Roofing in Crafton, 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, The Borough of Crafton elects to administer and enforce the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act (Section 90-1 of the Borough Code), through a Borough Building Code Official "employed and/or retained by the Borough" (Section 90-4), and the Borough's Residential Building Permit Application directs questions to "THE BUILDING INSPECTION OFFICE AT (412) 921-0752 x 18" at the Borough offices, 100 Stotz Avenue. Section 90-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended, and the standardized codes adopted thereunder," and Section 90-3 fills in Table R301.2(1) of the International Residential Code, including "Yes" for ice barrier underlayment required; Chapter 90 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. Neither Chapter 90 nor the Borough's permit pages name a code edition.

No Borough of Crafton text read for this record says whether a residential reroof without structural work needs a building permit. The Borough's Forms & Permits page (read October 9, 2026) describes its Residential Building Permit Application this way: "Permits are required for all structural, plumbing, mechanical or electrical work. Projects that require structural changes may include, but are not limited to, interior or exterior renovations, decks and or patios, windows or door replacement, roof replacement or accessory structures over four feet." That text names roof replacement as work that may involve structural change; it does not say that every roof replacement needs a permit, and no Borough page read says that a reroof without structural work needs none. The application itself offers "NEW CONSTRUCTION," "ADDITION" and "ALTERATION/RENOVATION" with no roof box, and the 2026 fee schedule (Resolution No. 2026-04) prices residential "Alterations and repairs" at "$0.50 per sq fit" with no roofing line. Section 90-2 of the Borough Code adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as the official Construction Code of Crafton Borough for regulating and governing the construction, alteration, repair, movement, equipment, removal, demolition, location, maintenance, occupancy or change of occupancy of every building or structure" and keeps in effect, under section 303(b)(1) of the Act, Borough building code ordinances adopted before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code; this record has not read any such ordinance. Section 90-3 (as amended by Ord. No. 1677, 2023) amends the codes the UCC adopts but names no roof work and does not change the State's list of exclusions. 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." The Department of Labor and Industry's register of municipal code change ordinances lists a Crafton Borough filing that "Requires a building permit for all residential alterations and repairs and establishes 9 exceptions," found in compliance with an approval letter mailed in August 2007, with the status "Council voted against enactment 6 / 11 / 08." The application asks for "a copy of the construction contract with the licensed contractor," proof of the contractor's general liability insurance and a signed Workers' Compensation Addendum. The Borough offices, at 412-921-0752, are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Read for this answer: Chapter 90 of the Borough Code, Code Enforcement, Articles I and II, in full; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Borough's Forms & Permits page and its list of forms; the Residential Building Permit Application; and the 2026 fee schedule (Resolution No. 2025-23, as replaced by Resolution No. 2026-04), its construction code and zoning sections.