County Building Permits
Clinton County, PA - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Clinton County, Pennsylvania. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
The county zoning ordinance directly covers Colebrook Township, Gallagher Township, Grugan Township, Logan Township, Noyes Township, and West Keating Township. The county page expressly says a zoning permit is not a building permit and says UCC building permits are handled by the municipality's appointed building code official. No countywide UCC permit authority was found for ordinary building permits.
- Department
- Clinton County Planning, Zoning, Grants for county zoning only in certain townships; no countywide general building permit department was found
- Address
- Clinton County Planning, 2 Piper Way, Suite 244, Lock Haven, PA 17745
- Phone
- 570-893-4080
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Granicus county web page with appointment booking link • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Determine whether the parcel is in one of the six municipalities covered by county zoning.
- Schedule an appointment with Clinton County Planning or contact the office by phone or email.
- Bring the property owner mailing address and phone, property address and parcel number, approximate cost, completion date, project description, and a sketch showing dimensions, setbacks, access, and existing and proposed improvements.
- Planning reviews zoning compliance and flags outside approvals that may also be needed, such as sewage, floodplain, PennDOT or local road permits, or conservation district approvals.
- If the property also needs a UCC building permit, file separately with the municipality's appointed building code official or, for opt-out municipalities, with the state or a certified third-party agency as applicable.
Typical processing time: The county page says many zoning permits can be issued on the day of submission
General Requirements
A county zoning permit is required for regulated improvements in the six county-zoned municipalities; it is separate from any UCC building permit
Required Documents
- Appointment-ready application
- sketch or site plan
- ownership and parcel information
- estimated construction cost
- estimated completion date
- and supporting outside approvals when triggered
- Permit validity
- No countywide zoning permit expiration rule was clearly posted on the reviewed page
- Building code
- Building code enforcement is not countywide; UCC enforcement depends on the municipality's status under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code
- Owner-builder
- No separate county owner-builder rule was posted
- Contractor requirements
- Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act registration applies to home improvement contractors performing more than $5,000 of home improvement work
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Renovation or addition zoning permit $35.00; new construction zoning permit $75.00
- Plan check fee
- No separate county zoning plan check fee was listed
- Permit fee formula
- Flat zoning fees by permit type; sign and hearing fees are separate
- Reinspection fee
- No countywide zoning reinspection fee was publicly listed on the reviewed page
- Penalty (no permit)
- No countywide zoning reinspection fee was publicly listed on the reviewed page
- Payment note
- The county page did not publish online payment instructions for zoning permits
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- No countywide exempt-work list for building permits exists because the county is not the ordinary UCC permit authority
- The reviewed county zoning page did not publish a standalone zoning exemption list
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Through Clinton County Planning for zoning questions; UCC inspections are handled by the municipality's building code official (other)
- Inspection hours
- Appointment scheduling is encouraged; walk-ins may not be processed immediately
Typical inspection sequence: County zoning review first where applicable, then separate UCC permitting and inspections through the municipal or state pathway
Additional Resources
- Building code: Building code enforcement is not countywide; UCC enforcement depends on the municipality's status under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Resource
- Resource
- 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 Clinton County Planning, Zoning, Grants for county zoning only in certain townships; no countywide general building permit department was found before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clinton County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Clinton County, PA?
- A county zoning permit is required for regulated improvements in the six county-zoned municipalities; it is separate from any UCC building permit
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Clinton County, PA?
- The minimum permit fee is Renovation or addition zoning permit $35.00; new construction zoning permit $75.00. Fees are calculated as: Flat zoning fees by permit type; sign and hearing fees are separate. Plan check fee: No separate county zoning plan check fee was listed.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Clinton County, PA?
- 1. Determine whether the parcel is in one of the six municipalities covered by county zoning. 2. Schedule an appointment with Clinton County Planning or contact the office by phone or email. 3. Bring the property owner mailing address and phone, property address and parcel number, approximate cost, completion date, project description, and a sketch showing dimensions, setbacks, access, and existing and proposed improvements. 4. Planning reviews zoning compliance and flags outside approvals that may also be needed, such as sewage, floodplain, PennDOT or local road permits, or conservation district approvals. 5. If the property also needs a UCC building permit, file separately with the municipality's appointed building code official or, for opt-out municipalities, with the state or a certified third-party agency as applicable.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Clinton County, PA?
- Typical processing time is The county page says many zoning permits can be issued on the day of submission.
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Clinton County, PA?
- The following work is generally exempt: No countywide exempt-work list for building permits exists because the county is not the ordinary UCC permit authority; The reviewed county zoning page did not publish a standalone zoning exemption list.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Clinton County, PA?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Through Clinton County Planning for zoning questions; UCC inspections are handled by the municipality's building code official.
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