Roofing in Harrison 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, Harrison Township has the Uniform Construction Code administered by a third-party agency: the Township's Zoning & Ordinance page says "Building Permits, both residential and commercial, are processed by Code. Sys Consulting" and "All Building Permits require a Zoning Certificate from the Township Zoning Office," and Section 5-104 of the Township Code provides for "retention of a third-party agency to serve as the building code official to act on behalf of the municipality." Section 5-102 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 – 405, as amended from time to time," names no edition, and changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions; the Township's pages name no code edition.

No Harrison Township text read for this record names roof work as permit work or as exempt. Part 1 of Chapter 5 of the Township Code, Uniform Construction Code (Ord. 1908, May 24, 2004), adopts the Uniform Construction Code by reference as the municipal building code, names no roof work either way, and adds no permit clause for residential repairs or alterations; Section 5-106 keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code," and none was found in the published Township Code. The Township's 2026 fee schedule says "Building Permits — See Third Party Schedule," and the Township's summary of permits names porches and decks, sheds, fences, car ports, garages, demolition and "Additions/changes in house & commercial exterior structure" and says nothing on roofs. Section 502.1 of the Zoning chapter requires a Zoning Certificate before any structure is "erected, constructed, reconstructed, structurally altered, enlarged, razed or removed." Code.sys Consulting's FAQ says "Local jurisdiction may require permits for the following" above its list of work the code exempts, and does not name the Township. 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." To apply for a building permit, the Township's page says "you must register at code-sys.com and submit all information through the portal," and for building code questions to call Code.sys Consulting at 412-821-0699. The Township's Zoning & Ordinance Office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 724-224-9540. Read for this answer: Chapter 5 of the Township Code, Code Enforcement, in full, including Part 1, Uniform Construction Code (Sections 101 to 108); the table of contents of Chapter 4, Buildings; Section 502 of the Zoning chapter, Zoning Certificates; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no code section naming a permit for roof work; the Township's Zoning & Ordinance, Administration and Forms pages; the 2026 fee schedule; and Code.sys Consulting's home, services and FAQ pages, which do not name the Township.