Roofing in DuBois, 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 City of DuBois as it exists now was formed when two municipalities joined: the City's home page says "On January 5, 2026, the former municipalities of Sandy Township and the City of DuBois consolidated to create the new City of DuBois," so the City now includes the former Sandy Township. The consolidation agreement says the ordinances "including, but not limited to, planning, zoning, building" in effect in the Township and the former City the day before consolidation "shall continue in force and effect and shall continue to apply within the territorial limits of the Township and Existing City, respectively, until amended or repealed by Council," and sets codification of all City ordinances for "December 31, 2027." The City's Code Enforcement Department, at 35 W. Scribner Avenue, "handles permitting, enforcement, zoning and inspections"; Section 5-12 of the City Code gives its department "Building, housing and sidewalk inspection" and "Issue building permits," and Section 170-1 says the City "hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act." The City's permit applications are posted by Pennsafe Building Inspection Services LLC, whose page for the City says "If you have any questions regarding permitting in the City of DuBois, please contact them at 814-371-2000." Section 170-2 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time" as the municipal building code, and Chapter 170 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. The City's pages name no code edition.

The City of DuBois's code and pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. The City of DuBois as it exists now was formed when two municipalities joined: the City's home page says "On January 5, 2026, the former municipalities of Sandy Township and the City of DuBois consolidated to create the new City of DuBois," so the City now includes the former Sandy Township. The consolidation agreement says the ordinances "including, but not limited to, planning, zoning, building" in effect in the Township and the former City the day before consolidation "shall continue in force and effect and shall continue to apply within the territorial limits of the Township and Existing City, respectively, until amended or repealed by Council," and sets codification of all City ordinances for "December 31, 2027." The City Code the City links from its Code Enforcement page is the former City's code. Its Chapter 170, Construction Codes (Ord. No. 1681, April 26, 2004), adopts the Uniform Construction Code by reference, names no roof work either way and adds no permit clause of its own for house repairs; Section 170-6 leaves fees to be "established by the City Council by resolution from time to time," and no fee resolution is published. Separately, Section 450-31 of the Zoning chapter says "A building permit shall be required: (a) Prior to the erection, addition or alteration of any building or portion thereof," without naming roof work or repairs. The former Sandy Township's ordinances were not read for this record. The Code Enforcement page lists, under "Not having the proper permits," "building permits for sheds, additions, replacement of porches and porch roofs, new additions or replacement of them"; it names no house reroof. The list of City applications on the Pennsafe page names "Commercial Roof" and no residential roofing application, and the City's general application lists "New Building Addition Alteration Repair Demolition Relocation" as types of work, with no roofing 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." This record does not state whether the City requires a permit for a house reroof; ask the Code Enforcement Department (814-371-2000) before starting. City offices are open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Read for this answer: Chapter 170 of the City Code, Construction Codes, in full; Sections 5-12, 385-65 and 450-31 to 450-33; every page of a search of the whole City Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the City's Code Enforcement, Forms & Permits, home and history pages; the consolidation agreement; and the Pennsafe page listing the City's applications, with the City's addition, deck and porch, and commercial roof applications. No City fee schedule is published.