Roofing in Muddy Creek Township (Butler County), 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, Muddy Creek Township's Building Permits page offers a "UCC Building Permit" and names the Township's Building Code Enforcement Officer as the contact for questions, its Building Permit Application is headed "Muddy Creek Township" with a "Township use only" block, and its 2026 fee resolution prices "Uniform Construction Code Building" permits; the Township office is at 420 Stanford Road, Prospect (724-368-3438), open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The Township's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code is not among the seven ordinances its Ordinances page posts (Ordinances 56, 63, 65, 67, 69, 72 and 78) and was not read for this record, and the Township's pages name no residential code edition.

The Township's 2026 fee resolution (Resolution #2026-03, read October 12, 2026) says in its inspection rates "Decks, pools, roof replacements, ect. accessory to one- and two-family dwellings shall be inspected for a fee of $160.00 PLUS $75 for in-ground pools." The Township's assessment permit packet carries a page headed "Act 45, PA-UCC Misc. Exemptions and Exceptions" with the check-box "Work will be replacement, or repair of interior and/or outer shell (siding, roofing, windows) of an existing 1 family dwelling. However, no alteration will cause structural or egress change," and says "If you have checked any of the above, your project does not require an inspection under Act 45 (PA Uniform Construction Code)." The two Township documents point different ways on a house reroof, and this record does not decide which states the Township's answer. The Township's Assessment Permit Ordinance (Ordinance 67) requires an assessment permit for the "construction or enlargement" of agricultural buildings, decks, recreational cabins and utility structures and names no roof work. The Township's ordinance adopting the Uniform Construction Code is not among the seven ordinances its Ordinances page posts (Ordinances 56, 63, 65, 67, 69, 72 and 78) and was not read for this record, and the Township's pages name no residential code edition. 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." Ask the Township office (724-368-3438) or its Building Code Enforcement Officer (724-449-2662) before starting. The fee resolution says "Penalty for construction without a permit. Permit Fee PLUS 50%." Read for this answer: the Township's Home, Building Permits, Other Common Permits and Ordinances pages, its 2026 fee resolution, its Building Permit Application and complete application packet, its assessment permit packet and Ordinance 67.