Roofing in Etna, 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, Etna's Chapter 232 (Ord. No. 1303, 2004) elects to administer and enforce the Construction Code Act, adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" as the Borough Building Code, and provides for "the retention of one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of the Borough of Etna." The Borough's Building & Zoning Permits page says "The Borough's Building Inspector is Code Sys. Inc.," at 412-821-0337, and the Borough's permit sheet says "Code.Sys approves all commercial and residential construction in the Borough." The chapter does not change the code's roofing provisions. Neither Chapter 232 nor the Borough's permit pages name an edition of the International Residential Code.

The Borough of Etna's pages do not say whether a house reroof needs a building permit; the Borough's permit sheet says to call its building inspector, Code.Sys Code Consulting, Inc., at 1-877-821-0337, to be sure. The Borough's sheet "What You Should Know About Building & Zoning Permits" asks of jobs such as "replacing the roof": "But do these jobs require a building permit? One way to be absolutely sure is to call Code.Sys, Code Consulting, Inc." Its "partial list of residential and commercial work exempt from building permits" does not name roof work either way. The construction permit application posted on the Borough's page lists among work exempt from permit "All residential alterations under Section 104 if there are no structural or egress changes" and does not name roof work. The Borough's permit page says "Zoning and building permits are always required when you are making structural changes to your home or business." The Borough's sheet also says "ALL CONSTRUCTION REQUIRES A ZONING PERMIT WHETHER A BUILDING PERMIT IS REQUIRED OR NOT." The Zoning chapter, section 615-29B, says "No zoning permit shall be required for repairs or maintenance of any structure or land, provided such repairs do not change the use or the exterior dimensions of the structure, or otherwise violate the provisions of this chapter." Chapter 232 adds no permit clause of its own and names no roof work; it keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that "equal or exceed the requirements of the code," and leaves fees to resolution of the governing body. No such earlier ordinance and no building permit fee resolution is posted on the Borough's site. 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." Read for this answer: Chapter 232, Construction Codes, Uniform, in full; Zoning Article IX, Permits; the Borough's Building & Zoning Permits page; its permit sheet; and the construction permit application. Building and zoning permit applications are available at the Municipal Building, 437 Butler Street, and the Borough office is at 412-781-0569.