Roofing in Trainer, 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, Trainer Borough administers the code itself: Section 80-1 of the Borough Code (Ordinance No. 659, July 8, 2004) says "The Borough of Trainer, Delaware County, hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act 45 of 1999," and the Borough's Code Enforcement page (read October 12, 2026) carries the Borough's Building Permit Application and Permit Fee Schedule under the heading "CODE ENFORCEMENT - ZONING OFFICER"; the Borough's 2024 fee resolution speaks of "the Borough's third party inspectors," and the Borough office is at 4300 Township Line Road, Trainer (610-497-3838). Section 80-2 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time," by reference "as the municipal building code of the Borough of Trainer, Delaware County," and the chapter makes no change to the code's roofing provisions. The Borough's pages name no code edition, so this record does not state one.

The Trainer Borough Code and pages read for this record do not say whether a reroof needs a building permit. Trainer Borough administers the code itself: Section 80-1 of the Borough Code (Ordinance No. 659, July 8, 2004) says "The Borough of Trainer, Delaware County, hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act 45 of 1999," and the Borough's Code Enforcement page (read October 12, 2026) carries the Borough's Building Permit Application and Permit Fee Schedule under the heading "CODE ENFORCEMENT - ZONING OFFICER"; the Borough's 2024 fee resolution speaks of "the Borough's third party inspectors," and the Borough office is at 4300 Township Line Road, Trainer (610-497-3838). The Borough's Building Permit Application asks for the description and type of work and the estimated cost, and says "No permits will be issued to contractors or individuals having contractors do work, without a certificate of insurance." The fee resolution adds "the sum of $4.50 for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania assessed training fee" to every permit fee. Read for this record: Chapter 80 of the Borough Code, Building Construction, Article I, Uniform Construction Code (Sections 80-1 to 80-8), in full; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Borough's Code Enforcement, Contact and Important Contact Numbers pages; its Building Permit Application; and its Resolution No. 24-1106 (May 9, 2024), a scanned document read from its page images. Section 80-4 says "Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure" must "first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit," and Section 80-5 lists exempt residential work (painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, small pools, playground equipment, awnings and minor electrical, gas and mechanical items) and names no roof work; Section 80-2 adopts the Uniform Construction Code by reference as the municipal building code. The Borough's Code Enforcement page lists "New roof structure over deck/patio" among the work needing a zoning permit, which names a new roof structure, not the replacement of an existing roof covering. No Borough page read says whether a reroof needs a building permit or needs none.