Roofing in Perry Township (Fayette 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, Perry Township administers the code through a retained agency: Section 1 of its Ordinance No. 2004-03 says "Perry Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," Section 3 lets the governing body do so "By the retention of one or more construction code officials or third party agencies," and the Township's Permits page says "The second step would be to contact McMillen Engineering who will determine if a Building Permit is needed before you start work" and that the firm will also conduct any required inspections (115 Wayland Smith Drive, Uniontown, 724-439-8110). The Township office is at 1 Township Drive, Star Junction (724-736-2334). Ordinance No. 2004-03 (effective July 8, 2004; read October 12, 2026 from its scanned page images) adopts "The Uniform Construction Code contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 through 405 as amended from time to time" as the Perry Township Building Code, names no roof work and adds no permit clause of its own. Its Section 5 keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1991 "which equal or exceed the requirements of this Code"; the Township's Resolutions and Ordinances page posts no such ordinance, and none was read. Ordinance No. 2007-03 adopting the International Property Maintenance Code (read from its page images) adds no permit clause; the Township's other posted ordinances (dye testing, fire loss escrow, floodplain, holding tanks, solid waste, weeds and nuisance, highway permits) were not read for roof permit clauses. The Township's Ordinance No. 2004-03 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" and names no edition, and the Township's pages name none.

Perry Township's pages and ordinances read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. Ordinance No. 2004-03 (effective July 8, 2004; read October 12, 2026 from its scanned page images) adopts "The Uniform Construction Code contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 through 405 as amended from time to time" as the Perry Township Building Code, names no roof work and adds no permit clause of its own. Its Section 5 keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1991 "which equal or exceed the requirements of this Code"; the Township's Resolutions and Ordinances page posts no such ordinance, and none was read. Ordinance No. 2007-03 adopting the International Property Maintenance Code (read from its page images) adds no permit clause; the Township's other posted ordinances (dye testing, fire loss escrow, floodplain, holding tanks, solid waste, weeds and nuisance, highway permits) were not read for roof permit clauses. The Township's Permits page, read October 12, 2026, says nothing on roofing. It sends a builder first to the Fayette County Office of Planning and Zoning for a Zoning Certificate before "any construction, renovation or demolition project," and then says "The second step would be to contact McMillen Engineering who will determine if a Building Permit is needed before you start work." The Township's Forms and Applications page lists only a "Dye Test Application," and the pages read post no building permit application. 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; ask McMillen Engineering (724-439-8110) or the Township office (724-736-2334) before starting. Read for this answer: the Township's Home, Permits, Contact, Forms and Applications, and Resolutions and Ordinances pages, its Permits sheet, and its Ordinance No. 2004-03 (Uniform Construction Code) and Ordinance No. 2007-03 (International Property Maintenance Code). The Township's other posted ordinances were not read for roof permit clauses.