Roofing in Sharon, 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, The City of Sharon's Code and Zoning Department, at 155 West Connelly Boulevard, takes zoning and building permit applications. Its permit page says "The Zoning Office will determine whether the applicant needs a building permit. Depending on the scope and purpose of the project, the applicant may need to go through an outside inspector (Richardson Inspection Services-see information below)." The City's codified ordinances, which hold its building code chapter, are published on a host that refused this record's reads, so that chapter was not read for this record. The City's Code and Zoning pages link the "International Residential Code 2015" and name no later edition; this record has not read the 2015 edition's text and does not decide which edition the City applies.

The City of Sharon's Zoning Ordinance and its permit page require a zoning permit for a new roof, a local permit separate from a UCC building permit. Section 603.1 of the City's Zoning Ordinance (adopted September 28, 2006) says of zoning permits "Permits will be required for:" and lists, at (f), "Any physical change or alteration which changes the outside appearance or dimensions regardless of cost, i.e., aluminum siding, new roof, etc." The City's Zoning & Building Permit Application page (read October 7, 2026) lists the same item, "Any physical change or alteration which changes the outside appearance or dimension regardless of cost, i.e., aluminum siding, new roof, etc.," among work for which "Zoning applications are required for:" and says "PROJECTS CANNOT BE STARTED UNTIL THIS PROCESS IS COMPLETED AND PERMIT IS RECEIVED." The permit these texts name is a zoning permit; the page says the Zoning Office then decides whether a building permit is also needed. 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 UCC building permit is needed for a house reroof here. The page says the Zoning Office decides that case by case. In practice, expect the City to require a zoning permit before a house is reroofed, and to decide then whether a building permit is also needed. The City's zoning permit application says "No work shall start without the official zoning approval from the City of Sharon Zoning Office." The City's codified ordinances, which hold its building code chapter, are published on a host that refused this record's reads, so that chapter was not read for this record. Building permits are good for 6 months from approval. The Code and Zoning Department is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, at 724-983-3201. Read for this answer: the City's Zoning Ordinance of September 28, 2006, in full; the City's Zoning & Building Permit Application, Zoning, Contractor's Registration, International Residential Code 2015 and Important Resources pages; the City's building permit and zoning permit applications; and the contractor registration packet. The City's codified ordinances, including its Uniform Construction Code adoption, could not be read, and no fee schedule was found on the City's site.