City Building Permits
Barnett Township, PA - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Barnett Township, Pennsylvania. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Barnett Township is an OPT-IN municipality with pre-July 1, 1999 amendments. The township handles UCC enforcement locally, but Forest County stormwater prior approval is required before the township completes the building permit process.
- Department
- Building Permit Officer, Barnett Township; Forest County Conservation District and Planning for county stormwater prior approval
- Address
- Barnett Township, 2301 Belltown Rd, Clarington, PA 15828; Forest County Courthouse, 526 Elm Street, Box 3, Tionesta, PA 16353
- Phone
- 814-752-6231
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Revize county page with shared Forest County Municipal Permit/Prior Approval Application workflow • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Contact the township Building Permit Officer to confirm whether the project needs a township permit, sewage approval, floodplain review, or PennDOT highway occupancy approval.
- Submit the Forest County Municipal Permit/Prior Approval Application and required sketch to the Forest County Conservation District and Planning Office with the county stormwater fee.
- Include any required sewage permit, workers compensation form, and recreational cabin affidavit if applicable to the project.
- After county stormwater approval, the county forwards the permit to Barnett Township to complete the local building permit process.
- The township Building Permit Officer or its inspection agency reviews the package and issues the permit when local approval is complete.
- Keep the permit on site and notify the issuing officer when the project is complete so required inspections can be closed out.
Typical processing time: Pennsylvania UCC rules require action within 15 business days for residential permits and 30 business days for commercial permits unless extended by agreement.
General Requirements
Any new construction that creates new impervious surface requires the county prior-approval permit, and Barnett Township then completes the local building permit process for regulated UCC work.
Required Documents
- Forest County Municipal Permit/Prior Approval Application
- Project sketch with distances to property lines and roads
- Sewage approval if applicable
- Highway permit if applicable
- Workers compensation form when applicable
- Cabin affidavit if the structure is a recreational cabin
- Permit validity
- A permit becomes invalid if work does not begin within 180 days or is suspended or abandoned for 180 days; a permit may not remain valid for more than 5 years from issuance.
- Building code
- Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code. Barnett Township is OPT-IN with amendments; the statewide triennial update took effect January 1, 2026.
- Owner-builder
- The state UCC allows the owner or an authorized agent to apply, and the shared county forms include the standard workers compensation owner exemption and recreational cabin affidavit.
- Contractor requirements
- Pennsylvania does not license most contractors at the state level, but home improvement contractors performing work over $5,000 must register under HICPA.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $25.00
- Plan check fee
- $300.00
- Permit fee formula
- County stormwater is flat by impervious area; township building permit fees were not publicly posted in a current fee schedule.
- Payment note
- County stormwater page says no plan will be approved before full payment of fees.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Building Permit Officer, Barnett Township; Forest County Conservation District and Planning for county stormwater prior approval to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 814-752-6231 (phone)
Typical inspection sequence: Under the UCC, footing/foundation, framing or trade inspections, and final inspection are typically required as directed by the code official.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code. Barnett Township is OPT-IN with amendments; the statewide triennial update took effect January 1, 2026.
- PA Department of Labor & Industry - UCC Information
- 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 Building Permit Officer, Barnett Township; Forest County Conservation District and Planning for county stormwater prior approval before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Barnett Township Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Barnett Township, PA?
- Any new construction that creates new impervious surface requires the county prior-approval permit, and Barnett Township then completes the local building permit process for regulated UCC work.
- How much does a building permit cost in Barnett Township, PA?
- The minimum permit fee is $25.00. Fees are calculated as: County stormwater is flat by impervious area; township building permit fees were not publicly posted in a current fee schedule.. Plan check fee: $300.00.
- How do I apply for a building permit in Barnett Township, PA?
- 1. Contact the township Building Permit Officer to confirm whether the project needs a township permit, sewage approval, floodplain review, or PennDOT highway occupancy approval. 2. Submit the Forest County Municipal Permit/Prior Approval Application and required sketch to the Forest County Conservation District and Planning Office with the county stormwater fee. 3. Include any required sewage permit, workers compensation form, and recreational cabin affidavit if applicable to the project. 4. After county stormwater approval, the county forwards the permit to Barnett Township to complete the local building permit process. 5. The township Building Permit Officer or its inspection agency reviews the package and issues the permit when local approval is complete. 6. Keep the permit on site and notify the issuing officer when the project is complete so required inspections can be closed out.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in Barnett Township, PA?
- Typical processing time is Pennsylvania UCC rules require action within 15 business days for residential permits and 30 business days for commercial permits unless extended by agreement..
- What work is exempt from building permits in Barnett Township, PA?
- The following work is generally exempt: Fences no more than 6 feet high; Retaining walls no more than 4 feet unless supporting surcharge; Certain water tanks on grade up to 5,000 gallons; Sidewalks and driveways not over a basement; Shallow prefabricated pools; Playground equipment; Some window awnings; Low uncovered decks; Communications wiring. Note: Even when UCC exemptions apply, county stormwater, sewage, floodplain, driveway, or township zoning/setback controls may still apply.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Barnett Township, PA?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: 814-752-6231.
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