Roofing in East Washington, 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, Section 150-1 of the Borough Code says "The Council of the Borough of East Washington hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," Section 150-3B lists "By the retention of one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of the Borough," and the Borough's Permits & Applications page says of "Building Permits" "Cost determined by Harshman CE LLC"; the Borough office is at 15 Thayer St, Washington (724-222-2929), open "9am-3pm, Monday through Friday". Section 150-2 of the Borough's Uniform Construction Code ordinance (Chapter 150, Article I, read October 12, 2026) says "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of the Borough," and Section 150-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the code"; neither names roof work. Chapter 245, Property Maintenance, says "Every foundation, exterior wall and exterior roof shall be substantially weathertight" and sets no permit. Section 1203.2 of the Washington and East Washington Multi-Municipal Zoning Ordinance (enacted April 3, 2017) says "Zoning permits shall be secured prior to commencing a use or starting any construction, erection or alteration of any building, structure, sign or portion thereof," and names no roof work. The Borough's pages name no code edition.

The Borough's own pages do not state whether a house reroof needs a permit. The Borough's 2026 Fee Schedule, read October 12, 2026 and checked against the rendered page, lists "Building Permit" for new construction or additions, and a separate "Home Maintenance/Minor Renovation Permit" with the line "Includes renovations, sidewalks, accessory structures, roofing, etc." Harshman CE Group's Residential UCC Building Permit Application, posted on the agency's own site and naming no municipality, says "A UCC Permit is not required for the following items:" and lists "Roofing Surfaces (shingles/metal surfaces. NOT sheathing or truss work)," and adds "Municipal Permits including, but not limited to, zoning, driveway, land development, sewage and utility may be required prior to the issuance of a building permit." The Borough's fee schedule does not say whether the Home Maintenance/Minor Renovation Permit is issued under the Uniform Construction Code, and this record does not decide whether it is, or whether a house reroof needs it. Section 150-2 of the Borough's Uniform Construction Code ordinance (Chapter 150, Article I, read October 12, 2026) says "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of the Borough," and Section 150-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the code"; neither names roof work. Chapter 245, Property Maintenance, says "Every foundation, exterior wall and exterior roof shall be substantially weathertight" and sets no permit. Section 1203.2 of the Washington and East Washington Multi-Municipal Zoning Ordinance (enacted April 3, 2017) says "Zoning permits shall be secured prior to commencing a use or starting any construction, erection or alteration of any building, structure, sign or portion thereof," and names no 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." Ask the Borough office at 724-222-2929 or Harshman CE Group at 724-993-4505 before work starts. Read for this answer: the Borough's Permits & Applications, Code Enforcement, Ordinances and Contact Us pages, its 2026 Fee Schedule, Chapter 150 and Chapter 245 of its Code, the Multi-Municipal Zoning Ordinance, and Harshman CE Group's permitting page and residential application.