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§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Tionesta Township
Regulated UCC construction requires township review, and county prior approval applies to new impervious surface under the Forest County stormwater ordinance.
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
- Exempt Fences no more than 6 feet high
- Exempt Retaining walls no more than 4 feet unless supporting surcharge
- Exempt Certain water tanks on grade up to 5,000 gallons
- Exempt Sidewalks and driveways not over a basement
- Exempt Shallow prefabricated pools
- Exempt Playground equipment
- Exempt Some window awnings
- Exempt Low uncovered decks
- Exempt Communications wiring
Note: County stormwater, sewage, floodplain, and access approvals may still apply even where UCC work is exempt.
Required documents
- Shared county permit form
- Sketch or site plan
- Sewage approvals if applicable
- Highway permit if applicable
- Workers compensation form
- Any additional documents requested by the township or Bureau Veritas
- Building code
- Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code; Tionesta Township is OPT-IN with amendments.
- Permit validity
- State UCC 180-day start and inactivity rule plus 5-year maximum validity apply.
- Owner-builder
- No special Tionesta Township owner-builder rule was found beyond the standard owner or agent filing structure and countywide workers compensation/cabin affidavit forms.
- Contractor requirements
- Pennsylvania HICPA registration applies where required.
§ 03
Application process
Typical processing: State UCC deadlines are 15 business days for residential and 30 business days for commercial permits unless extended.
- 01 Contact Jeff Elder or the township office to confirm whether the project needs township permit review and what supporting approvals apply.
- 02 Prepare the shared Forest County permit application, sketch or site plan, and any sewage, floodplain, highway, workers compensation, or cabin-affidavit materials required for the project.
- 03 Submit the county stormwater portion and fee to Forest County Conservation District and Planning.
- 04 After county signoff, Tionesta Township completes local permit processing with Jeff Elder and Bureau Veritas.
- 05 Coordinate any required UCC inspections with the township's posted permit contacts.
- 06 Notify the issuing officer upon completion for final closeout.
Typical processing time: State UCC deadlines are 15 business days for residential and 30 business days for commercial permits unless extended.
§ 04
Fee schedule
Tionesta Township building permit fees
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
$25.00
02
Plan check fee
$300.00
03
Permit fee formula
County stormwater is flat by impervious area; township/UCC fee formula was not clearly posted.
County plan approvals require payment first.
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- 814-282-1852 (phone)
- 814-849-2448 (Bureau Veritas) (phone)
Typical sequence: Required inspections occur as directed under the UCC.
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about Tionesta Township permits
01 Do I need a building permit in Tionesta Township, PA? ▸
Regulated UCC construction requires township review, and county prior approval applies to new impervious surface under the Forest County stormwater ordinance.
02 How much does a building permit cost in Tionesta Township, PA? ▸
Building permit fees in Tionesta Township, PA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $25.00. Fees are calculated as: County stormwater is flat by impervious area; township/UCC fee formula was not clearly posted.. Plan check fee: $300.00.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Tionesta Township, PA? ▸
To apply for a building permit in Tionesta Township, PA, follow these steps: 1. Contact Jeff Elder or the township office to confirm whether the project needs township permit review and what supporting approvals apply. 2. Prepare the shared Forest County permit application, sketch or site plan, and any sewage, floodplain, highway, workers compensation, or cabin-affidavit materials required for the project. 3. Submit the county stormwater portion and fee to Forest County Conservation District and Planning. 4. After county signoff, Tionesta Township completes local permit processing with Jeff Elder and Bureau Veritas. 5. Coordinate any required UCC inspections with the township's posted permit contacts. 6. Notify the issuing officer upon completion for final closeout.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Tionesta Township, PA? ▸
Building permit processing times in Tionesta Township, PA typically run State UCC deadlines are 15 business days for residential and 30 business days for commercial permits unless extended.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in Tionesta Township, PA? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in Tionesta 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: County stormwater, sewage, floodplain, and access approvals may still apply even where UCC work is exempt. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Tionesta Township, PA? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Tionesta Township, PA via: 814-282-1852, 814-849-2448 (Bureau Veritas).
last verified April 2026
source Building Permit Officer, Tionesta Township; Bureau Veritas for UCC inspection support; Forest County Conservation District and Planning for county stormwater prior approval ↗
entry id permits/pennsylvania/forest/tionesta-township
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Building Permit Officer, Tionesta Township; Bureau Veritas for UCC inspection support; Forest County Conservation District and Planning for county stormwater prior approval before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.