Municipality of Penn Hills, PA — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Municipality of Penn Hills Municipal Code Enforcement Department

Street address

Penn Hills Municipal Building, 102 Duff Road, Penn Hills, PA 15235

Phone

412-342-1086

Not publicly listed in plain text on the reviewed page

Coverage

Code Enforcement handles building, grading, zoning, occupancy permits, contract-work inspections, and new construction inspections in Penn Hills.

Online portal

Municipal Website

Municipal website form and PDF portal

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Municipality of Penn Hills

Penn Hills states permits, inspections, and a certificate of occupancy are required for new homes, additions, manufactured or modular homes, certain detached garages or sheds, enclosed porches, sunrooms, decks over 30 inches, covered low decks, hot tubs and spas, pools over 24 inches deep, retaining walls over 4 feet, many roof changes, and other listed residential work.

Scope of work

Permit?

Attached garages, porches, or patios under 120 square feet may not require a permit

Exempt

Detached one-family dwelling sheds or garages under 1,000 square feet and under $2,000 fair market value

Exempt

Retaining walls 4 feet or less from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall

Exempt

Roofing limited to replacing shingles only, with no sheathing or decking replacement and no structural alterations

Exempt

Exempt Attached garages, porches, or patios under 120 square feet may not require a permit
Exempt Detached one-family dwelling sheds or garages under 1,000 square feet and under $2,000 fair market value
Exempt Retaining walls 4 feet or less from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall
Exempt Roofing limited to replacing shingles only, with no sheathing or decking replacement and no structural alterations

Required documents

Permit application
One digital PDF copy and one hard copy for plan review when submitted by architects, engineers, or contractors
Occupancy permit materials where applicable

Building code: Pennsylvania UCC enforced locally through the Municipality.
Contractor requirements: Applicable Pennsylvania contractor registration and trade-license rules apply; Penn Hills plan-review submittals expressly reference architects, engineers, and contractors.

Source: Municipality of Penn Hills Municipal Code Enforcement Department ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Not publicly posted on the reviewed pages.

01

Determine permit need using the required residential permits sheet or by contacting Code Enforcement.
02

Assemble one digital PDF copy plus one hard copy for architect, engineer, or contractor plan-review submittals.
03

Submit the permit package to the Code Enforcement Office at 102 Duff Road.
04

Pay permit fees based on the current schedule and respond to any review comments.
05

Complete inspections and secure the required certificate of occupancy before use where applicable.

Typical processing time: Not publicly posted on the reviewed pages.

Source: Municipality of Penn Hills Municipal Code Enforcement Department ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Effective 2022

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

Fee schedule governs; the reviewed permit-requirements sheet points applicants to the current fee schedule but does not restate the minimum in the public HTML

Plan check fee

See current fee schedule

Permit fee formula

Mixed schedule by permit type and valuation according to the revised 2022 fee schedule

Reinspection fee

See current fee schedule

Not clearly posted on the reviewed pages.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective 2022) before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Code Enforcement Office (phone)

Inspection hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Typical sequence: Plan review, permit issuance, required construction inspections, then certificate of occupancy where the work requires one.

Source: Municipality of Penn Hills Municipal Code Enforcement Department ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Municipality of Penn Hills permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Municipality of Penn Hills, PA? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in Municipality of Penn Hills, PA? ▸

Building permit fees in Municipality of Penn Hills, PA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is Fee schedule governs; the reviewed permit-requirements sheet points applicants to the current fee schedule but does not restate the minimum in the public HTML. Fees are calculated as: Mixed schedule by permit type and valuation according to the revised 2022 fee schedule. Plan check fee: See current fee schedule.

03 How do I apply for a building permit in Municipality of Penn Hills, PA? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Municipality of Penn Hills, PA, follow these steps: 1. Determine permit need using the required residential permits sheet or by contacting Code Enforcement. 2. Assemble one digital PDF copy plus one hard copy for architect, engineer, or contractor plan-review submittals. 3. Submit the permit package to the Code Enforcement Office at 102 Duff Road. 4. Pay permit fees based on the current schedule and respond to any review comments. 5. Complete inspections and secure the required certificate of occupancy before use where applicable.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Municipality of Penn Hills, PA? ▸

Building permit processing times in Municipality of Penn Hills, PA typically run Not publicly posted on the reviewed pages.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in Municipality of Penn Hills, PA? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in Municipality of Penn Hills, PA. The following work is generally exempt: Attached garages, porches, or patios under 120 square feet may not require a permit; Detached one-family dwelling sheds or garages under 1,000 square feet and under $2,000 fair market value; Retaining walls 4 feet or less from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall; Roofing limited to replacing shingles only, with no sheathing or decking replacement and no structural alterations. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Municipality of Penn Hills, PA? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Municipality of Penn Hills, PA via: Code Enforcement Office.

last verified April 2026 source Municipality of Penn Hills Municipal Code Enforcement Department ↗ entry id permits/pennsylvania/allegheny/penn-hills

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Municipality of Penn Hills Municipal Code Enforcement Department before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Municipality of Penn Hills

Other jurisdictions in Allegheny County.