits or U&O Inspections, Appointed Borough Officials and Zoning Information pages; the Building Permit Application; the 2026 fee resolution; Chapter 77, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 77-1 to 77-8), and Chapter 61, Building Construction, in full; Sections 185-111 to 185-115 of the zoning chapter; Ordinances No. 223, 225 and 226; and every page of searches of the whole Borough Code for "roof," "reroofing" and "building permit," which found no permit provision naming roof work on houses other than Ordinance No. 225's.