Roofing in Pine Township (Indiana 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, the Township's home page says "In need of a building permit, contact:" the "Indiana County Office of Planning and Development," 801 Water Street, Indiana, (724) 465-3870; the County's Uniform Construction Code page says "The Office of Planning & Development began the administration and enforcement of the UCC for a majority of the Municipalities within the County on July 1, 2004" and "As of January 1, 2012 the Office of Planning & Development is contracted with Pennsafe Building Inspection Services for inspections and plan reviews," and its Building Permits page lists Pine Township among the municipalities for which "complete appropriate application below"; the Township office is at 6410 Route 403 Hwy North, Heilwood (814-948-4480). The Township's Ordinance No. 39 (July 6, 2004, read October 12, 2026) says "This Municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and that the Uniform Construction Code "is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of this Municipality," and keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code." Its older Ordinance No. 9 (September 6, 1977), on building permits and exemption certificates, says it is unlawful to undertake "the construction, reconstruction enlargement, or relocation of any building or structure unless an approved building permit or exemption certificate has been obtained from the Municipal Building Permit Officer" and exempts "repairs to existing buildings or structures, provided that no structural changes are involved." Neither ordinance names roof work, and this record does not decide whether a house reroof is a repair or a reconstruction under Ordinance No. 9, or whether Ordinance No. 9 is kept in effect by Ordinance No. 39. The Township's property maintenance Ordinance No. 45 sets no permit. The County's Uniform Construction Code page says "Indiana County does hereby adopt the following climatic and geographic design criteria, in accordance with International Residential Code, 2018; Section R301.2," an older edition than the 2021 edition the State has adopted; this record has not read the 2018 edition's text and does not decide which edition applies to a house.

No Pine Township or Indiana County text read names reroofing as building permit work or as exempt. The Township's Ordinance No. 39 (July 6, 2004, read October 12, 2026) says "This Municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and that the Uniform Construction Code "is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of this Municipality," and keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code." Its older Ordinance No. 9 (September 6, 1977), on building permits and exemption certificates, says it is unlawful to undertake "the construction, reconstruction enlargement, or relocation of any building or structure unless an approved building permit or exemption certificate has been obtained from the Municipal Building Permit Officer" and exempts "repairs to existing buildings or structures, provided that no structural changes are involved." Neither ordinance names roof work, and this record does not decide whether a house reroof is a repair or a reconstruction under Ordinance No. 9, or whether Ordinance No. 9 is kept in effect by Ordinance No. 39. The Township's property maintenance Ordinance No. 45 sets no permit. The County's Building Permits page lists residential applications for additions, decks, demolition, garages, homes, pools and fences and a "Roof Projects" application only among its commercial applications, and the County's residential deck and porch application names "Porch Roof Only" but no house reroof; no County or Township page read says whether a house reroof needs a permit. 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." Ordinance No. 9 sets a fine "of not less than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) nor more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) plus costs of prosecution." Ask the County Office of Planning and Development at (724) 465-3870, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, before work starts. Read for this answer: the Township's home and Ordinances pages and its Ordinances No. 9, 13, 39 and 45, and the County's Building Permits page, Uniform Construction Code page and the residential and commercial roof and deck applications it posts.