Roofing in Elizabeth Township (Allegheny 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, Elizabeth Township administers the code itself: Part 4 of Chapter 5 of the Township Code (Ord. 795, 2003) elects to administer and enforce the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and adopts the Uniform Construction Code as the Township's building code, and the Township's page says "The Elizabeth Township Code Enforcement Department is responsible for all permits in Elizabeth Township and Elizabeth Borough," with applications taken at the municipal building, 522 Rock Run Road. Part 4 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. Part 1 of Chapter 5 still adopts the "BOCA Basic Building Code, 1984 Edition," kept by Part 4 where it equals or exceeds the code; this record has not read that model code's text. The Township's application points readers to the International Code Council's Pennsylvania codes page and names no edition.

Elizabeth Township's code and pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. The Township's Residential Building Permit Application (read October 7, 2026) lists "Roofing" among its Type of Work boxes, with the question "Structural?", beside alterations, additions, decks and demolition, and says "NO WORK IS TO BEGIN PRIOR TO THE PAYMENT AND PICK-UP OF THE PERMIT." The Code Enforcement page asks owners considering improvements or alterations to call the department "to discuss your plans to determine if any permits or approvals are required." No Township text read for this record names roof work. Part 4 keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code, and Part 1 of Chapter 5 still adopts the "BOCA Basic Building Code, 1984 Edition" (Ord. 389, 1971, as amended in 1987 and 1988) with its building permit provisions; this record has not read that model code's text. The Township fee schedule has no roofing line: it prices residential "Repairs" at $75.00 "(When building permit is required)". 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 "Roofing" box sits on the Township's general residential building permit application, not a roofing form, and neither the application nor the Township's pages say whether a house reroof that is not structural needs a permit; this record does not state whether it does, so ask the department before starting. The application says "IF ANY WORK IS STARTED PRIOR TO THE PAYMENT AND PICK-UP, YOU ARE IN VIOLATION AND SUBJECT TO FINES AND OTHER LEGAL ACTIONS." A zoning permit is also required before the Township issues any building permit, and the application asks for the contractor's PA registration number and proof of workers' compensation insurance or a signed exemption; no payment is due until the permit is issued. The department is at 412-751-2880, option 2. Read for this answer: Chapter 5 of the Township Code, Code Enforcement, Parts 1, 3 and 4 in full, and Chapter 4, Buildings; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Code Enforcement and Applications pages; the Residential Building Permit Application; the Zoning Certificate Application; and the Township Fee Schedule in full.