Roofing in Salem Township (Westmoreland County), 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, Salem Township in Westmoreland County adopts the Uniform Construction Code and "shall administer and enforce same within the Township" (Ordinance No. 05-2004, section 1), and the same ordinance has the Township contract with a "Third Party Agency" to perform the functions of a "Building Code Official" including "the issuance of permits" (section 8). The Township's 2026 Building Permit Application and Instructions, posted on its Ordinances & Forms page, names American Building Inspection Services, Inc. (ABIS), 3586 State Route 982, Latrobe, as the Building Code Official's firm for plan items and inspections; applications go to the Secretary of Salem Township at the Municipal Building, 244 Congruity Road, Greensburg. Neither Township ordinance changes the code's roofing provisions. Ordinance No. 05-2004 adopts "The 2003 International Residential Code" and the Township's pages name no later edition; this record has not read the 2003 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Township applies.

No Salem Township text read for this record names roof work as needing or not needing a building permit. Ordinance No. 06-2004 (October 21, 2004) amends the Township's UCC ordinance so that "Neither this Act nor this Ordinance shall apply to" a list that includes "Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress" and "Repairs to residential buildings"; neither it nor Ordinance No. 05-2004 names roof work. No Township page or form read for this record says whether a residential reroof needs a building permit. The Township's guidelines adopted with Ordinance No. 05-2004 list items "not requiring a building permit" (fences, retaining walls, "painting, tiling, cabinets, and similar finishing work," replacement windows without structural changes and minor plumbing and electrical work) without naming roofing, and say "To determine whether a specific construction project requires a permit, check with the Township of Salem Building Code Official." The 2026 application's Type of Improvement boxes are New Building, Addition, Repair, Demolition, Relocation, Foundation only, Change of Use, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical, with no roof box. The permit fee schedule is, under Ordinance No. 05-2004, "part of a contract or agreement negotiated and approved by the Board of Supervisors and a "Third Party Agency"" and is not published on the Township's site. 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 application has the applicant certify that the work will follow "PA Act 45 (Uniform Construction Code) and any additional approved building code requirements adopted by the Municipality," and inspections are requested from ABIS at least 48 hours in advance at 724-422-7393. The Township office, at 724-668-7500, is open 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. Read for this answer: Ordinance No. 05-2004, adopting the Uniform Construction Code, with its Exhibit "A" guidelines, and Ordinance No. 06-2004, amending it, in full, as posted on the Township's Ordinances & Forms page; that page; the Township's home page; and the 2026 Building Permit Application and Instructions in full. No codified Township code was found online.