Roofing in Fox Chapel, 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, Fox Chapel Borough issues building permits through its own Building and Zoning Office at the Borough building, 401 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh. The office's page says "The Building and Zoning Office is responsible for the review of applications, issuance of permits, and inspection of properties for compliance with the Borough's Zoning Ordinance and adopted building codes," and Section 160-1 of the Borough Code says "The Borough of Fox Chapel hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act." Section 160-2 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time" as "the Building Code of Fox Chapel Borough," and Chapter 160 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. The Building and Zoning page says "Effective February 14, 2022 the UCC adopted the 2018 ICC Codes and reference standards" and "The expected effective date for the 2021 codes is January 1, 2026."

No Fox Chapel Borough text read for this record names roof covering work as permit work or as exempt. Chapter 160 of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 639, June 21, 2004) adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time" by reference with local changes to the regulation's permit, inspection and certificate sections; none names roof work. Section 160-5A keeps in force "All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by the Borough of Fox Chapel on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the code" and names none, and no such earlier ordinance is published with the Borough Code. The Borough's Permits page says "Permits are required for most types of construction, site improvements and grading activities in Fox Chapel" and "Some of the specific activities which require a permit include: new structures, additions, structural alterations or repairs, demolitions, fences, decks, sheds, swimming pools, sports courts and grading activities," lists its building permit as "Building (New Construction, Additions, Structural Alterations)," and says "Please contact the Code Official prior to undertaking any of these activities or any similar activity to obtain the requirements for your specific project." Neither that page, the Building and Zoning page nor the residential building permit application names reroofing or roof replacement as permit work or as exempt. 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 record: Chapter 160 of the Borough Code, Construction Codes, Uniform, in full; Chapter 175, Fees, which holds only attorneys' fees; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no permit provision naming roof work; and the Borough's Building and Zoning and Permits pages and its residential building permit and zoning permit applications. Chapter 160 says building fees are set "by resolution from time to time"; no fee resolution is posted on the Borough's pages. The Building and Zoning Office is at 401 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, 412-963-1100; the office's page says inspections are "by appointment only" and "must be made at least 48 hours prior to the desired inspection date and time."