Roofing in Wilkins Township (Allegheny 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, Wilkins Township administers the code through a third-party agency: Chapter 160 of the Township Code (Ordinance No. 963, 2004) says the Township "hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and that administration and enforcement shall be undertaken "by the retention of one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of the Township," and the Township's Building Inspector page sends applicants to Code.sys Code Consulting, Inc. with the link "Click here to apply for a Building Permit." Code.sys is at 321 Grant Avenue, Pittsburgh. Chapter 160 adopts the code "as amended from time to time" and changes none of its roofing provisions; no Township or Code.sys page read for this record names a code edition.

Wilkins Township's pages do not say whether an ordinary house reroof needs a permit; ask Code.sys before starting. Wilkins Township administers the code through a third-party agency: Chapter 160 of the Township Code (Ordinance No. 963, 2004) says the Township "hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and that administration and enforcement shall be undertaken "by the retention of one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of the Township," and the Township's Building Inspector page sends applicants to Code.sys Code Consulting, Inc. with the link "Click here to apply for a Building Permit." Code.sys is at 321 Grant Avenue, Pittsburgh. Chapter 160 adopts the Uniform Construction Code by reference "as the municipal building code of this Township," adds no permit clause of its own and names no roof work; section 160-5 keeps in force building code ordinances adopted on or before its enactment "which equal or exceed the requirements of the code," and names none, and section 160-6 leaves fees to resolution. No Township fee resolution is posted on the Township's Documents & Forms page. The Building Inspector page gives the inspector's title, telephone and the permit link and says nothing on which work needs a permit. Code.sys's own FAQ, which does not name the Township, lists "All residential alterations under Section 104 if there are no structural or egress changes" among work exempt under the Uniform Construction Code and adds "NOTE: Local jurisdiction may require permits for the following." 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." Read for this answer: Chapter 160, Construction Codes, Uniform, in full; every page of a search of the Township Code for "roof" and for "reroofing," which found no permit provision naming roof work on houses; the Township's Building Inspector page, home page and Documents & Forms page; and Code.sys's FAQ and contact page. Code.sys's telephone is 412-821-0337, and the Township office, at 110 Peffer Road, Turtle Creek, is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 412-824-6650.