Roofing in Cranberry Township (Venango 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, Cranberry Township, in Venango County, has Construction Code Inspectors, Inc. handle construction permits: the Township's Zoning page says "Please stop into the Township Building to acquire your permits. You will then be advised to see Construction Code Inspectors, Inc. at (814) 432-2630 for your construction permit." Construction Code Inspectors, Inc. is at 3178 State Route 257, Suite B, Seneca. The Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance is not published on its website and was not read for this record, and no Township or Construction Code Inspectors, Inc. page read for this record names a code edition.

The Township's Zoning page, under the heading "Building / Zoning Permits" (read October 9, 2026), says "The Township is a zoned community and requires building and zoning permits on all construction" and "Replacement of roof covering, windows and doors do not require a building permit, all other improvements do require a permit." So the Township's own page puts replacing the roof covering among work needing no building permit, and every other improvement among work needing one. Cranberry Township, in Venango County, has Construction Code Inspectors, Inc. handle construction permits: the Township's Zoning page says "Please stop into the Township Building to acquire your permits. You will then be advised to see Construction Code Inspectors, Inc. at (814) 432-2630 for your construction permit." Construction Code Inspectors, Inc. is at 3178 State Route 257, Suite B, Seneca. The Township's FAQ says, for a building or zoning permit, "Contact the zoning officer at the Township Building and he will advise you of the proper steps in obtaining the required permits." The Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance and any fee schedule are not published on the Township's website, and no codified code for this Township was found online, so they were not read for this record. Construction Code Inspectors, Inc.'s 2023 Building Permit Application lists no roofing permit type. 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 answer: the Township's Zoning, FAQ, Contact Information and home pages; and Construction Code Inspectors, Inc.'s home and contact pages and its 2023 Building Permit Application. The Township office is open Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at 814-676-8812 (Zoning Officer, ext. 101).