Roofing in McKeesport, 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 McKeesport issues building permits through its Community Development Department, 500 Fifth Avenue, Second Floor, with Building Inspection Underwriters: the City's Building Inspector page says "Building permits can be obtained in person from the Community Development Department or by contacting Building Inspection Underwriters directly." The City's codified ordinances are not published online and were not read for this record; City Council agendas refer to the City's Codified Ordinances, but no online copy of them was found. So whether a City ordinance requires a permit for residential repairs, and which code edition the City names, is not stated here. The Building Inspector page's own general statement, "Building permits are required for the construction, alteration, replacement, and repair of all structures," names no roof work. The City's pages name no code edition.

The City of McKeesport says "Building permits are required for the construction, alteration, replacement, and repair of all structures." The City's Building Inspector page (read October 7, 2026) says "Building permits are required for the construction, alteration, replacement, and repair of all structures"; it names no roof work either way. It sends applicants to Building Inspection Underwriters' permit forms, whose general building permit application lists "Roofing" with a square-footage blank among types of work, beside fencing, signs, pools, decks and demolition. The City's codified ordinances are not published online and were not read for this record; City Council agendas refer to the City's Codified Ordinances, but no online copy of them was found. So whether a City ordinance requires a permit for residential repairs, and which code edition the City names, is not stated here. The Building Inspector page's own general statement, "Building permits are required for the construction, alteration, replacement, and repair of all structures," names no roof work. 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." Before starting a reroof, ask the Community Development Department at 412-675-5020 or Building Inspection Underwriters whether a permit is needed for the job. Applications can be made in person at the Community Development Department or through Building Inspection Underwriters, which takes structural drawings and building permit applications digitally; the application asks for a certificate of workers' compensation insurance or a signed exemption. The City's office is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.