Roofing in Union Township (Washington 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, Union Township in Washington County administers the code through a third-party agency, McMillen Engineering, Inc.: Chapter 113 of the Township Code lets the Board of Supervisors provide for enforcement "By the retention of one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies," the Township's 2025 fee schedule says "Residential and Commercial Administrative Fees will be calculated by McMillen once a complete building permit application is submitted and reviewed," and the residential building permit application the Township posts is McMillen Engineering's form, which says "No work may be concealed from view until it has been approved by McMillen Engineering Inspector." The Township office is at 3904 Finleyville-Elrama Road, Finleyville. Chapter 113 adopts the Uniform Construction Code "as amended from time to time" and changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions, and the Township's pages name no other edition.

Union Township has published nothing on whether a reroof needs a permit. Chapter 113 of the Township Code (Ord. No. 2008-8) adopts the Uniform Construction Code "by reference as the Union Township Building Code" and adds no permit clause or exemption of its own; Section 113-5 keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before July 1999 that equal or exceed the code, and a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing" found no such ordinance and no provision naming roof work as permit work or as exempt. The Township's residential building permit application lists no reroof among its types of improvement, and its fee schedules have no roofing line. No Township page read for this record says whether a reroof needs a permit. 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 Township's Planning and Zoning page says "certain types of construction do not require a Building Permit but DO REQUIRE submittal of a Zoning Permit Application" and gives fences, small sheds and carports as examples. The fee schedule says "Union Township Administrative Fees will be 15% of the total cost" and that fees go to the Township office. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, at 724-348-4250. Read for this record: Chapter 113 of the Township Code, Construction Codes, Uniform (Sections 113-1 to 113-7), and Chapter 122, Fees, in full; every page of a search of the whole Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Township's 2025 application, escrow and general fee schedules; its 2026 residential building permit application; and its Planning and Zoning, Fee Schedule, Forms and Contact pages.