Roofing in North Franklin 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, North Franklin Township's Building and Zoning page lists its "Building Inspector and Zoning Officer" as "Municipal Consulting Service, LLC" at (724) 263-0377, and completed permit forms go to the Township office at the Municipal Building, 345 Franklin Farms Road, Washington. Chapter 142 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 3-2004, adopted June 17, 2004) elects to administer and enforce the Act and says "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the Municipal Building Code of this municipality." It adds no permit requirement of its own for residential repairs or alterations and names no roof work. Section 142-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code; none is published in the Township Code, and this record has not read any. No Township page names a code edition.

North Franklin Township's code and pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. Chapter 142 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 3-2004, adopted June 17, 2004) elects to administer and enforce the Act and says "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the Municipal Building Code of this municipality." It adds no permit requirement of its own for residential repairs or alterations and names no roof work. Section 142-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code; none is published in the Township Code, and this record has not read any. The building permit application posted on the Township's Building Permits page, a Municipal Consulting Service form, lists residential work needing a permit, including "Deck roof, Porch roof" and remodeling that changes structural or supporting members, and names no reroofing; the line "Roof - any work to an existing roof other than ordinary repairs" appears only under its heading for commercial construction. Its list of work that does not need a permit also names no roof work. The Township's fee page prices residential renovation and remodeling by building area and "All Other Types Of Construction" at 1.25% of cost, with 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." This record does not state whether the Township requires a permit for a house reroof; the application says "If you have any question whether your project requires a permit please contact" Municipal Consulting Service (724-263-0377), or ask the Township office (724-228-3330), which is open 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The fee page adds that "An $85.00 fee is assessed for all failed and re-inspections." Read for this answer: Chapter 142 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 142-1 to 142-10), in full; every page of searches of the whole Township Code for "roof" and "roofing", and searches for "reroofing" (none) and "BOCA"; the Township's Building and Zoning, Building Permits and fee pages; and the building permit application and residential permit guideline posted there.