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§ PA Mifflin County
City building permits

Brown Township

How to apply for a building permit in Brown Township, Pennsylvania. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Last verified
April 2026
On this page 6
§ 01

Permit authority

Brown Township (zoning matters); Bureau Veritas North America, Inc. (UCC building permits)

Street address
Bureau Veritas, 75 Reserve Lane, Lewistown, PA 17044
Phone
Brown Township: 717-667-2531; Bureau Veritas: 717-242-0992
Email
r.burns@brownshipmc.info
Coverage
All properties within Brown Township, Mifflin County. Brown Township's official zoning and code-enforcement page directs applicants to Bureau Veritas for building permits.
Website
Department website
Additional resources
§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Brown Township

Building permits are required for regulated work under the Pennsylvania UCC.

Fences 6 feet or less in height
Retaining walls under 4 feet high unless used for structural bearing
Water tanks on grade under 5,000 gallons
Sidewalks and driveways 30 inches or less above grade and not over a basement or story below
Exterior or interior painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, flooring, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
Prefabricated swimming pools less than 24 inches deep
Window awnings within code limits
Replacement windows and doors that do not require framing alteration
Replacement of existing roofing material and existing siding
Non-structural porch or stoop repairs, added insulation, and rainwater gutters and leaders
Uncovered decks 30 inches or less above grade
Non-structural residential alterations without egress changes
  • Exempt Fences 6 feet or less in height
  • Exempt Retaining walls under 4 feet high unless used for structural bearing
  • Exempt Water tanks on grade under 5,000 gallons
  • Exempt Sidewalks and driveways 30 inches or less above grade and not over a basement or story below
  • Exempt Exterior or interior painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, flooring, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
  • Exempt Prefabricated swimming pools less than 24 inches deep
  • Exempt Window awnings within code limits
  • Exempt Replacement windows and doors that do not require framing alteration
  • Exempt Replacement of existing roofing material and existing siding
  • Exempt Non-structural porch or stoop repairs, added insulation, and rainwater gutters and leaders
  • Exempt Uncovered decks 30 inches or less above grade
  • Exempt Non-structural residential alterations without egress changes

Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and other local requirements. Confirm with Brown Township and Bureau Veritas before proceeding.

Required documents
  • Permit application
  • Plans
  • Site information
  • Contractor data
  • Any required prior approvals
Building code
Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC); L&I lists Brown Township as OPT-IN effective 5/15/2004 with no amendments.
Permit validity
State UCC default expiration rules generally apply: permit becomes invalid if work does not begin within 180 days, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days, and a permit may not remain valid more than 5 years from issuance.
Owner-builder
Owners or authorized agents may apply.
Contractor requirements
No separate township contractor license was found. Pennsylvania HICPA registration applies where required by state law.

Source: Brown Township (zoning matters); Bureau Veritas North America, Inc. (UCC building permits) ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: 15 business days for one- and two-family dwellings; 5 business days with licensed design-professional certification; 30 business days for other permit types (Pennsylvania UCC statutory periods).

  1. 01
    Contact Brown Township for zoning questions and to confirm local requirements.
  2. 02
    Complete the Bureau Veritas permit application and gather the required plans and supporting documents.
  3. 03
    Submit the building-permit package to Bureau Veritas in Lewistown at 75 Reserve Lane.
  4. 04
    Bureau Veritas reviews the submission under the Pennsylvania UCC.
  5. 05
    Pay fees, receive the permit, and call for inspections.

Typical processing time: 15 business days for one- and two-family dwellings; 5 business days with licensed design-professional certification; 30 business days for other permit types (Pennsylvania UCC statutory periods).

Source: Brown Township (zoning matters); Bureau Veritas North America, Inc. (UCC building permits) ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Brown Township building permit fees

Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
Residential minimums from $200 to $616 by project type; commercial new-construction minimum $385.
02
Plan check fee
Included in commercial permit fee; residential permit-not-issued plan review is 30% of projected permit fee.
03
Permit fee formula
Square-footage and valuation formulas depending on project type per the publicly posted Mifflin and Centre Counties Bureau Veritas schedules.
04
Reinspection fee
Commercial permit fees include re-inspections within reason; extra after-the-fact enforcement fees may be charged at $77 per hour with municipal approval.

No Brown Township online permit-payment portal found. Verify payment method with Bureau Veritas before filing.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule
  • Bureau Veritas: (717) 242-0992 (phone)
Inspection hours
Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Lewistown Bureau Veritas office)

Typical sequence: Typical UCC inspections vary by scope and usually include footing, foundation, framing, rough-trade, and final inspections.

Source: Brown Township (zoning matters); Bureau Veritas North America, Inc. (UCC building permits) ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Brown Township permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Brown Township, PA? ▸
Building permits are required for regulated work under the Pennsylvania UCC.
02 How much does a building permit cost in Brown Township, PA? ▸
Building permit fees in Brown Township, PA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is Residential minimums from $200 to $616 by project type; commercial new-construction minimum $385.. Fees are calculated as: Square-footage and valuation formulas depending on project type per the publicly posted Mifflin and Centre Counties Bureau Veritas schedules.. Plan check fee: Included in commercial permit fee; residential permit-not-issued plan review is 30% of projected permit fee..
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Brown Township, PA? ▸
To apply for a building permit in Brown Township, PA, follow these steps: 1. Contact Brown Township for zoning questions and to confirm local requirements. 2. Complete the Bureau Veritas permit application and gather the required plans and supporting documents. 3. Submit the building-permit package to Bureau Veritas in Lewistown at 75 Reserve Lane. 4. Bureau Veritas reviews the submission under the Pennsylvania UCC. 5. Pay fees, receive the permit, and call for inspections.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Brown Township, PA? ▸
Building permit processing times in Brown Township, PA typically run 15 business days for one- and two-family dwellings; 5 business days with licensed design-professional certification; 30 business days for other permit types (Pennsylvania UCC statutory periods).. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in Brown Township, PA? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in Brown Township, PA. The following work is generally exempt: Fences 6 feet or less in height; Retaining walls under 4 feet high unless used for structural bearing; Water tanks on grade under 5,000 gallons; Sidewalks and driveways 30 inches or less above grade and not over a basement or story below; Exterior or interior painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, flooring, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work; Prefabricated swimming pools less than 24 inches deep; Window awnings within code limits; Replacement windows and doors that do not require framing alteration; Replacement of existing roofing material and existing siding; Non-structural porch or stoop repairs, added insulation, and rainwater gutters and leaders; Uncovered decks 30 inches or less above grade; Non-structural residential alterations without egress changes. Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and other local requirements. Confirm with Brown Township and Bureau Veritas before proceeding. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Brown Township, PA? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Brown Township, PA via: Bureau Veritas: (717) 242-0992.
last verified April 2026 source Brown Township (zoning matters); Bureau Veritas North America, Inc. (UCC building permits) ↗ entry id permits/pennsylvania/mifflin/brown-township
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Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Brown Township (zoning matters); Bureau Veritas North America, Inc. (UCC building permits) before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

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