Roofing in Upper Yoder Township, 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, Upper Yoder Township takes building permit applications at its office, 110 Sunray Drive, Suite 1, Johnstown. The Township's Building and Codes page says it has "entered into an agreement with the Cambria-Somerset Council of Governments whereby the Council of Governments are authorized to administer and enforce the provisions of the IBC and the Township Zoning Ordinance as well," and that anyone planning construction should "contact the Building Code Official" at (814) 255-3413 "or the Township office at (814) 255-5243 to secure the necessary permits." The page says that on January 23, 2003 the Township adopted the "International Building Code Enforcement Ordinance," Ordinance #258, which "can be reviewed and/or obtained at the Township Municipal Building"; it is not posted on the Township's website, and the Township publishes no codified code, so its text was not read for this record. The Township's building permit application asks that house plans conform to "the 2009 International Residential Code," and its pages name no later edition; this record has not read the 2009 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Township applies.

Upper Yoder Township's pages name no roof work either way. The Township's building permit application has boxes for "Alteration" and "Repair, Replacement" under Type of Construction and names no roof work, and the fee schedule attached to it (Resolution -2014) has a residential line for "Alterations/Additions/ Permanently Installed Swimming Pools-Requiring Building Code Review/ Inspections" and no roofing line. The Township's pages do not name roofing either way. The page says that on January 23, 2003 the Township adopted the "International Building Code Enforcement Ordinance," Ordinance #258, which "can be reviewed and/or obtained at the Township Municipal Building"; it is not posted on the Township's website, and the Township publishes no codified code, so its text was not read for this record. 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 state whether the Township requires a permit for a house reroof; the Township's page says "If you are planning any construction and/or changes to your buildings," contact the Building Code Official at (814) 255-3413 or the Township office at (814) 255-5243 "to secure the necessary permits." Applications are available at the Township office and on its website, and the fee schedule says "ADD $4.00 TO EACH PERMIT for PA DEPT. OF LABOR & INDUSTRY FEE." Read for this answer: the Township's Building and Codes, Forms and Applications, Ordinances and Contact pages; both copies of the Township's building permit application posted on its site, with the attached fee schedule; and Zoning Ordinance amendment 287-A (2024). The Township's building code ordinance (Ordinance #258) is not published online and was not read.