Roofing in Media, 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 Borough of Media administers the code itself: Section 137-1 of the Borough Code says "This Borough of Media hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Borough's Code Enforcement Department, at the Media Municipal Center, 301 N Jackson Street, "reviews and issues any and all building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, dumpster, and sign permits." Section 137-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," as the municipal building code of the Borough of Media, and Chapter 137 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. Article II of Chapter 137 (Ord. No. 1010, 2006) adopts appendixes of "The 2003 edition" of the International Residential Code and the other International Codes, and the Department's pages name no code edition; this record has not read the 2003 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Borough applies.

The Borough of Media's permit page says permits are needed to "Construct or alter a structure" and that "Ordinary Repairs do not require a permit," and names no roof work either way. The Department's When is a Permit Required page (read October 9, 2026) says "Any time one of these activities occurs a permit must be obtained:" and lists "Construct or alter a structure" first, then says "Ordinary Repairs do not require a permit. Some examples of such would be new gutters, painting, and replacement of windows where the existing opening in the structure isn't altered," and lists what is not included in ordinary repairs, among them "The removal, replacement, re-enforcement, or cutting of any structural beam or loadbearing support." The page does not name roofing either way. The Borough's fee schedule prices building permits by "Valuation of Work" and has no roofing line. Chapter 137 of the Borough Code, Construction Codes, Uniform, adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" and adds no permit requirement of its own; Section 137-6A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code." No section of the Borough Code read names roof work as permit work or as exempt. 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 Borough requires a permit for a house reroof; ask the Code Enforcement Department (610-566-5210) before starting. The Borough's permit instructions say "Media Borough does not issue verbal authorization for work to commence" and ask for a certificate of insurance covering general liability and workers compensation and proof of registration for the Borough's earned income tax. Building permits are priced from $54.50 for work valued to $1,000, plus $15 for each further $1,000. Read for this answer: Chapter 137 of the Borough Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Articles I to IV), and Chapter 183, Historic Districts, in full; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Department's Code Enforcement, Permits, When is a Permit Required and Fee Schedule pages; Resolution 2024-50, the unified fee schedule; and the Borough's building permit application.