Roofing in Hempfield Township (Mercer 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, Hempfield Township in Mercer County takes building permit applications at its Township Building, 278 South Mercer Street, Greenville: its Permits & Forms page says "Building permit packets (including zoning permit applications) for commercial and residential properties may be downloaded or are available at the Township Building," its residential packet says it is designed to help "the Township staff to process your application," and inspections are requested from the Township's building inspector at 724-927-2020. The Township's Permits & Forms page says the Township "has adopted the International Construction Code as adopted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Act 45, and effective February 3, 2004," and its residential permit packet says "All structures shall be constructed as provided in IRC 2003 building code and references." The Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance (Ordinance 2004-2) is not published and was not read for this record. Its residential packet also lists "Ice Guard must be used on roofs" among its building application requirements. This record has not read the 2003 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Township applies.

Hempfield Township's pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. The Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance (Ordinance 2004-2, February 3, 2004) is not published; the Township's index of ordinances describes it as establishing minimum regulations for the "design, construction, alteration, enlargement, repairs, removal, demolition, and use of all buildings and structures in the Township," and the ordinance text was not read for this record. The Township says its ordinances are available for viewing at the Township Building. The Township's pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. Its residential permit packet names no roof replacement, and the building inspector's fee schedule the Township posts lists "Additions & Alterations up to 2000 Sq. Ft. (Single Family): $355" and has no roofing line. 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 the Township requires a permit for a house reroof; ask the Township office (724-588-5032) before starting. The residential packet says "Requests for inspection must be at least 24 hours in advance" and "Posting of building permit shall be made visible from the street." Read for this answer: the Township's Permits & Forms, Ordinances & Resolutions and Contact pages, its residential building permit packet and the building inspector's fee schedule (both read from their scanned pages), its zoning permit application, and its index of ordinances.