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
Amending the act of November 10, 1999 (P.L.491, No.45), entitled
"An act establishing a uniform construction code; imposing
powers and duties on municipalities and the Department of
Labor and Industry; providing for enforcement; imposing
penalties; and making repeals," in preliminary provisions,
further providing for definitions and for application.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 103 of the act of November 10, 1999
(P.L.491, No.45), known as the Pennsylvania Construction Code
Act, is amended by adding a definition to read:
Section 103. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Historical agricultural building." A building initially
constructed before January 1, 1999, as an agricultural building
and that is used for occupancy by the general public for
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19 weddings, receptions and similar social events throughout the
year.
* * *
Section 2. Section 104(b) of the act is amended by adding a
paragraph to read:
Section 104. Application.
* * *
(b) Exclusions.--This act shall not apply to any of the
following:
* * *
(4.1) A historical agricultural building if the owner of
the building annually files an affidavit with the code
administrator stating that an inspection report was issued by
a code administrator on the building and the following
conditions are satisfied or, if the owner fails to do so, the
code administrator inspects the building at the owner's
expense and determines that the following conditions are
satisfied:
(i) The building complies with the fire safety
provisions for historic buildings of the International
Code Council's International Existing Building Code that
was part of the Uniform Construction Code at the time of
inspection, except that the building is not required to
install an automatic fire sprinkler system.
(ii) The building has functioning:
(A) hard-wired smoke detectors if electrical
wiring has been installed in the interior of the
building; or
(B) battery-powered detectors if electrical
wiring has not been installed in the interior of the
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30 building.
(iii) Portable fire extinguishers are placed in the
building consistent with the Uniform Construction Code.
(iv) If electrical wiring has been installed in the
interior of the building, an inspection report by a code
administrator states that the wiring complies with the
electrical provisions of the Uniform Construction Code
that existed at the time of inspection.
(v) Smoking is prohibited in the building.
(vi) All open flames are prohibited in the building,
except for flames used for the purposes of reheating or
maintaining food temperatures and for which the heating
source requires no installation as part of the building
construction.
(vii) The owner maintains for the building liability
insurance that is written and issued by an insurer
authorized to do business in this Commonwealth.
(viii) Signs are posted at the external entrances to
all areas of the building used for weddings, receptions
and similar social events that state:
(A) The maximum occupancy of the building per
the requirements of the International Building Code
that was part of the Uniform Construction Code at the
time of the inspection.
(B) "This facility is subject to alternative
commercial building and public safety requirements as
provided under the Pennsylvania Construction Code
Act."
(ix) Unless permitted toilet facilities are provided
on the grounds of the building, portable toilet
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30 facilities are provided in accordance with the minimum
number of required toilets for a restaurant or banquet
hall in the International Building Code that was part of
the Uniform Construction Code at the time of inspection.
(x) The building complies with the accessibility
provisions for historic buildings in the International
Code Council's International Existing Building Code
determined by the Accessibility Advisory Board.
(xi) The building complies with the change of use
provisions for historic buildings in the International
Code Council's International Existing Building Code that
was part of the Uniform Construction Code at the time of
inspection.
(xii) The primary function remains on the level of
exit discharge. The occupancy level of the stories in a
multilevel building must be determined by the code
administrator and may not exceed levels as determined by
the International Building Code that was part of the
Uniform Construction Code at the time of inspection.
* * *
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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