Roofing in Pittston, 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 City of Pittston runs the Uniform Construction Code itself: its Building Inspector page says the City "has adopted the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code by ordinance (Pittston City Code Section 191)," and UCC permit applications go to the Code Office at City Hall, 35 Broad Street, where the Code Enforcement Officer "will put you in contact with the inspector." Chapter 191 of the City Code (Ord. No. 2004-1, June 30, 2004) elects to administer and enforce the Construction Code Act. Section 191-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code in 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 to 405, "as amended from time to time," as the "Municipal Building Code of the City of Pittston", and Chapter 191 names no edition and changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions. The Building Inspector page says "The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has adopted the 2021 edition of the International Code Council Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Fire and Existing Building codes as the current Uniform Construction Code."

No City of Pittston text read says whether an ordinary reroof needs a permit. The Building Inspector page says "a Permit is required for most new construction, repairs, and renovations" and "If you have any code questions or questions on whether a permit is required, please call the Building Code Official." It names no roof work, the UCC Permit Application has no roofing box, and the Code Enforcement fee schedule has no reroofing line (its only roof lines are for covered porches, decks, carports and patios). Chapter 191 adopts the Uniform Construction Code by reference, "as amended from time to time," names no roof work and has no permit section of its own. Section 191-5A keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that "equal or exceed the requirements of the code," and the Code's editor's note lists the ordinances in effect when the City adopted the UCC, among them three BOCA building, housing and plumbing codes of 1970; none of them is published with the City Code, and they were not read. 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 City text read names reroofing either as permit work or as exempt, and the City's general line on repairs does not say which repairs it means, so this record does not decide whether the City requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. Call the Code Enforcement Office at 570-654-0513, extension 3221, before work starts. Separately, Appendix C.2 of the City's stormwater chapter says "When roofs are being replaced, rainspouts must be disconnected from sanitary sewer systems," with the guidance "subject to the City Engineer’s discretion." The UCC Permit Application says "No work shall be started prior to the issuance of the UCC permit," and the fee schedule says "Any person or Company conducting work without a permit fee’s will be doubled." City Hall's administrative offices are open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Read for this answer: Chapter 191 of the City Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 191-1 to 191-7), in full; every page of a search of the whole City Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Building Inspector and Code Enforcement pages; the UCC Permit Application; and the Code Enforcement fee schedule.