Roofing in Forward 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, Forward Township elects to administer the code itself: Section 5-201 of its Code (Ord. No. 2004-1, March 9, 2004) says "This Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act 45 of 1999, as amended from time to time," Section 5-202 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as the municipal building code of this Township," and Section 5-203 leaves the method of administration to the governing body "by resolution." The Township's Building Permit Application, posted on its Township Forms page, is a Township form that says "We require a 48 hr. notice on all inspections" and names a Building Inspector, and the Township office is at 1000 Golden Circle, Elizabeth (412-384-1761). No resolution naming the person or agency the Township has designated was found published, so this record names none. The Township's pages name no code edition, and Sections 5-201 to 5-207 adopt the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" without changing its roofing provisions.

Forward Township's code requires a building permit before construction, reconstruction, enlargement or relocation of a building or structure, and says no permit is required for repairs that involve no structural changes. Section 4-101 of the Township Code, in Chapter 4, Part 1, Building Permits (Ord. 3/3/1977, as amended by Ord. No. 81-2, 9/9/1981, read October 10, 2026), says "It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, business or corporation to undertake, or cause to be undertaken, the construction, reconstruction enlargement, or relocation of any building or structure unless an approved building permit has been obtained from the Municipal Building Permit Officer" and "A building permit shall not be required for repairs to existing buildings or structures, provided that no structural changes are involved." The section names no roof work, and neither "repairs" nor "structural changes" is defined; this record does not decide whether a house reroof is a repair under it. Section 5-205 of the Code keeps in effect building code ordinances adopted "on or before July 1, 1999" that "equal or exceed the requirements of the code"; this record does not decide how Section 5-205 bears on Section 4-101. The Township's Ordinances page also posts a "Building Code Ordinance 81-5" that adopts the "BOCA Basic Building Code of Seventh Edition" and repeals Ordinance 81-4, which had adopted an earlier BOCA code; this record has not read that model code's text, and neither adopting ordinance names roof work. The Township's Building Permit Application (read October 10, 2026) lists residential project types of house, addition, remodeling, garage, porch, patio or deck, swimming pool and shed, has no roofing line, and says "Building permit fee is to be paid when permit is issued." Section 4-109 of the Code says application fees are based on the estimated cost of construction at rates "established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors," and no such resolution was found published. 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 Code says each violator of Part 1 "shall be guilty of an offense and, upon conviction, shall pay a fine to the Township of Forward of not less than $25 nor more than $300" (Section 4-111). Ask the Township office (412-384-1761) before starting. Read for this answer: Chapter 4 of the Township Code, Buildings (Parts 1 and 2, Sections 4-101 to 4-207), in full; Chapter 5, Part 2, Administration and Enforcement of Uniform Construction Code (Sections 5-201 to 5-207), in full; Chapter 11, Housing; the Code's table of contents and disposition list; every page of a search of the whole Code for "roof" (15 results, none naming a permit) and for "reroofing" (none); the Township's Ordinances page, including Ordinances 81-4 and 81-5 as adopting ordinances; the Township Forms, Zoning Information and Administration pages; and the Building Permit Application. The Township's zoning ordinance and its fee resolution were not read for this record.