Roofing in Riverside, 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, Riverside Borough's Building Permits page, read October 12, 2026, says "Due to statewide changes in local building codes,please contact" the Riverside Borough Zoning Officer (570-205-0496) "with any questions you may have and to obtain a building permit." The Borough's Code, Chapter 125 (Ord. No. 6-04, June 7, 2004), says "This municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and lets the Borough Council choose by resolution among a municipal employee, "third-party agencies" and joint arrangements; no Borough page read for this record names the resolution or any agency. The Borough office is at 415 Dewart Street, Riverside (570-275-1751). The Borough's pages and Chapter 125 name no code edition, adopting the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time"; this record does not decide which edition the Borough applies.

No Riverside Borough text read for this record names reroofing as permit work or as exempt from a building or Uniform Construction Code permit. The Borough's Building Permits page names no work for which a permit is or is not needed. Chapter 125 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time," as the municipal building code, continues pre-July 1, 1999 building code ordinances "which equal or exceed the requirements of the code," leaves fees to resolution, and names no roof work. The Borough's Zoning Chapter, Section 285-8 B, says "Ordinary repairs and maintenance to existing structures that do not involve an expansion or change of a use or structure shall not by itself be regulated by this chapter. Examples of such work include replacement of a roof or porch that does not involve enclosure of space. (However, a construction permit under the Construction Codes may be needed for such work.)" That sentence speaks to the zoning chapter and says a construction permit "may be needed," so this record does not treat it as the Borough's statement that a reroof does or does not need a permit. The Borough's Floodplain Management chapter, Section 163-4, says "It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, business or corporation to undertake, or cause to be undertaken, any construction or development anywhere within the Borough of Riverside unless a building permit has been obtained from the Building Permit Officer" and "A building permit shall not be required for minor repairs to existing buildings or structures"; it names no roof work, defines no "minor repairs," and this record does not decide whether a house reroof is a minor repair. The Borough's Property Maintenance and Buildings chapters (Chapters 213, 107) were read and name no roof 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." This record does not decide whether a reroof needs a permit in Riverside Borough. Read for this answer: the Borough's Building Permits, Borough Secretary, About the Borough and home pages; Chapters 125, 163, 213 and 107 of its Code on ecode360; Zoning Chapter 285, Section 285-8; and every page of a search of the whole Code for "roof," "reroofing" and "permit." The Borough's pages post no permit application and no fee schedule, so neither was read, and Section 163-7 of the Floodplain chapter could not be opened for this record. Call the Borough's Zoning Officer at 570-205-0496 before starting, as the Building Permits page directs.