Roofing in Wharton 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, Wharton Township's "Zoning, Code Enforcement and BCO Information" page lists McMillen Engineering, Inc., 115 Wayland Smith Drive, Uniontown (724-439-8110), and the Township's Applications and Permits page posts that firm's "Uniform Construction Code (UCC) Building Permit Application - Residential"; the Township Municipal Building is at 114 Elliotsville Road, Farmington (724-329-8503). The Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance was not found published and was not read for this record. The residential application the Township posts refers to requirements "per the 2021 series of I-Codes."

Wharton Township's pages read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. The Zoning, Code Enforcement and BCO page says "If you are contemplating any improvements or alterations to your home, property or business, contact Zoning and Code Enforcement to discuss your plans so that it may be determined whether any permits or approvals are required." The residential UCC application's "Type of Improvement" list names porch roofs on new porches but no roof replacement, and its only other roof words are a "Roofing" line for covering type and a roofing subcontractor line. The Township's Uniform Construction Code ordinance and a building permit fee schedule were not found published on the Township's site, which posts its zoning, subdivision and stormwater ordinances, and were not read for this record. The Township's Zoning Ordinance, section 901.a, asks for a zoning permit for "any new construction, structural alteration, development, or change in the use of a building or lot" and names no roof work. 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; ask McMillen Engineering (724-439-8110) or the Township Municipal Building (724-329-8503) before starting. Read for this answer: the Township's Zoning, Code Enforcement and BCO page, its Applications and Permits page, its residential UCC building permit application package and zoning application, its ordinance downloads list, and its Zoning Ordinance.