Roofing in Rockledge, 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, Rockledge Borough's Permits and Fees page says "Permit applications can be obtained by visiting the Borough Office," and its administration listing includes a Building Inspector and a Zoning Officer and Code Enforcement Officer. Section 240-9 of the Borough Code says "The Borough of Rockledge hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act." Chapter 240 of the Borough Code, Construction Codes, Uniform, also adopts older model codes: Section 240-1 adopts "The BOCA National Existing Structures Code, Second Edition, 1987," and Section 240-4 adopts the "International Residential Code, 2000 Edition," "for regulating the design, construction, quality of materials, erection, installation, alteration, repair, location, relocation, replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of one- and two-family dwellings," "and providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor." Section 240-9 (Ord. No. 588, 2004) adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time," keeps in effect building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the code," and removes listed work from the exemptions in 34 Pa. Code 403.42 and 403.62, so that "a permit will still be required" for items that include "Window replacement without structural change" and "Replacement of existing siding"; its list names no roofing. This record has not read the text of the 1987 BOCA code or the 2000 International Residential Code and does not decide how either applies to a reroof. Chapter 240 names the 2000 International Residential Code and a 1987 BOCA code, and the Borough's pages name no code edition; this record does not decide which edition the Borough applies.