Roofing in Somerset, 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 Borough of Somerset uses Pennsylvania Municipal Code Alliance, Inc. for work under the Uniform Construction Code: the Borough's Inspections page says "AS OF JANUARY 1, 2019 All permits regulated by the UCC are now handled by Pennsylvania Municipal Code Alliance," at its Somerset office, 318 Georgian Place, and the Borough's permit checklist says "All Building permits are handled by the Pennsylvania Municipal Code Alliance." Zoning, driveway, fence, sidewalk and sign permits are still handled through the Borough. The Borough has not published the ordinance by which it adopted the Uniform Construction Code, and this record has not read it. The Borough's pages name no code edition.

The Borough of Somerset's own page says a permit is not required for replacement of shingles. The Borough's Inspections page (read October 9, 2026), under "Below is a list that require permits in the Borough of Somerset," lists "Roof - changes to the roof (such as adding dormers or in changing from a flat roof to a gable roof) A permit is not required for replacement of shingles." Pennsylvania Municipal Code Alliance's own re-roof letter, addressed to municipal officials and not naming the Borough, says "a residential Re-roof still requires compliance with the provisions of the UCC but does not require a building permit" and that "If structural work is required such as replacing studs, headers, rafters or trusses a permit would now be required." Separately, Article XIV, Section 9 of the Borough's Zoning Ordinance says "No building, except for agricultural accessory buildings located on a farm and not used for dwelling purposes, shall be erected, constructed, altered, moved, converted, extended, or enlarged, without the owner or owners first having obtained a building permit therefore from the administrator"; it names no roof work. The Borough's posted Building Permit Fees (Resolution No. 2017-06) price building permits by construction cost and have no roofing line. 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 Borough has not published the ordinance by which it adopted the Uniform Construction Code, and this record has not read it. Because the Borough's Uniform Construction Code adoption ordinance could not be read, this record does not decide whether the Borough requires a permit for an ordinary reroof. For work under the Uniform Construction Code, Pennsylvania Municipal Code Alliance's Somerset office is at 318 Georgian Place, Somerset, phone 814-444-6112; its residential re-roof application packet says "A Building Permit is required if there is a structural repair." The Borough's Inspections Department takes questions at 814-445-5595 between 6:30am and 3:00pm, Monday through Friday. Read for this answer: the Borough's Inspections, Permit Applications, Contact and FAQ pages; the Borough's Building and Zoning Permit Submission Guidelines; the Land Use Permit Checklist; the Borough's zoning permit application; Article XIV of the Zoning Ordinance; the Building Permit Fees (Resolution No. 2017-06); and Pennsylvania Municipal Code Alliance's FAQ page, re-roof letter and residential re-roof application packet. The Borough's Uniform Construction Code adoption ordinance is not published and was not read.