Roofing in German 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, German Township in Fayette County says on its home page that "McMillen Engineering handles building permits for the township," and the Township's building permit flyer tells owners to submit "the building application and plans to McMillen Engineering, Inc. for the review and issuance of the building permit," at 724-439-8110, after obtaining a zoning permit from the Fayette County planning office. Article VII of Chapter 5 of the Township Code adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" by reference. Chapter 5 of the Township Code also keeps 1981 Township adoptions of the "BOCA Basic Building Code of 1978" and the "One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code, Second Edition," and the Township's pages name no edition of the Uniform Construction Code's codes; this record does not decide which edition the Township applies.

No German Township text read for this record names roof covering work as permit work or as exempt. Article VII of Chapter 5 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 660804-1, June 8, 2004) says "The Township of German hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" by reference; it changes nothing in the code that names roof work. Its repealer keeps in force prior ordinances "adopted on or before July 1, 1999, and which have provisions equal to or in excess of the minimal requirements of the Code," and Chapter 5 still carries the Township's 1981 adoptions of the BOCA Basic Building Code of 1978 and the One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code, Second Edition, whose texts are not published with the Township Code and which this record has not read. The Township's building permit flyer is addressed to owners "planning to construct new buildings, placement of pre-fabricated buildings/ dwellings, building additions demolition of structures and improvements/renovations to their buildings" and names no roof work; no Township page, and no page of McMillen Engineering's site read for this record, says that reroofing or roof replacement in German Township needs a permit or is exempt, and no Township fee schedule is posted. 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 5 of the Township Code, Code Enforcement, and Chapter 4, Buildings, in full; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no permit provision naming roof work; the Township's home and Contact Us pages and its building permit flyer; and McMillen Engineering's building code and permit applications pages. The flyer says "Building permit applications are available at the Township Office, on-line at www.mcmilleng.com or by contacting McMillen Engineering, Inc. at 724-439-8110," and that "You or your contractor is responsible to contact McMillen Engineering, Inc. for all the inspections." The Township Municipal Building, 2 Long Street, McClellandtown, is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., 724-737-5130.