Roofing in Fox Township, 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 Township in Elk County runs the Uniform Construction Code itself: its Permits & Codes page lists a "Building Code Inspector and Code Enforcement Officer" (office phone (814) 885-8450 ext 3) and says "The Uniform Construction Code took effect in 2004 in Fox Township," and the Township's home page describes its code enforcement officer as serving as "building code official, UCC inspector, zoning officer"; the Township office is at 116 Irishtown Road, Kersey. The Township's Uniform Construction Code adoption ordinance is not in the Code of Fox Township posted on the Township's site (a 2013 code book whose chapters and disposition list do not include it) and was not found posted elsewhere, so this record has not read it, and the Township's pages name no code edition.

The Township's Permits & Codes page, under "Do I Need a Permit? Building & Zoning," says "Most new construction projects require a building permit and/or zoning permit. Regular home maintenance projects such as a new roof, siding or similar remodeling do not require a permit." It adds that "While certain construction projects do not need a building permit, they may still require a Zoning Permit to assure that the proper setbacks are being met." The Code of Fox Township, Chapter 43, Building Construction (adopted 1975), says "A building permit shall not be required for minor repair to existing buildings or structures, provided that no structural changes or modifications are involved," and defines minor repair as "The replacement of existing work with equivalent materials for the purpose of its routine maintenance, upkeep and reroofing," not including "the removal or cutting of any structural beam or bearing support." The Township's Guide for Construction prints its building permit fee schedule, effective July 5, 2004, with a category for "Alterations, Renovations, Repairs & Minor Work" priced by contract amount and no roofing line, and the Township's Application for Building Permit offers "Repair, Replacement" among its types of improvement and names no roof work. The Township's Uniform Construction Code adoption ordinance is not in the Code of Fox Township posted on the Township's site (a 2013 code book whose chapters and disposition list do not include it) and was not found posted elsewhere, so this record has not read it. 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 a house reroof needs a building permit in Fox Township; the Permits & Codes page says permit fees "vary based on size and type of structure" and asks owners to contact the code enforcement officer before starting construction. Read for this answer: the Township's Permits & Codes and home pages, its Guide for Construction (including the fee schedule), its Application for Building Permit, and the Code of Fox Township posted on its site.