Roofing in Prospect Park, 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 Prospect Park elects to administer and enforce the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and adopts the Uniform Construction Code as its municipal building code (Code, Chapter 67, Ordinance No. 1251 of 2004); construction permit applications go to the Borough office at 720 Maryland Avenue, and the Borough's fee schedule says "The Building Code Official will review applications which come under the PA Uniform Construction Code (UCC) and determine the permit fee," referring to the "Code Inspections Inc. Fee Schedule," the third-party agency the Borough's document library lists as its building inspector. The Borough's pages name no code edition, and the pre-1999 building code its Chapter 60 adopts is the BOCA National Building Code, 1993, kept in force by Section 67-5 to the extent it equals or exceeds the code; this record has not read that code's text and does not decide which edition the Borough applies.

No Borough of Prospect Park text read for this record says in words whether a residential reroof needs a building permit. The Borough's Construction Permit Application lists "Roof" among boxes under "TYPE OF WORK OR IMPROVEMENT," beside new building, addition, alteration, deck, garage, pool and shed. Separately, the Borough's Zoning Permit Application lists "Roof Repairs" among types of work, with shed, fence, sign, siding and window work, and the fee schedule says "All non UCC permit applications fees will be as scheduled below," pricing zoning permits by the cost of the work, from $90.00 for work up to $1,000.00. No Borough page read for this record says in words whether a reroof needs either permit. Section 67-5 keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code, and Chapter 60 (Ordinance No. 1156 of 1994) adopts "The BOCA National Building Code, Twelfth Edition, 1993" as the Building Code of the Borough; its local changes name no roof work, and this record has not read that model code's text. The Borough's development chapter adds that "A permit shall be required prior to the erection or alteration of any building, structure or portion thereof, including signs" (Section 70-73), with no roof words. 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." The Construction Permit Application is filed "with two (2) copies of plans, specifications, and a rough plot plan when applicable- NO DIGITAL PLANS" and asks for the contractor's PA State License Number. The Borough office, at 610-532-1007, is open Monday to Wednesday 9AM to 5PM, Thursday 9AM to 7PM and Friday 9AM to 4PM. Read for this answer: Chapters 60, Building Construction, and 67, Construction Codes, Uniform, of the Borough's code in full; Article XIV, Administration, of Chapter 70, Development; every page of a code-wide search for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no permit provision naming roof work; the Code Enforcement page and the Forms, Permits, and Applications library; the Construction Permit Application; the Zoning Permit Application; and the Borough Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2024.