Building Permits
GILPIN TOWNSHIP ENFORCES THE PA UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODES. ZONING AND BUILDING PERMITS ARE REQUIRED.
Check here for zoning permit requirements.
Check here for zoning permit requirements.
Uniform Construction Code Building Applications
Uniform Construction Code Building Applications from Middle Department Inspection Agency are available HERE and must be filed in three copies with the Township Code Enforcement Officer with all necessary attachments and documentation. Please contact MDIA for more information.
Effective January 1, 2025, MDIA will no longer administer building codes. Gilpin Township intends to join the Armstrong County UCC Group, which currently contracts Bureau Veritas. This change is preliminary set to take effect in January 2025.
Effective January 1, 2025, MDIA will no longer administer building codes. Gilpin Township intends to join the Armstrong County UCC Group, which currently contracts Bureau Veritas. This change is preliminary set to take effect in January 2025.
When do you need a UCC Building Permit?
A UCC Building Permit is required if you intend to construct, enlarge, convert, move, demolish or change the occupancy of any residential building or accessory structure regulated by the Uniform Construction Code. This includes:
THE FOLLOWING WORK DOES NOT REQUIRE A UCC BUILDING PERMIT:
1. Fully detached accessory buildings to single-family dwellings less than 1,000 square feet.
2. Agricultural Buildings. Agricultural buildings are defined under Section 7210.103 of the PA UCC as; "A structure utilized to store farm implements, hay, feed, grain or other agricultural or horticultural products or to house poultry, livestock or other farm animals, a milk house and a structure used to grow mushrooms. The term includes a carriage house owned and used by members of a recognized religious sect for the purposes of housing horses and storing buggies. The term shall not include habitable space or spaces in which agricultural products are processed, treated or packaged and shall not be construed to mean a place of occupancy by the general public.” Horse barns for private use are considered agricultural, horse barns for commercial stables and equestrian training facilities are not considered agricultural.
3. Manufactured and industrialized housing (mobile homes and modular homes). The UCC only exempts the work done at the factory. All work performed on-site must be inspected and be code compliant. Therefore, although the housing itself does not need a permit, installation of the housing unit does.
4. Installation of tubing, piping, propane gas burning appliances, equipment or fixtures related to liquefied petroleum gas under the Propane and Liquefied Petroleum Gas Act (35 P. S. §§ 1329.1-1329.19).
5. Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress. Under this subsection, a structural change does not include a minor framing change needed to replace existing windows or doors.
6. Ordinary repairs to residential buildings. Roof replacement is not an ordinary repair. A new roof requires a permit.
7. Installation of aluminum or vinyl siding onto an existing residential or an existing commercial building.
8. A recreational cabin if the following conditions are met:
a. Erected for the purpose of participation in a fair, flea market, arts and crafts festival or other public celebration.
b. Less than 1,600 square feet in size.
c. Erected for a period of less than 30 days.
d. Not a swimming pool, spa or hot tub.
10. Fences that are not over 6 feet in height.
11. Retaining walls, which are not over 4 feet in height measured from the lowest level of grade to the top of the wall, unless it is supporting a surcharge.
12. Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finishing work.
13. Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy which are less than 24 inches deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons, and are installed entirely above ground.
14. Swings and other playground equipment accessory to one- or two-family dwellings.
15. Window awnings supported by an exterior wall which do not project more than 54 inches from the exterior wall and do not require additional support of group R-3 as applicable in the "International Building Code," and Group U occupancies.
16. Window replacement without structural change.
17. Maintenance of, and simple repairs to; electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems. If you intend to alter, or add to any of these systems, or you are replacing an entire system, contact the Building Code Official.
18. Installation of an uncovered deck where the floor of the deck is no more than 30 inches above grade, provided construction of the deck does not alter the means of egress.
A UCC Building Permit is required if you intend to construct, enlarge, convert, move, demolish or change the occupancy of any residential building or accessory structure regulated by the Uniform Construction Code. This includes:
- Any work on Commercial (Businesses or Industrial) structures & Multi-Family (3 or more) units
- All new construction
- Any addition containing living space
- Attached garages (including those attached by a breezeway)
- Any deck or ramp with a floor over 30” from the ground at any point
- Any roof addition or replacement/repair of framing when attached to the house
- Detached residential accessory structures over 1000 square feet. (some Agricultural buildings may be exempt, call for guidelines and an exemption form)
- Most residential renovations, interior and exterior.
- All in-ground swimming pools or above-ground pools that have more than 24” of water AND are permanent
- Any fence more than 6’ in height or any masonry or retaining wall more than 4’ in height
THE FOLLOWING WORK DOES NOT REQUIRE A UCC BUILDING PERMIT:
1. Fully detached accessory buildings to single-family dwellings less than 1,000 square feet.
2. Agricultural Buildings. Agricultural buildings are defined under Section 7210.103 of the PA UCC as; "A structure utilized to store farm implements, hay, feed, grain or other agricultural or horticultural products or to house poultry, livestock or other farm animals, a milk house and a structure used to grow mushrooms. The term includes a carriage house owned and used by members of a recognized religious sect for the purposes of housing horses and storing buggies. The term shall not include habitable space or spaces in which agricultural products are processed, treated or packaged and shall not be construed to mean a place of occupancy by the general public.” Horse barns for private use are considered agricultural, horse barns for commercial stables and equestrian training facilities are not considered agricultural.
3. Manufactured and industrialized housing (mobile homes and modular homes). The UCC only exempts the work done at the factory. All work performed on-site must be inspected and be code compliant. Therefore, although the housing itself does not need a permit, installation of the housing unit does.
4. Installation of tubing, piping, propane gas burning appliances, equipment or fixtures related to liquefied petroleum gas under the Propane and Liquefied Petroleum Gas Act (35 P. S. §§ 1329.1-1329.19).
5. Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress. Under this subsection, a structural change does not include a minor framing change needed to replace existing windows or doors.
6. Ordinary repairs to residential buildings. Roof replacement is not an ordinary repair. A new roof requires a permit.
7. Installation of aluminum or vinyl siding onto an existing residential or an existing commercial building.
8. A recreational cabin if the following conditions are met:
- The cabin is equipped with at least one smoke detector, one fire extinguisher and one carbon monoxide detector in both the kitchen and sleeping quarters.
- The owner of the cabin files one of the following with the Code Enforcement Officer:
· L&I Department form UCC-13 attesting to the fact that the building meets the definition of a recreational cabin.
· A valid proof of insurance for the recreational cabin, written and issued by an insurer authorized to do business in this Commonwealth, stating that the structure meets the definition of a "recreational cabin."
a. Erected for the purpose of participation in a fair, flea market, arts and crafts festival or other public celebration.
b. Less than 1,600 square feet in size.
c. Erected for a period of less than 30 days.
d. Not a swimming pool, spa or hot tub.
10. Fences that are not over 6 feet in height.
11. Retaining walls, which are not over 4 feet in height measured from the lowest level of grade to the top of the wall, unless it is supporting a surcharge.
12. Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finishing work.
13. Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy which are less than 24 inches deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons, and are installed entirely above ground.
14. Swings and other playground equipment accessory to one- or two-family dwellings.
15. Window awnings supported by an exterior wall which do not project more than 54 inches from the exterior wall and do not require additional support of group R-3 as applicable in the "International Building Code," and Group U occupancies.
16. Window replacement without structural change.
17. Maintenance of, and simple repairs to; electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems. If you intend to alter, or add to any of these systems, or you are replacing an entire system, contact the Building Code Official.
18. Installation of an uncovered deck where the floor of the deck is no more than 30 inches above grade, provided construction of the deck does not alter the means of egress.
Flood Plain Building & Development
Are you building in a FEMA Designated Flood Plain? You are required by the Gilpin Township Flood Plain Ordinance required and created pursuant to the PA Flood Plain Management Act, as amended to apply for a permit with the Flood Plain Administrator of Gilpin Township. In Gilpin Township, the Administrator is the Code Enforcement Officer.
Flood Plain Admin.
John Fontaine
724-596-0599
code@gilpintwp.com
John Fontaine
724-596-0599
code@gilpintwp.com
