SB 566 — An Act amending the act of November 10, 1999 (P.L.491, No.45), known as the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions and for application.

PRINTER'S NO.   556

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 566
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY J. WARD, LANGERHOLC, BARTOLOTTA, PHILLIPS-HILL,
        HUTCHINSON, BAKER, STEFANO, MASTRIANO AND VOGEL,
        APRIL 4, 2025

     REFERRED TO LABOR AND INDUSTRY, APRIL 4, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of November 10, 1999 (P.L.491, No.45), entitled
 2      "An act establishing a uniform construction code; imposing
 3      powers and duties on municipalities and the Department of
 4      Labor and Industry; providing for enforcement; imposing
 5      penalties; and making repeals," in preliminary provisions,
 6      further providing for definitions and for application.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.    Section 103 of the act of November 10, 1999
10   (P.L.491, No.45), known as the Pennsylvania Construction Code
11   Act, is amended by adding a definition to read:
12   Section 103.    Definitions.
13      The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
14   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
15   context clearly indicates otherwise:
16      * * *
17      "Historical agricultural building."    A building initially
18   constructed before January 1, 1999, as an agricultural building
19   and that is used for occupancy by the general public for
 1   weddings, receptions and similar social events throughout the
 2   year.
 3      * * *
 4      Section 2.      Section 104(b) of the act is amended by adding a
 5   paragraph to read:
 6   Section 104.     Application.
 7      * * *
 8      (b)   Exclusions.--This act shall not apply to any of the
 9   following:
10            * * *
11            (4.1)   A historical agricultural building if the owner of
12      the building annually files an affidavit with the code
13      administrator stating that an inspection report was issued by
14      a code administrator on the building and the following
15      conditions are satisfied or, if the owner fails to do so, the
16      code administrator inspects the building at the owner's
17      expense and determines that the following conditions are
18      satisfied:
19                (i)    The building complies with the fire safety
20            provisions for historic buildings of the International
21            Code Council's International Existing Building Code that
22            was part of the Uniform Construction Code at the time of
23            inspection, except that the building is not required to
24            install an automatic fire sprinkler system.
25                (ii)    The building has functioning:
26                       (A)   hard-wired smoke detectors if electrical
27                wiring has been installed in the interior of the
28                building; or
29                       (B)   battery-powered detectors if electrical
30                wiring has not been installed in the interior of the

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 1             building.
 2             (iii)    Portable fire extinguishers are placed in the
 3        building consistent with the Uniform Construction Code.
 4             (iv)    If electrical wiring has been installed in the
 5        interior of the building, an inspection report by a code
 6        administrator states that the wiring complies with the
 7        electrical provisions of the Uniform Construction Code
 8        that existed at the time of inspection.
 9             (v)    Smoking is prohibited in the building.
10             (vi)    All open flames are prohibited in the building,
11        except for flames used for the purposes of reheating or
12        maintaining food temperatures and for which the heating
13        source requires no installation as part of the building
14        construction.
15             (vii)    The owner maintains for the building liability
16        insurance that is written and issued by an insurer
17        authorized to do business in this Commonwealth.
18             (viii)       Signs are posted at the external entrances to
19        all areas of the building used for weddings, receptions
20        and similar social events that state:
21                    (A)    The maximum occupancy of the building per
22             the requirements of the International Building Code
23             that was part of the Uniform Construction Code at the
24             time of the inspection.
25                    (B)    "This facility is subject to alternative
26             commercial building and public safety requirements as
27             provided under the Pennsylvania Construction Code
28             Act."
29             (ix)    Unless permitted toilet facilities are provided
30        on the grounds of the building, portable toilet

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 1        facilities are provided in accordance with the minimum
 2        number of required toilets for a restaurant or banquet
 3        hall in the International Building Code that was part of
 4        the Uniform Construction Code at the time of inspection.
 5             (x)    The building complies with the accessibility
 6        provisions for historic buildings in the International
 7        Code Council's International Existing Building Code
 8        determined by the Accessibility Advisory Board.
 9             (xi)    The building complies with the change of use
10        provisions for historic buildings in the International
11        Code Council's International Existing Building Code that
12        was part of the Uniform Construction Code at the time of
13        inspection.
14             (xii)    The primary function remains on the level of
15        exit discharge. The occupancy level of the stories in a
16        multilevel building must be determined by the code
17        administrator and may not exceed levels as determined by
18        the International Building Code that was part of the
19        Uniform Construction Code at the time of inspection.
20        * * *
21    Section 3.     This act shall take effect immediately.




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