Roofing in Rochester, 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, Rochester Borough, in Beaver County, administers the Uniform Construction Code through its Building Department, with the Middle Department Inspection Agency (MDIA) as its building code official: the Borough's Zoning-Building Code Department page says "The Middle Department Inspection Agency (MDIA) will provide Building Code Official services. They can be reached at 1-800-580-6342," that the Building Department "reviews and issues all permits required by code for the repair, alteration, or addition to all public and private dwellings and structures," and that "The Borough of Rochester has elected to administer the provisions of the Commonwealth's Uniform Construction Code." The Borough's Uniform Construction Code ordinance and any building permit ordinance were not found published, and this record did not read them; no Borough code book was found online. The Borough's Zoning Ordinance was not read for this record. No Borough page read names a code edition.

Rochester Borough's Building Department page speaks to roofing, but the Borough's code was not found published. The Borough's Uniform Construction Code ordinance and any building permit ordinance were not found published, and this record did not read them; no Borough code book was found online. The Borough's Zoning Ordinance was not read for this record. The same page says "a permit is required for any project that involves constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing the occupancy of a residential or commercial building" and "Permits are not required for ordinary residential repairs such as painting, replacement of siding, roofing, windows, doors, soffit and fascia, gutters, or re-pointing of masonry. However, it is recommended to speak with the Building Department before any construction begins." The Borough's fee schedule, Resolution 2025-01, adopted September 15, 2025, has no roofing line: it lists "Building Permits" for "Construction or Alterations - for all buildings" at $150.00 and adds 10% to the MDIA fee schedule it reproduces, which also has no roofing line (read from the scanned resolution's rendered pages). The Borough's Uniform Construction Code ordinance, which the page's no-permit line would be read against, was not found published, so this record does not state the Borough's answer. 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 the Borough requires a permit for a house reroof; ask the Borough office (724-775-1200) or MDIA (1-800-580-6342) before starting. The Borough's permit instructions say to "Submit the application to the Rochester Borough Office in person or by mail" and "IF your project requires a Building Permit, submit the building permit application at the same time." Read for this answer: the Borough's Zoning-Building Code Department, Permit Applications, Fee Schedule and Contact Us pages; its Zoning Permit Application ("INCLUDING ALL BUILDING PROJECTS") and permit instructions; and its 2025 fee resolution.