Roofing in West View, 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, West View Borough's offices are at 441 Perry Highway, Pittsburgh, and the Borough's welcome packet for new residents says "Building permit applications are now handled by Code.sys Code Consulting, Inc."; the Building Permit Application link on the Borough Forms page opens Code.sys's own site. Section 130-1 of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 1418, 2004) says "The municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act." Section 130-2 adopts "The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time" as the Municipal Building Code, and Section 130-5A keeps building code ordinances adopted "on or before July 1, 1999" that equal or exceed the code in force. Chapter 130 changes nothing in the code's roofing provisions and names no edition, and the Borough's pages name none.

No West View Borough office text read names reroofing as permit work or as exempt. No Borough text read names roof work as permit work or as exempt. Part 1 of Chapter 116 of the Borough Code, headed "Building Permits; Floodplain Management," whose stated intent includes "appropriate construction practices to minimize flood damage," says in Section 116-4 that it is unlawful to undertake "the construction, reconstruction, enlargement, alteration or relocation of any building or structure unless an approved building permit has been obtained from the Municipal Building Permit Officer" and that "A building permit shall not be required for minor repairs to existing buildings or structures, provided that no structural changes or modifications are involved." Part 2 (Ord. No. 1421, 2004) says in Section 116-35 that residential property "being altered, repaired or constructed as defined under the PA UCC shall be subject to permitting, plan review and inspection," and its fee exhibit is on file in the Borough offices, not published. 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's pages and Code.sys's pages say nothing on reroofing in West View, so this record does not decide whether an ordinary reroof needs a permit there. Ask Code.sys Code Consulting or the Borough office at 412-931-2800 before work starts. Read for this answer: Chapter 130 of the Borough Code (Construction Codes, Uniform, Sections 130-1 to 130-6) in full; Chapter 116 (Building Construction), Articles I to IV of Part 1 and Part 2; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing"; the Borough Forms, Administration and Ordinances pages; the welcome packet; and Code.sys's Frequently Asked Questions, Forms and one- and two-family dwelling services pages.