Roofing in Murrysville, 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 Municipality of Murrysville administers the code itself: Section 96-3 A of the Murrysville Code says "The Municipality of Murrysville hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter and the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Department of Community Development, at 4100 Sardis Road, lists a Building Code Official for "building, zoning, and land operation permits" and says it will "Enforce subdivision, building, plumbing, heating, housing, demolition, and such other related structural and land use codes as may be enacted by law or ordinance." Section 96-2 fills in the design data of Table R301.2(1), including "Ice Shield Underlayment: Yes," and changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. Section 96-1 lists the "International Residential Code 2003" and the other 2003 codes as making up the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time," and the department's pages name no edition; this record has not read the 2003 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Municipality applies.

Murrysville's code office has published nothing on whether a house reroof needs a permit. Chapter 96 of the Murrysville Code (Ord. No. 671-04, read October 7, 2026) adopts the Uniform Construction Code by reference as the Municipality of Murrysville Building Code (Section 96-1) and makes no change to the Act's treatment of residential repairs or alterations; the only permit rule Section 96-2 adds is "All proposed utility and miscellaneous use structures (including but not limited to garages, carports, sheds, etc.) containing a building area of 500 square feet or more shall require a building permit subject to the review of all applicable codes." The residential building permit fees in Section 112-1 list "-New" and "-Structural alterations not involving expansion of gross floor area" and have no roofing line. The department's pages, the Municipality's FAQ and its building permit application name no roof work either way; the application's Type of Improvement boxes are New Building, Addition, Repair, Demolition, Relocation, Plumbing, Foundation Only, Change of Use, Mechanical and Electrical. No Murrysville text found for this record requires or exempts a permit for a house reroof, and this record does not state whether one is needed. 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: Chapter 96 of the Murrysville Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 96-1 to 96-8), in full; Chapter 112, Fees, Section 112-1, Building permits; Chapter 174, Property Maintenance; a search of the whole Murrysville Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no permit provision naming roof work; the Community Development page, the Forms, Permits and Maps page, the FAQ page and the building permit application. Section 96-7 makes a violation of the chapter, the code, the Act or the regulations a summary offense with "a fine of not more than $300." The building permit application says "If you have any questions, please contact the Municipality of Murrysville at 724-327-2100, Ext. 110"; the Building Code Official's line is extension 121. The municipal building is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.