Franklin County, PA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Franklin County does not appear to run a countywide building permit program. All land in Pennsylvania is inside a municipality, and Franklin County public sources support municipal land use and UCC enforcement rather than a separate county building department for general permits.

Department

Franklin County Planning Department for county planning functions; no countywide general building permit department found

Address

Franklin County Administration Building, 272 North Second Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201

Phone

717-261-3855

Email

planning@franklincountypa.gov

Website

https://www.franklincountypa.gov/government/planning/

Application Process

1. Identify the applicable borough or township because Franklin County is not the general building permit authority.
2. Obtain any required municipal zoning, floodplain, driveway, septic, subdivision, or land development approvals.
3. If the work is UCC regulated, apply through the municipality's designated code office or third party agency.
4. Complete inspections through the municipal or third party code official and obtain final approval if required.

Typical processing time: No countywide estimate posted because the county is not the general building permit authority

Source: Franklin County Planning Department for county planning functions; no countywide general building permit department found

General Requirements

County sources do not establish an independent county building permit trigger; applicants must use the municipality with jurisdiction

Permit validity

Varies by municipality and UCC agency; Pennsylvania UCC default invalidation occurs if work does not begin within 180 days or is suspended or abandoned for 180 days, and permits may not remain valid more than 5 years

Building code

Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, as adopted and updated by the Commonwealth

Owner-builder

Varies by municipality and UCC agency

Contractor requirements

Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act registration applies to covered home improvement contractors performing over $5,000 of home improvement work per year

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Franklin County Planning Department for county planning functions; no countywide general building permit department found to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Inspection hours

Varies by municipality and code agency

Typical inspection sequence: Foundation, building systems, framing, wallboard, and final inspection under the Pennsylvania UCC unless exempt

Additional Resources

• Building code: Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, as adopted and updated by the Commonwealth
• License lookup guide: Pennsylvania Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Pennsylvania Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Pennsylvania hub: Pennsylvania Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Franklin County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Franklin County, PA?

County sources do not establish an independent county building permit trigger; applicants must use the municipality with jurisdiction

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Franklin County, PA?

1. Identify the applicable borough or township because Franklin County is not the general building permit authority. 2. Obtain any required municipal zoning, floodplain, driveway, septic, subdivision, or land development approvals. 3. If the work is UCC regulated, apply through the municipality's designated code office or third party agency. 4. Complete inspections through the municipal or third party code official and obtain final approval if required.

How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Franklin County, PA?

Typical processing time is No countywide estimate posted because the county is not the general building permit authority.