Roofing in East Buffalo Township (Union 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, East Buffalo Township's Code Enforcement page says "Forms and applications directly associated with the Building Permit process can be acquired from our Building permit and Construction Code enforcement managers at: Central Keystone Council of Governments," 1610 Industrial Boulevard, Suite 400A, Lewisburg, and the same page says "A zoning permit is also required in East Buffalo Township." Part 1 of Chapter 5 of the Township Code (Ordinance 265, June 28, 2004, as amended) elects to administer and enforce the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and adopts "The Uniform Construction Code (hereinafter the Code), set forth in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time" as the Township Building Code, and names no roof work either way. Section 101(5) keeps in force "All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by the Township on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code"; the published code prints no such building ordinance, and this record has not read the ordinances of 1986 to 1990 listed in Part 1's history note. Section 700.1 of the Zoning Ordinance requires a zoning permit before any building or structure is "erected, constructed, moved, added to, or structurally altered" and names no roof work. The Township's pages name no code edition.

No East Buffalo Township text read for this record names roof covering work as permit work or as exempt. Part 1 of Chapter 5 of the Township Code (Ordinance 265, June 28, 2004, as amended) elects to administer and enforce the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and adopts "The Uniform Construction Code (hereinafter the Code), set forth in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time" as the Township Building Code, and names no roof work either way. Section 101(5) keeps in force "All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by the Township on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code"; the published code prints no such building ordinance, and this record has not read the ordinances of 1986 to 1990 listed in Part 1's history note. Section 700.1 of the Zoning Ordinance requires a zoning permit before any building or structure is "erected, constructed, moved, added to, or structurally altered" and names no roof work. The Central Keystone COG's Residential Building Permits page lists among work for which "UCC Building Permits are required" the item "Any roof repair/replacement of framing when attached to the house" and says "If you are unsure whether or not you need a Building Permit or additional approvals, contact us first and we will let you know." That page does not name East Buffalo Township, and neither the Township's pages nor the COG's pages say whether a reroof that leaves the framing alone needs a permit. 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 COG's Residential Building Permits page also says "Even if your project does not require a Building Permit, it may require approval from your Municipality. Always contact your Township or Borough Office before starting any project." The Central Keystone COG is at 570-522-1326, and the Township office, 589 Fairground Road, Suite 1, Lewisburg, is at 570-523-6320. Read for this record: Chapter 5 of the Township Code, Code Enforcement, in full; Chapter 27, Zoning, searched for "roof" and read at Part 7, Administration and Enforcement; every other chapter of the Township Code posted on its Code of Ordinances page, searched for "roof"; the Township's Code Enforcement, Planning and Zoning, and Applications and Permits pages; and the Central Keystone COG's Residential Building Permits, Residential Building Permit Fees and Union County member pages.