Roofing in Stowe Township (Allegheny 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, Stowe Township elects to administer and enforce the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as the municipal building code of Stowe Township" (Code, Chapter 241, Article I, Ordinance No. 876 of 2004), and the Township's Building Division page names United Code Consultants, a third-party agency at 134 McDonald Street, McDonald, as its Building Inspector; the Township office is at 555 Broadway Avenue, McKees Rocks. The Township's code (Chapter 241, Article III) adopts the 2006 International Residential Code and the Township's pages name no edition; this record has not read the 2006 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Township applies.

No Stowe Township text read for this record says whether a residential reroof needs a building permit. The Township's permits page says "All construction, renovation, and structural work may require permits prior to starting work," and its Building Division page describes building permits for "new construction, additions, renovations, decks, garages, sheds, and other structural improvements"; neither names roof work. The residential building permit application posted on the Township's site lists boxes including "Remodel / Structural Alteration" and "Porch Roof / Pergola" and has no reroofing box. The Building Inspector's own FAQ, which names no municipality, says residential projects "typically require permits for new builds, structural alterations, or changes to the means of egress, but generally exempting cosmetic updates and minor repairs" and "If you are unsure whether your project needs a permit, contact our office for clarification before you begin work." Article III of Chapter 241 (Ordinance No. 908 of 2007) adopts the "International Residential Code, 2006 Edition" as the residential code of the Township "for regulating and governing the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, location, removal and demolition of detached one- and two-family dwellings" and "providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor"; its revisions name no roof covering work, and this record has not read that edition's permit or exemption text. Article I also keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1, 1999 that equal or exceed the code. 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 Building Inspector's FAQ says applications and plans are reviewed with a decision "within 5-10 business days" and that "Building permit fees are due upon approval and prior to issuance." The Township office, at 412-331-4050, is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM; the Building Inspector's office phone is 724-492-1301. Read for this answer: Chapter 241, Construction Standards, of the Township's code (Articles I to IV) in full; every page of a code-wide search for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no permit provision naming roof work; the Township's Building Division, permits and building forms pages; the residential building permit application; and the Building Inspector's FAQ, applications page and fee schedule.