Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) — Building Code Preemption (PA)

Tracked preemption from the Pennsylvania overlay bundle.

Overview

Effective
1999-11-10
Sunset
Authority
state
Scope
state:PA

Trigger predicate

When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.

always true

Preempted fields

2 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.

FieldOpValueNote
review_typerequirepa_ucc_complianceStatewide Uniform Construction Code (based on International Code Council family — IBC, IRC, IECC, IMC, IPC, IFGC) is the exclusive minimum statewide building code. Municipal building codes may not be less stringent.
review_typeconstrainucc_review_board_appeal_required_for_local_amendmentsLocal amendments more stringent than the UCC require Department of Labor & Industry approval and must be ≥ICC-base. Municipalities may elect to administer & enforce the UCC locally ('opt-in') or default to L&I enforcement.

Citation

Authority source
Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act of Nov. 10, 1999, P.L. 491, No. 45, 35 P.S. §§7210.101–7210.1103; implementing regulations at 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401–405
§ 35 P.S. §§7210.104 (statewide application), 7210.503 (local amendment process)
https://www.dli.pa.gov/ucc/Pages/default.aspx

Research notes

UCC preempts construction-standard fields (occupancy, fire protection, energy code) but does NOT preempt zoning fields (height, setback, use, density). Pennsylvania adopts triennial ICC updates via Pa. Code Ch. 403 (currently 2018 ICC base with selected 2021 provisions per 2022 RAC review).