Roofing in McDonald, 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, McDonald Borough's Permits & Licenses page says "Building Inspections are performed by" the Director of Codes and Zoning of "Harshman CE Group, LLC" (office 724-993-4505), and the Borough's Ordinances page names United Code Consultants, LLC as the Borough's code and zoning enforcement officer (724-492-1301); the Borough office is at 151 School Street, McDonald (724-926-8711, Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.). Section 5-101 of the Borough Code (Ord. 697, May 3, 2004) says "The Borough of McDonald hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and Section 5-103 lets it do so by "the retention of one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies". Section 5-102 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time," and the Borough's pages and Chapter 5 name no code edition; this record does not decide which edition the Borough applies.

No McDonald Borough text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. The Borough's Permits & Licenses page lists a building permit fee, a demolition permit fee of "$25.00" and "Plan Examination and Inspection: $ 60.00 per hour," and names no roof work. Section 5-102 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time," Section 5-105 keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code," and neither adds a roof provision. Section 4-302 says "A building permit shall be required for the construction or erection of any fence, party wall, partition or other similar structure," and Section 27-402 of the zoning chapter says "A zoning certificate shall be obtained before any person may" "Occupy or use any structure hereafter constructed, reconstructed, moved, altered or enlarged"; neither names roof work. A search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" returns eighteen results, none a permit or exemption provision (stormwater roof drains, sign, height and definition sections, and Section 4-408's condemnation standard that "exterior roof shall be weather-tight"), and a search for "reroofing" returns none. 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 answer: the Borough's Home, Permits & Licenses and Ordinances pages; Chapter 5 (Code Enforcement), Chapter 4 (Buildings), Chapter 13 (Licenses, Permits and General Business Regulations) and Sections 27-401 and 27-402 of the zoning chapter on ecode360; and a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and "reroofing." The Borough posts no permit application or fee schedule beyond the fee list on its Permits & Licenses page. Call the Borough office at 724-926-8711 before starting work.