Roofing in Frankstown 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, Frankstown Township's office is at 2122 Frankstown Road, Hollidaysburg, and its staff list names a Zoning Officer. Section 903 of the Township's Zoning Ordinance (Amendment Ordinance No. 100207-A, posted on the Township's Zoning and Ordinances page) charges the Zoning Officer to "issue building and zoning permits for construction and uses which are in compliance with the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance and the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code," says "All applications for a building permit and/or a zoning permit shall be made, in writing, to the Zoning Officer on forms supplied by the Township," and refers to inspection by "the Township Uniform Construction Code inspector"; the Township's pages do not say who that inspector is. The Township's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code is not posted on its pages and was not read for this record, and the Township's pages name no code edition.

No Frankstown Township text read for this record names roof work as permit work or as exempt. Section 904.A of the Zoning Ordinance says "Zoning and Building Permits shall be required prior to the erection, addition, or alteration of any building or structure or portion thereof" and names no roof work either way; it sits in the Zoning Ordinance's fee section. The Township's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code is not among the ordinances posted on its Zoning and Ordinances or Documents and Forms pages and was not read for this record, and no building permit fee schedule, permit application or building permit page is posted. No Township text read for this record says whether an ordinary reroof needs a building permit. 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: the Township's Zoning Ordinance (Amendment Ordinance No. 100207-A), searched for "roof" and read at Sections 903 to 905; the Township's Zoning and Ordinances, Documents and Forms, About and Contact Us pages, and its site map. The Township office is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at 814-695-7151.