Roofing in Pleasant Hills, 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 Borough of Pleasant Hills administers the code itself: Section 180-1 of the Borough Code says "This municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," and the Borough's Building and Zoning Dept, at 410 E. Bruceton Road, takes building permit applications, which its Building Code Official approves or denies. Section 180-2 (Ord. No. 827, June 21, 2004) adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time" as the Borough's building code; Chapter 180 makes no change to the code's roofing provisions and names no code edition, and the Borough's pages name none.

The Borough of Pleasant Hills' pages do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. The Borough's own permit text names no roof work: Section 374-115.1 of its zoning chapter requires a building permit for "All structures in excess of 144 square feet in area to be erected or constructed or placed on any property," Section 374-115 says "No land shall be used nor building erected until a zoning permit shall have been obtained," and the Borough's general information page says "A permit must first be obtained before installing or proceeding with among others, the following items or activities: buildings, additions, permanent or portable swimming pools, outdoor air-conditioning units, signs, dish antennas, lawn sheds, decks, fences, parking pads, excavation and filling." The building permit application's project types are "New Bldg.," "Addition," "Accessory Structure," "Deck," "Swimming Pool" and "Other." The Borough's fee resolution is not published; Chapter 206 says it "is on file in the office of the Borough Secretary." Chapter 180 adopts the Uniform Construction Code by reference, and the enacted text read names no roof work either way. 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 a permit is required for a house reroof in Pleasant Hills; ask the Building and Zoning Dept at 412-655-5034 or 412-655-5035 before starting. Where a building permit is required and work starts without one, Section 374-115.1C provides for "judgment of not more than $500, plus all court costs." Read for this answer: Chapter 180 of the Borough Code, Construction Codes, Uniform, Articles I and II, in full; Article XXII of the zoning chapter, Administration; Chapters 178, 206 and 268; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Borough's Zoning Building Department page and its downloads folders; its general information page; and its building permit application.