The Building Act 1984 is the primary legislation. Its stated purpose is to “secure the health, safety, welfare and convenience of persons in or about buildings and of others who may be affected by buildings or matters connected with buildings”.
The Acts provides fallback timings for payment terms, notices, and adjudication timelines in situations where the parties have not agreed on specific terms within their contract. These fallback timings are designed to ensure that payments are made in a timely manner and that disputes are resolved quickly.
A rule of construction helps courts to decide what to consider when interpreting language in a contract. The parol evidence rule does not allow introduction of evidence from outside the contract, with certain exceptions.
The area of construction law deals with matters such as infrastructure, housing, planning permissions and construction and engineering. The key to understanding construction law is that it has two main categories: non-contentious and contentious.
A Rule of Construction is a guideline used in contract law to interpret the terms of a contract. These rules help clarify the intent of the parties involved, especially when the contract language is ambiguous or unclear.
There is no single established definition of an independent contractor in Pennsylvania common law. Instead, a variety of tests exists to determine whether a worker is an independent contractor for the purposes of: common law; ▪ unemployment insurance; ▪ workers' compensation; and ▪ wage and hour laws.
Pennsylvania's statewide building code, generally known as the Uniform Construction Code (UCC), has to be followed by builders in the state.
Offer and Acceptance: One party must make an offer, and the other must accept it. Mutual Consent: Both parties agree to the terms without coercion. Contract law often refers to this condition as a "meeting of the minds." Competence: The parties must have the legal capacity to agree.
The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) regulates the codes and standards of building projects in the Commonwealth. The UCC has been enforced since April 2004 across Pennsylvania.
There are no statewide Pennsylvania general contractor license or certification requirements. However, any contractor who performs at least $5,000 worth of home improvements per year must register with the Attorney General's office.