Roofing in Conemaugh Township (Somerset 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, Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, takes zoning and building permit applications at its Township Building, 1120 Tire Hill Road, Johnstown; its Zoning/Building page names a consultant as the Township's "ZONING & PERMITTING OFFICER, BUILDING CODES ENFORCEMENT OFFICER" and says "All applications and payments to be submitted to: Conemaugh Township Supervisors," and its Zoning / Building Permit Application is approved by the "Building Codes Official." The Township has not published its Uniform Construction Code adoption ordinance; its Ordinances and Zoning/Building pages post no building code ordinance, so this record has not read it. The Township's Residential Alterations / Additions submission requirements say plans must conform to "the 2009 International Residential Code"; this record has not read the 2009 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Township applies.

Conemaugh Township's fee schedule names a Township zoning permit for re-roofing existing residential structures, a local permit separate from a UCC building permit. The Township's fee schedule (Resolution R11-09, adopted August 19, 2009, posted as its current Zoning / Building Permit Fee Schedule) lists, under the heading "Zoning-Land Uses," a fee for "Accessory Buildings, Fences, or other accessory structures. (Exempt from Building Codes), Demolition Permits & Storable Swimming Pools & Re-roofing Existing Residential Structures" of a $20.00 application fee and a permit fee of "$50.00 + $1.50 per $1,000 over $2,000," separate from its "Residential - Zoning & Building Codes" fees for "Alterations/Additions/ Permanently Installed Swimming Pools-Requiring Building Code Review/Inspections." So the permit the Township's own fee schedule names for re-roofing an existing house is a Township zoning permit, billed among work listed as exempt from building codes; no Township document read says whether a building code permit is also required for a house reroof. The Township has not published its Uniform Construction Code adoption ordinance; its Ordinances and Zoning/Building pages post no building code ordinance, so this record has not read it. 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 decide whether a UCC building permit is needed for a house reroof here. In practice, expect the Township to require a zoning permit, with its re-roofing fee, before an existing house is reroofed, and ask the Township office at (814) 288-1400 whether a building permit is also needed. The Township's application is a combined Zoning / Building Permit Application, and its residential alteration requirements ask for plans, the completed application, a plot plan, contractor information and the application fees. Read for this answer: the Township's Zoning/Building and Ordinances pages; every posted building permit form (the Zoning / Building Permit Application and the residential alteration, new house and commercial submission requirements); the fee schedule (Resolution R11-09); the Zoning Ordinance (No. 678 with amendments), searched for roofing and permit terms; and the Property Maintenance Ordinance (No. 697).