Roofing in Seven Fields, 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, Seven Fields Borough administers the code: Section 144-9 of the Borough Code says "This municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," the Borough's Professional Services page lists the "Middle Department Inspection Agency (MDIA)" as its Building Inspector, and the Borough's Forms page carries the Building Permit Application used with that agency. The Borough Office is at 2200 Garden Drive, Suite 100, Seven Fields. Section 144-1 of the Borough Code says the Borough enforces the International Codes adopted as part of the Uniform Construction Code, as amended, and the Borough's pages name no code edition.

Seven Fields Borough's code and pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. Chapter 144 of the Borough Code, Construction Codes, Uniform, read in full, names no roof work. Its Article II (Ord. No. 68, June 14, 2004, read October 10, 2026) says in Section 144-10 that the Uniform Construction Code "is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of this municipality," and its Article I (Ord. No. 54, May 13, 1996) says in Section 144-1 that "the Borough enforces the International Codes adopted as part of the Uniform Construction Code, as amended." Section 144-13 keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 "which equal or exceed the requirements of the code"; no earlier building ordinance was found in the Borough Code. Section 144-3 lets the Borough Council "by resolution, adopt, change, alter or amend fees for any permits, services, certificates, or inspections," and no fee schedule was found on the Borough's website. Chapter 340, Zoning, Section 340-70 A says "No building or structure shall be erected, added to or structurally altered until a building permit has been issued by the Borough"; it names no roof work, and this record does not decide whether a house reroof is "structurally altered." The Borough's Building Permit Application asks for the "Type of Work or Improvement" and offers "New Building Addition Alteration Repair Demolition Relocation Energy," and its Butler County Building Permit Application lists "REPAIR - REPLACEMENT" among its "TYPE OF IMPROVEMENT" entries; neither names roofing, and the Borough's pages say nothing else on reroofs. 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 (724-776-3090) before starting. The Borough Office is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Read for this answer: Chapter 144 of the Borough Code in full; Chapter 340, Zoning, Article X, Administration, in full; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" (23 results, none a permit provision for roof work) and for "reroofing" (no results); the Borough's Ordinances, Forms and Applications, Borough Forms, Professional Services and Frequently Asked Questions pages and its site map; the Building Permit Application; and the Butler County Building Permit Application.