County Building Permits
Blair County, PA - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Blair County, Pennsylvania. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Pennsylvania municipalities administer UCC locally or through third-party agencies. Blair County should not be treated as a countywide building permit issuer for ordinary building permits. County-level roles visible in public sources include planning review and county government functions; on-lot sewage administration is handled through participating municipalities and the Blair County Sanitary Administrative Committee structure rather than a general county building department.
- Department
- Blair County does not publish a countywide general building permit department for UCC permits; county roles are limited to county government administration, planning review, and related narrow functions
- Address
- Blair County Courthouse, 423 Allegheny Street, Suite 441A, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
- Phone
- 814-693-3030
- Website
- https://www.blairco.org/
Application Process
- Determine the municipality where the property is located because all land in Blair County lies inside an incorporated municipality.
- Contact that city, borough, or township first for zoning, land use, floodplain, driveway, or local review requirements.
- If the municipality has opted in, file through the municipal office or its designated third-party agency; if it has opted out, file with the state or authorized third-party path applicable to that municipality.
- Use county offices only for county-level functions such as planning review, county records, or other narrow county authorities shown on county pages.
General Requirements
Countywide UCC permit requirements are controlled by the municipality or municipal third-party agency, not by Blair County as a county government
Required Documents
- Varies by municipality and agency
- Permit validity
- Municipal or agency rules apply
- Building code
- Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code; PA L&I states the 2021 ICC based triennial update is effective January 1, 2026
- Owner-builder
- Municipal or agency rules apply
- Contractor requirements
- Pennsylvania HICPA registration applies to home improvement contractors doing more than $5,000 of annual business in Pennsylvania
Fees
- Payment note
- Pay the municipality or designated inspection agency, not Blair County, for ordinary UCC permits
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- State UCC exemptions commonly used by municipalities include fences not over 6 feet high, retaining walls not over 4 feet unless supporting surcharge, certain low sidewalks and driveways, prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep, certain playground equipment, and similar listed items in 34 Pa. Code Chapter 403
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Through the municipality or its designated agency (other)
- Inspection hours
- Varies by municipality or agency
Typical inspection sequence: Local zoning or land use review first where applicable, then UCC permit issuance, then phase inspections and final approval
Determined by the municipality or its designated agency
Additional Resources
- Building code: Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code; PA L&I states the 2021 ICC based triennial update is effective January 1, 2026
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Reference
- Reference
- Reference
- License lookup guide: Pennsylvania Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Pennsylvania Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Pennsylvania hub: Pennsylvania Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Blair County does not publish a countywide general building permit department for UCC permits; county roles are limited to county government administration, planning review, and related narrow functions before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Blair County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Blair County, PA?
- Countywide UCC permit requirements are controlled by the municipality or municipal third-party agency, not by Blair County as a county government
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Blair County, PA?
- 1. Determine the municipality where the property is located because all land in Blair County lies inside an incorporated municipality. 2. Contact that city, borough, or township first for zoning, land use, floodplain, driveway, or local review requirements. 3. If the municipality has opted in, file through the municipal office or its designated third-party agency; if it has opted out, file with the state or authorized third-party path applicable to that municipality. 4. Use county offices only for county-level functions such as planning review, county records, or other narrow county authorities shown on county pages.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Blair County, PA?
- The following work is generally exempt: ; State UCC exemptions commonly used by municipalities include fences not over 6 feet high, retaining walls not over 4 feet unless supporting surcharge, certain low sidewalks and driveways, prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep, certain playground equipment, and similar listed items in 34 Pa. Code Chapter 403.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Blair County, PA?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Through the municipality or its designated agency.
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