Roofing in Emsworth, 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, Emsworth Borough's Chapter 100 says in Section 100-1 "This municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Borough's Forms page (read October 12, 2026) says its third-party building inspector reviews the zoning permit application and building permit application and that "Once the zoning permit is approved and paid, the building permit application will be reviewed, approved and issued." The Borough's Government page lists "BUILDING INSPECTION/CODE ENFORCEMENT" among its borough contacts, and the building permit application it posts carries the inspector's address and telephone, (724) 993-4505. The Borough office is at 171 Center Ave., Pittsburgh, telephone (412) 761-1161. Article II of Chapter 100 adopts the 2006 International Residential Code, Section 100-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time," and the Borough's Forms page and application name no edition (the application says "Uniform Construction standards, as specified in PA Code 34 §401-405"); the text above is the 2021 edition's, this record has not read the 2006 codes' text, and this record does not decide which code the Borough applies to a house.

Emsworth Borough's code and pages read for this record do not settle whether a house reroof needs a permit. Section 100-2 of Chapter 100 (Ord. No. 941, June 9, 2004, read October 12, 2026) says the Uniform Construction Code "is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of this municipality" and adds no permit clause of its own for house repairs. Article II of the same chapter (Ord. No. 956, August 22, 2007) says "The 2006 International Building Code, the 2006 International Fire Code, the 2006 International Residential Code" and three other 2006 codes "are hereby adopted as the Building Code, Fire Code, Residential Code, One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code, Mechanical Code, and Property Maintenance Code of the Borough of Emsworth." This record has not read the text of those 2006 codes, including their permit and exemption sections, and does not decide whether they reach a house reroof. Section 245-15 of the Zoning chapter says "Before a landowner may have a nonsign structure erected, reconstructed, structurally altered, or moved on his or her lot" a zoning permit is needed and names no roof work. The residential UCC building permit application the Forms page posts says "A UCC Permit is not required for the following items:" and the list that follows includes "Roofing Surfaces (shingles/metal surfaces. NOT sheathing or truss work)" (transcribed from the rendered page image, because the text layer merges the list's two columns). The same sheet says "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." 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 Borough office at (412) 761-1161 or the building inspector at (724) 993-4505 before starting. Read for this answer: Chapter 100 of the Borough Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 100-1 to 100-9), in full; Section 245-15 of the Zoning chapter; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no permit provision naming roof work; the Forms and Government pages; the residential building permit application; and the zoning permit application. The Borough publishes no fee schedule for building permits that this record found.