Roofing in New Sewickley Township, 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 Sewickley Township takes building and zoning permit applications at its Township Building, 233 Miller Road, Rochester, and its 2026 Fee Schedule says "Please consult the fee schedule of the Township’s appointed Building Code Official, MDIA" (the Middle Department Inspection Agency); the Township's Forms page says "To apply for a building or zoning permit, you must fill out both the township building/zoning application and the MDIA permit application." The Township's published list of its ordinances names Ordinance No. 165, "Uniform Construction Code," and an older Ordinance No. 91, "Minimum Design - Building," but neither is published on the Township's website, so neither ordinance, nor any permit or exemption section in them, was read for this record. The Township's pages and forms name no code edition.

No New Sewickley Township text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. The Township's Forms page (read October 9, 2026) says "Follow this checklist to ensure you download and fill out the correct forms. Please call us with questions." Its checklist, "Application Requirements for a Zoning/Building Permit," its Application for Zoning/Building Permit (a scanned form, transcribed from the rendered page images) and the MDIA permit application it links name no roof work, and its 2026 Fee Schedule prices building permits by MDIA's own fee schedule plus a "Township Administration Fee 15% of the MDIA Fee"; it says "The fee schedule of MDIA is attached hereto as “Appendix A.”" but the published fee schedule does not include that appendix. The Township's published list of its ordinances names Ordinance No. 165, "Uniform Construction Code," and an older Ordinance No. 91, "Minimum Design - Building," but neither is published on the Township's website, so neither ordinance, nor any permit or exemption section in them, was read for this record. 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." No Township text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt, and the Township's construction code ordinances could not be read, so this record does not decide whether the Township requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. Ask the Township office at 724-774-7822 before work starts. The Forms page says "Please understand that receiving the final permit can take between 3 and 6 weeks." The Township says "Administrative Office Hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm." Read for this answer: the Township's Residents, Forms, Frequently Asked Questions and Ordinances and Resolutions pages; its list of ordinances updated 2025; the 2026 Fee Schedule; the permit checklist; the Application for Zoning/Building Permit; and the MDIA permit application.