Roofing in Monessen, 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 Monessen administers the code through K2 Engineering: Section 172-1 of the City Code says "The City hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," Section 172-3 lets the City act through "the retention of one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies," and the City's City Codes page lists K2 Engineering as "Code Enforcement Officer, Zoning Officer, UCC Officer" and says the Code Enforcement Department is responsible "for issuing permits, such as occupancy, health, building, pool, fence, etc." Section 172-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time," as the building code of the City, and Chapter 172 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. Chapter 172's editor's note says Ordinance No. 2-2012 "adopted the 2012 International Existing Building Code, the 2012 International Building Code," and the City's pages name no code edition; this record has not read the 2012 editions' text and does not decide which edition the City applies.

No City of Monessen text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. The City Codes page (read October 9, 2026) says "If you are opening a business, moving into a home, building new construction, undertaking a construction project of any kind, excavating, or installing a pool, fence or anything of the sort, please call the Code Department before beginning your project, so we can assess your needs, and the requirements related to your project." It names no roof work. Chapter 172 of the City Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Ord. No. 5-2004), adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" and adds no permit clause and no roof words of its own; Section 172-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the code," and no such ordinance naming roof work was found in the City Code. The zoning permit in Section 375-8 reaches the "Erection, construction, movement, placement or extension of a structure, building or sign" and names no repair or roof work. The City's 2022 fee schedule lists "Building Permit (2%) $20 per thousand, plus $4.50 CDBG fees" 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." Because the City's only general permit clause is the state code's own, adopted by reference, and neither the City nor its code official has published a statement on reroofs, this record does not decide whether the City requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. Section 172-8 sets a fine of "not more than $1,000, plus costs" for violating the chapter. Read for this answer: Chapter 172 of the City Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 172-1 to 172-11), in full; Chapter 289, Property Maintenance; Chapter 211, Fees; Section 375-8 of the Zoning chapter; every page of a search of the whole City Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no permit provision naming roof work; the City Codes, Permits and Public Documents pages; the Application for UCC Building Permit the City posts, which is the Department of Labor and Industry's form for buildings other than houses; and the 2022 fee schedule. The Code Department is open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, at 724-684-9713; City Hall is at 724-684-9000.