Emporium Borough, PA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

All properties within Emporium Borough. Pennsylvania L&I lists Emporium Borough as an opt-in municipality. Jones Township handles UCC building permits, but Emporium Borough handles its own zoning instead of Cameron County.

Department

Jones Township Building Code Department for UCC building permits; Emporium Borough Manager and Zoning Officer for zoning

Address

Jones Township Building Code Department, PO Box 25, 320 Faries St, Wilcox, PA 15870

Phone

814-929-5138 or 814-781-3663

Email

russ.braun@outlook.com

Website

https://jonestownship.com/cameron-county-building-codes/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Obtain sewage or sewer approval first if the project involves a dwelling or other use needing sewage approval.
2. Obtain zoning approval from Emporium Borough rather than Cameron County.
3. Prepare the Jones Township building permit package with plans, plot plan, borough zoning approval, sewage or sewer approval, and any other required outside permits.
4. Submit the UCC application and plan review fee to Jones Township.
5. Pay the remaining permit fee after review and permit calculation.
6. Schedule inspections and keep the permit placard and approved plans on site until final completion.

Typical processing time: State UCC regulations require action on a complete permit application within 30 business days unless extended by agreement; no separate Emporium-specific posted turnaround was found.

Source: Jones Township Building Code Department for UCC building permits; Emporium Borough Manager and Zoning Officer for zoning

General Requirements

Borough zoning approval is required for regulated work in Emporium, and Jones Township states sewage, zoning, and UCC permits generally must be obtained in that order for new construction and other regulated work.

Required Documents

• Building permit application
• Plot plan
• Drawings
• Borough zoning permit
• Sewage or sewer approval
• Workers compensation evidence where applicable
• Stormwater, road occupancy, or assessment approvals triggered by the project

Permit validity

Pennsylvania UCC 180 day start and inactivity rules apply to the building permit side; no separate borough zoning expiration rule was clearly posted on the reviewed borough pages.

Building code

Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code for building permits; Emporium Borough also has its own zoning ordinance.

Owner-builder

No Emporium-specific owner-builder rule was clearly posted beyond the owner or agent certifications in the application forms.

Contractor requirements

Pennsylvania HICPA registration applies where required; workers compensation documentation is required where applicable.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$150.00 to $200.00 (conflicting public materials); Emporium zoning minimum fee not clearly posted

Plan check fee

Residential new dwellings $100.00; residential additions and detached buildings under 1000 square feet $50.00; nonresidential base plan review fee $500.00

Permit fee formula

Same Jones building fee structure described above; Emporium zoning fees were not clearly published in a current machine-readable fee schedule.

Reinspection fee

$75.00 for each additional inspection

Penalty (no permit)

$100.00 to $250.00 for residential work started before permit issuance and $250.00 for nonresidential work

Payment note

Jones plan review fees are nonrefundable; Emporium borough payment processing details were not clearly posted on the reviewed forms page.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Fences not over 6 feet high
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet unless supporting surcharge
• Water tanks on grade up to 5,000 gallons
• Sidewalks and driveways not over basements
• Shallow prefabricated pools
• Playground equipment
• Certain window awnings
• Certain low decks

Important: Pennsylvania UCC residential exemptions still apply on the building code side, but borough zoning may still require approval.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• 814-929-5138 or 814-594-6194 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

48 hours notice required.

Time windows

Only footer inspections receive a specific appointment time.

Typical inspection sequence: Footer, foundation, framing with rough trades, energy, wallboard if required, sanitary approval, then final inspection and certificate of occupancy where applicable.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code for building permits; Emporium Borough also has its own zoning ordinance.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Emporium Borough Main
• Inspection Requirements
• License lookup guide: Pennsylvania Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Pennsylvania Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Pennsylvania hub: Pennsylvania Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Emporium Borough Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in Emporium Borough, PA?

Borough zoning approval is required for regulated work in Emporium, and Jones Township states sewage, zoning, and UCC permits generally must be obtained in that order for new construction and other regulated work.

How much does a building permit cost in Emporium Borough, PA?

The minimum permit fee is $150.00 to $200.00 (conflicting public materials); Emporium zoning minimum fee not clearly posted. Fees are calculated as: Same Jones building fee structure described above; Emporium zoning fees were not clearly published in a current machine-readable fee schedule.. Plan check fee: Residential new dwellings $100.00; residential additions and detached buildings under 1000 square feet $50.00; nonresidential base plan review fee $500.00.

How do I apply for a building permit in Emporium Borough, PA?

1. Obtain sewage or sewer approval first if the project involves a dwelling or other use needing sewage approval. 2. Obtain zoning approval from Emporium Borough rather than Cameron County. 3. Prepare the Jones Township building permit package with plans, plot plan, borough zoning approval, sewage or sewer approval, and any other required outside permits. 4. Submit the UCC application and plan review fee to Jones Township. 5. Pay the remaining permit fee after review and permit calculation. 6. Schedule inspections and keep the permit placard and approved plans on site until final completion.

How long does it take to get a building permit in Emporium Borough, PA?

Typical processing time is State UCC regulations require action on a complete permit application within 30 business days unless extended by agreement; no separate Emporium-specific posted turnaround was found..

What work is exempt from building permits in Emporium Borough, PA?

The following work is generally exempt: Fences not over 6 feet high; Retaining walls not over 4 feet unless supporting surcharge; Water tanks on grade up to 5,000 gallons; Sidewalks and driveways not over basements; Shallow prefabricated pools; Playground equipment; Certain window awnings; Certain low decks. Note: Pennsylvania UCC residential exemptions still apply on the building code side, but borough zoning may still require approval.

How do I schedule a building inspection in Emporium Borough, PA?

Inspections can be scheduled via: 814-929-5138 or 814-594-6194. 48 hours notice required..

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