Roofing in Fairchance, 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, Fairchance Borough's Building Permits page, at 125 W. Church Street, Fairchance, lists "K2 Engineering Building Inspection & Permits" at 234 Pittsburgh Street, Uniontown (724-439-3440) and posts that firm's "2024 BUILDING PERMIT FEE SCHEDULE"; the Borough office is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm (724-564-9980). The Borough's Ordinances page says "Link coming soon!!!" and "Click here for the Fairchance Borough Code of Ordinances," but the link could not be read, so the Borough's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code and its code were not read for this record. The Borough's pages name no code edition.

Neither Fairchance Borough's pages nor its posted fee schedule say whether an ordinary reroof needs a permit. The posted fee schedule has a "Roofs" group with the lines "New Roof or Structural Changes to Existing," "Porch Roof (only)" and a joining-roof line for house to garage, under "RESIDENTIAL PER INSPECTION," and says "THESE FEES DO NOT INCLUDE THE MUNICIPALITY ADMIN FEES." Its roof lines name new roofs and structural changes, not replacement of an existing roof covering, and this record does not decide whether an ordinary reroof is either. The Borough's Ordinances page says "Link coming soon!!!" and "Click here for the Fairchance Borough Code of Ordinances," but the link could not be read, so the Borough's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code and its code were not read for this record. 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." Because no local text answers the question, this record does not decide whether the Borough requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. Ask the Borough office at 724-564-9980 or K2 Engineering Building Inspection & Permits at 724-439-3440 before starting work. Read for this answer: the Borough's Building Permits, Zoning, Ordinances and Forms pages and the posted building permit fee schedule. The Borough's code was not read, and its pages name no building permit application.