Roofing in Daugherty Township, 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, Daugherty Township takes building and zoning permit applications at its Township Office, 2182 Mercer Road, New Brighton, and its Community Planning page lists its Zoning and Codes Officer for "Building & Zoning Permit Issuance" and "Codes Enforcement" and lists Middle Department Inspection Agency for "Building Codes Enforcement/ Commercial & Residential Plan Review," "Building Inspections," "Electrical Inspections," "Plumbing Inspections" and "Mechanical Inspections." Chapter 64 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 114, adopted March 10, 2004) says "Daugherty Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405" as "the municipal building code of Daugherty Township"; it adds no permit requirement of its own for residential repairs or alterations and names no roof work. Section 64-5 A keeps in effect building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the code," and no such ordinance is listed in the Township's online code or was read for this record. The Township's FAQ says "Daugherty Township currently enforces the 2009 International Codes Council (ICC) series of Codes" and "The current code in effect is the 2009 International Code"; this record has not read the 2009 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Township applies.

Daugherty Township's pages and code read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. The Township's FAQ says a Building Permit "is required for new construction or structural changes and/or modifications to" existing structures, including "porch roofs," and that "All additions and porches with roofs attached to a dwelling require a Building Permit"; its Community Planning page says "A Building Permit is not required for routine repairs or maintenance. It is required, however, for any improvement that involves new construction, a structural alteration or an addition." Neither names a house reroof, and this record does not decide whether a house reroof is "routine repairs or maintenance" or "a structural alteration." The FAQ also answers "Do I need to have a building permit prior to starting building construction or alterations?" with "Yes. You must obtain the necessary permits and approvals prior to starting construction. Always check with the Zoning and Codes Enforcement Officer first at 724-846-5337." The Township's zoning chapter (Article XI) says "No structure shall be erected, added to or otherwise have any structural alterations made to it until zoning approval has been issued by the Township," and the FAQ says "Zoning approval is required for any change in land use or modification or expansion to any structure." Neither names roof work, and this record does not decide whether a house reroof is a "structural alteration" or a "modification." The Township's UCC chapter, Chapter 64, adopts the code by reference and says nothing of roof work. 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 state whether a permit is required for a house reroof in Daugherty Township; ask the Township office at 724-846-5337 and the Township's building inspector at 1-800-662-6342, the number the FAQ gives for its building inspector, before starting. Read for this answer: Chapter 64 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 64-1 to 64-7), in full; Chapter 76, Fees, and Chapter 120, Property Maintenance, which name no roof work; Article XI of the zoning chapter, Administration and Enforcement; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" (17 results, none a permit provision for roof work), for "reroofing" (none) and for "permit"; the Township's FAQ, Forms and Community Planning pages; its Building & Zoning Permit Application; and the single-family dwelling and residential addition guides it posts. The Township's building permit fee resolution, which the FAQ says is posted on the Township's website, was not found there and was not read.