Roofing in Economy, 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 Borough of Economy administers the code: Section 66-5 of the Borough Code says "The Borough of Economy hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," building and zoning permit applications are taken by the Borough's Department of Code Enforcement at the municipal building, 2856 Conway Wallrose Road, Baden, and the Borough's Code Enforcement Office page names MDIA (Middle Department Inspection Agency, Inc.) as its building inspectors. Section 66-6 says "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of the Borough of Economy." Chapter 66 of the Borough Code also adopts the International Residential Code, 2003 edition, "including all appendix chapters" (Section 66-3), and Chapter 55, Building Construction (Ord. No. 380, January 9, 2001), adopts "The 2000 International Residential Code" (Section 55-1B), while the Borough's pages name no edition; this record has not read the 2003 or 2000 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Borough applies to a house.

The Borough of Economy's code and pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. The Borough's 2026 Schedule of Fees, Resolution #535 (read October 9, 2026), has no roofing line; its residential building lines are for new dwellings and for "Decks, porches, carports, attached garages, additions, and non-exempt detached accessory structures, alterations, renovations," and it says "CONDITIONS NOT PROVIDED FOR IN THIS SCHEDULE, APPLY FOR FEE." The Borough's Building & Zoning Permit Application lists repair and alteration among its types of work and names no roof work. Chapter 66 of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 393, July 6, 2004), read in full, adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" (Section 66-6) and names no roof work, but Section 66-3 adopts the 2003 International Residential Code "for regulating and governing the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair" of houses, "providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor," and Section 55-1 adopts the 2000 International Residential Code "for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the construction, alteration, removal, repair, demolition, maintenance and occupancy, including permits and penalties." This record has not read the permit sections of the 2003 or 2000 International Residential Code and does not decide whether either reaches a house reroof. A search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing" found no provision naming a roofing 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." This record does not state whether the Borough requires a permit for a house reroof; ask the Code Enforcement Office (724-869-4779, extension 5) before starting. Section 55-2B sets a fine "not less than $300 and not in excess of $1,000 for each violation" of the codes Chapter 55 adopts. The Code Enforcement Office is open 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, except holidays. Read for this answer: Chapter 66 of the Borough Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 66-1 to 66-10), and Chapter 55, Building Construction (Sections 55-1 to 55-3), in full; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Code Enforcement Office, Ordinances, Forms and Documents and FAQ pages; the Building & Zoning Permit Application; and the 2026 Schedule of Fees.