Roofing in Johnstown, 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, The City of Johnstown administers the code through the Laurel Municipal Inspection Agency: the City's Permits page says "The City of Johnstown has adopted and administers PA Act 45; the Uniform Construction Code" and that the agency provides the City's "Building Codes Official (BCO)" and "Building Permits (Residential and Commercial)," and the agency, which lists the City of Johnstown among its participating municipalities, says it "was established by Inter-municipal Agreement(s) between the Agency and members Municipalities, to administer and enforce the provisions of the Uniform Construction Code Act." The agency's office is at 140 E. Carroll St., Suite 202, Carrolltown. The City's codified ordinances, published through the online code library linked from its Ordinances page, could not be opened for this record, so the City's Uniform Construction Code ordinance, any permit or exemption section in it, and any older building ordinance it keeps in force were not read. The City's codified ordinances were not read, and the City's and the agency's pages name no code edition.

No City of Johnstown text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. The City's Permits page (read October 7, 2026, https://www.johnstownpa.gov/departments/code_enforcement/permits.php) says "Building and Demolition permits are required for all demolition, repairs, renovations, remodels and new construction in the City, excluding painting and flooring," and lists a fee for "Residential Non-UCC and UCC Building Permits: $59.50." The agency's Residential Application, posted on its Residential Permit Information page, says "All roofing jobs must show receipt for the disposal of old roofing material." The City's 2026 fee schedule (Ordinance No. 5374) lists a "Residential Building Permit" at "$55 plus state UCC tax." The City's codified ordinances, published through the online code library linked from its Ordinances page, could not be opened for this record, so the City's Uniform Construction Code ordinance, any permit or exemption section in it, and any older building ordinance it keeps in force were not read. 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." Neither the City's statement nor the agency's application names reroofing as permit work or as exempt, and the City's code could not be read, so this record does not decide whether the City requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. Ask the Laurel Municipal Inspection Agency at 814-471-0424 before work starts. Permits are issued "to the owner, authorized agent, or the contractor doing the work"; the agency's Residential Application asks for the principal contractor's home improvement contractor number and requires a certificate of workers' compensation or an affidavit of exemption when a contractor does the work. Building permits expire after 60 days. The City's own contractor licence applies to contractors "doing commercial building or repair projects within the City." For permit questions the City sends readers to the Laurel Municipal Inspection Agency, telephone 814-471-0424, open 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Read for this answer: the City's Code Enforcement and Permits pages, its Ordinances page and the 2026 fee schedule (Ordinance No. 5374); the Laurel Municipal Inspection Agency's home page, participating municipalities page, Residential Permit Information page and Residential Application. The City's codified ordinances could not be read.