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When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Bern Township
Township packet covers zoning/building permits for new buildings, additions, renovations, repairs, demolition, signs, decks/patios, swimming pools, accessory structures, fences, and other work. Stormwater application and fee are required for all projects except fences.
Note: No Bern-specific public exemption handout was located in the reviewed township sources. Because Bern uses the Pennsylvania UCC, applicants should confirm any claimed exemptions directly with the township or LTL before work starts.
- Completed application
- $80 application fee
- Residential 2 plan sets or commercial 3 plan sets
- Plot plan
- Utility and sewage approvals
- PennDOT permit if applicable
- Water authority approval if applicable
- Stormwater approval if creating more than 1,000 square feet of impervious area
- Erosion and sediment control approval if applicable
- DEP asbestos forms for commercial demolition/renovation
- Building code
- Pennsylvania Act 45 of 1999, Uniform Construction Code, plus township zoning and related ordinances
- Permit validity
- Building and zoning permits are valid for 1 year from issue. Construction must start within 180 days. Permits may be extended once by application and extension fee paid before expiration.
- Owner-builder
- Application is signed by owner/applicant and includes owner responsibility statements.
- Contractor requirements
- Application requires principal contractor information and PA contractor registration number.
Application process
Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final
- 01 Use the Bern Township permit packet and complete the zoning/building permit application.
- 02 Submit the $80 application fee with the application.
- 03 Provide a plot plan showing all structures and distances to property lines, plus septic, well, and easement information where applicable.
- 04 For residential building permits, also provide 2 copies of the building plans and any applicable sewer, on-lot septic, PennDOT, water authority, stormwater, and conservation district approvals.
- 05 For commercial permits, provide 3 copies of signed and sealed building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical plans plus any land development, utility, DEP, or stormwater materials triggered by the project.
- 06 Sign the permit terms and conditions and wait for township/LTL review before beginning work.
Source: Bern Township; LTL Consultants, Ltd. handles building code review and inspections ↗
Fee schedule
Effective 2024
Application fee must accompany the application. Checks are payable to the township per the permit packet checklist.
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective 2024) before budgeting.
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
- (610) 926-2267 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Typical sequence: Not published in one public Bern checklist reviewed. UCC sequencing should be confirmed at permit issuance.
Frequently asked
Common questions about Bern Township permits
01 Do I need a building permit in Bern Township, PA? ▸
02 How much does a building permit cost in Bern Township, PA? ▸
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Bern Township, PA? ▸
04 How do I schedule a building inspection in Bern Township, PA? ▸
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Bern Township; LTL Consultants, Ltd. handles building code review and inspections before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.