Roofing in Zelienople, 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, Zelienople Borough's Code Enforcement/Zoning page says "Building Permit Review and Inspections are conducted by CODE ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (CEA)," in Jefferson Hills, and that building permit applications go to the Borough's Zoning and Code Enforcement Office at 111 W. New Castle Street; Article III of Chapter 115 of the Borough Code (Ord. No. 763, April 12, 2004) says "This municipality hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act" and adopts the Uniform Construction Code, "as amended from time to time." Chapter 115 also keeps older adoptions: Article I (Ord. No. 731, January 25, 1999) adopts the 1993 BOCA National Building Code and the 1992 CABO One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code "for the regulation of the construction, erection, fabrication, enlargement, alteration, maintenance and conditions, substantial repair" of structures, and Article V (Ord. No. 766, June 14, 2004) adopts "the 2003 International Residential Code for use within the Borough"; section 115-28 keeps in force building code ordinances adopted "on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the code." This record has not read the 1992 CABO or 2003 IRC permit sections, and no Borough text read names roof work. A search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing" found no section that names roof work as permit work or as exempt. Article V of Chapter 115 names the 2003 International Residential Code, and no Borough page read names a current residential code edition; this record has not read the 2003 edition's text and does not say which residential edition the Borough enforces.

Zelienople Borough has published nothing that names roof work as permit work or as exempt. The CEA sheet "How to Apply for a Residential Building Permit," posted on the Borough's page, lists under "Exemption" items including "Residential repairs or alterations" and adds "(Local Zoning may however apply to these exemptions)"; it does not name roof work. The Borough's 2024 fee schedule (Resolution No. 521-24) prices plan review for "ALTERATIONS, REPAIRS & CHANGE IN OCCUPANCY" by floor area and has no roofing line. Chapter 115 also keeps older adoptions: Article I (Ord. No. 731, January 25, 1999) adopts the 1993 BOCA National Building Code and the 1992 CABO One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code "for the regulation of the construction, erection, fabrication, enlargement, alteration, maintenance and conditions, substantial repair" of structures, and Article V (Ord. No. 766, June 14, 2004) adopts "the 2003 International Residential Code for use within the Borough"; section 115-28 keeps in force building code ordinances adopted "on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the code." This record has not read the 1992 CABO or 2003 IRC permit sections, and no Borough text read names roof work. A search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and for "reroofing" found no section that names roof work as permit work or as exempt. 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 Borough requires a permit for a reroof. The Borough's page says "Should you have any questions regarding requirements for either residential or commercial construction, call the Code Enforcement Agency at 1-866-410-4952"; the Borough building is at 724-452-6610. Read for this record: Chapter 115 of the Borough Code, Construction Codes, Uniform, Articles I, III, IV, V, VI and VII in full; every page of a search of the whole Borough Code for "roof" and "reroofing"; the Borough's Code Enforcement/Zoning and Permits/Applications pages; the residential building permit application; the CEA residential how-to sheet; and the 2024 fee schedule.