Major Changes to Pennsylvania Building Codes to Affect Municipal Code Officials, Builders, Designers, Contractors

By Theodore T. Speedy, Esq.

Important Update:

The implementation of the updated Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code to include the International Code Council 2021 Code Series has been postponed. No new implementation date has yet been released. Until the new codes becomes effective, the current UCC enforcing the ICC 2018 Code Series (as amended) remains in force.

Sources within both the Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council (“RAC”) and the Bureau of Occupation and Industrial Safety note that the postponement of the new codes was due to completion of required regulatory processes. It is anticipated that the regulatory review will be completed within 90 days.

The next meeting of the RAC is scheduled for July 31, 2025. A clearer timeline of anticipated implementation may be released after that meeting. Further, notice of the new implementation date will be published prior to the effective date. More updates will be provided as the status of the code implementation is determined. AIA Pennsylvania is also a reliable source for news on this subject.

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Originally scheduled for July 13, 2025, Pennsylvania will officially implement the International Code Council 2021 Code Series as the Commonwealth’s Uniform Construction Code. All municipalities and municipal code officials across the Commonwealth, in addition to designers, contractors and builders who work with them, must ensure compliance with the new code. For the over 90% of municipalities that have opted to adopt and locally enforce the UCC, local code officials must be aware of the changes and how they will impact local construction. The Municipal Law Attorneys at Gawthrop Greenwood, PC are here to assist municipal leadership with questions.

The ICC 2021 Code Series changes and updates are extensive, with the following items being especially notable:

• Emergency escape and rescue openings now require a clear 36-inch-wide path to a public way
• Deck design now considers snow load, tributary area for footing and post height and guard details
• A surge-protective device (SPD) is now required at the electrical service panel
• Changes to requirements for smoke alarm location
• Changes to chimney lining installation and requirements
• Requirements for building envelope vapor retarders & continuous insulation
• A new testing procedure for structure air leakage
• Further, the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) may require additional energy efficiency in new construction and also modifies the Climate Zone Map location requirements; municipalities should confirm their climate zone location to ensure compliance with requirements.

Projects designed or contracted on or after the effective date are subject to the new UCC provisions. For those projects with executed construction contracts prior to the effective date, those projects can proceed under the prior code if a permit is applied for within six months of the effective date.

The complete report of the adopted codes and amended provisions to be implemented can be found here.

Further background:

The Pennsylvania Construction Code Act (“PCCA”) has long stressed uniformity in construction in the Commonwealth. The PCCA provides authority to the PA Department of Labor and Industry to adopt a Uniform Construction Code (“UCC”). The Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council (“RAC”) provides oversite of the review, amendment and adoption of updates to the UCC. In 2004, the 1999 BOCA National Building Code became the Commonwealth’s first UCC. The current UCC is the ICC 2018 Code Series. The PCCA provides authority for municipalities to adopt the effective UCC and locally enforce its provisions.

A U.S. navy veteran and former civil engineer, Theodore T. Speedy, Jr. is a government and municipal law attorney at Gawthrop Greenwood, PC, where he advises municipalities on a wide range of legal matters, including governance, personnel, compliance and public policy. He has also defended clients in civil rights, tort and employment discrimination cases in state and federal courts. For more information, contact Theo at tspeedy@gawthrop.com or 610-696-8225.