Roofing in East McKeesport, 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 McKeesport Borough's Residential & Commercial Building Permits page names the Code Enforcement Agency as its code enforcement agency, at 1633 Route 51, Suite 100, Jefferson Hills (888-410-4952), and the Borough's residential building application is headed "Residential Building Application" and "PA UCC Building Permit Application"; the Borough office is at 907 Florence Avenue, East McKeesport (412-824-2531). Section 5-101 of the Borough Code (Ord. 842, July 24, 2004) says the Borough "elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and Section 5-103 lets it do so through "one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies". Section 5-102 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa.Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time," as the Borough's Municipal Building Code, and Section 5-105 keeps in effect building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code"; neither names roof work, and the Borough's Chapters 4 (Buildings), 11 (Housing) and 13 (Licenses, Permits and General Business Regulations) name no roof permit. The Borough's Building Permits page heads its residential guidance "New Construction - Addition - Single Family / Duplex - 2018 IRC" and its Application, Documents, & Forms page lists "Code Enforcement Agency - 2025 Guidelines for 2018 Codes," while the Borough's 2026 residential building application says "2021 International Residential Code (IRC) requires detailed descriptions of the project"; this record has not read the 2018 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Borough applies.

No East McKeesport Borough text read says in terms that a house reroof needs a building permit or is exempt. The Borough's residential building application, read October 12, 2026, lists "Permits Required: Building Permit Electrical Permit Mechanical Permit Plumbing Permit Energy Permit Zoning Permit" and project types "New Construction Single Family Duplex Addition Demolition PV / Solar Shed Pool Deck Fence," and names no roof work; the Building Permits page lists plan details for new construction, pools and spas, and decks "(Including Roof over Decks)" and says "Roofing method (Truss, flat, rafter, etc.) The truss roof requires an engineered stamped design at application" for new construction. The agency's plan review fee sheet the Borough posts has a separate fee table for alterations, repairs and change in occupancy and names no roof work. Section 27-1101 of the Borough's Zoning Chapter says "A zoning permit shall be required for all proposed principal structures and proposed additions to principal structures" and "A zoning permit shall be required for all proposed accessory buildings or structures or additions thereto," names no roof work, and says "The preceding zoning permit requirements shall not be construed as building permits as regulated and defined by Act 45"; this record does not decide whether a house reroof is a proposed addition. Section 5-102 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa.Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time," as the Borough's Municipal Building Code, and Section 5-105 keeps in effect building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code"; neither names roof work, and the Borough's Chapters 4 (Buildings), 11 (Housing) and 13 (Licenses, Permits and General Business Regulations) name no roof permit. Ask the Borough office at 412-824-2531 or the Code Enforcement Agency at 888-410-4952 before work starts. Read for this answer: Chapters 4, 5, 11, 13 and 27 of the Borough Code as the Borough posts them (each word-searched for "roof" and "shingle"), the Borough's Building Permits, Code Enforcement Agency, Application, Documents, & Forms and Borough Ordinances pages, its 2026 residential building application, and the residential application instructions and fee sheets it posts. The Borough points to American Legal Publishing for the most current ordinances; that site was not read.