Roofing in New Brighton, 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, New Brighton Borough's Building Department, on the first floor of the Borough Municipal Building at 610 Third Avenue, "reviews and issues all permits required by code for the repair, alteration, or addition to all public and private dwellings and structures," and its page says "The Borough of New Brighton has opted to enforce the provision of the Commonwealth's Uniform Construction Code (UCC)" and "Middle Department Inspection Agency is the only inspection agency authorized to perform inspections within the Borough." The Borough's Uniform Construction Code ordinance is not published online and was not read for this record, and the Borough pages read name no code edition.

New Brighton Borough's Building Department says roofing needs no permit. The Building Department's page says "Pursuant to the UCC and the Borough's zoning ordinance, permits are required for the following actions," the first of which is "Any construction, alterations, repair, moving, installation, enlarging, or changing of any building or structure," and then says "Permits are not required for painting, replacement of siding, roofing, windows, door, soffit and fascia, gutters, or re-pointing masonry. However, it is recommended to speak with the Building Department before any construction begins." The Borough's Building & Zoning Permit Application lists its types of work as New Building, Addition, Fire Protection, Repair, Energy, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Change of Use, Alteration, Manufactured Housing, Swimming Pool and Deck, with no roofing type. The Borough's Uniform Construction Code ordinance is not published online: the Borough's Forms & Ordinances page posts its permit applications, the multi-municipal zoning ordinance and other ordinances but not a building code ordinance, and no codified Borough code was found online. So this record has not read whether that ordinance changes the Act's treatment of residential repairs or alterations, and does not state whether a house reroof needs a permit. Section 1102 of the multi-municipal zoning ordinance the Borough adopted in 2023 says "No building or structure shall be erected, added to, or structurally altered until a permit therefore has been issued by the applicable Zoning Officer" and exempts "Remodeling or improvement of existing buildings which does not alter the basic structure, create additional lot area coverage or change the use of the parcel or building"; it 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." Ask the Building and Zoning Department at 724-847-5130 before work starts, as its page recommends. Read for this answer: the Borough's Building Department and Forms & Ordinances pages; the Building & Zoning Permit Application; and the multi-municipal zoning ordinance's definitions and Article XI.