Greensburg, PA — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Planning and Development Department

Street address

416 S. Main Street, 2nd Floor, Room 203, Greensburg, PA 15601

Phone

724-838-4335

Coverage

City planning, zoning, occupancy, rental, and local permit intake within Greensburg; UCC plan review and specialized inspections are handled by Code Enforcement Agency (CEA) under City direction.

Online portal

OpenGov

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Greensburg

Greensburg states permits are needed for new builds, additions, structural changes, footers to decks, retaining walls over 4 feet, sheds over 1,000 square feet, fences, demolitions, home based businesses, minor parking lots and garages, greenhouses, pools, sheds, sidewalks, signs, and occupancy/rental uses; businesses and rental units also require occupancy and fire inspections every two years.

Note: No comprehensive Greensburg exempt-work list was found on the public pages reviewed; the City instead publishes examples of work that does require permits and directs users to OpenGov for project-specific guidance.

Required documents

Completed application
Workers compensation insurance certificate naming the City as additional insured or approved affidavit
Plans (two sets for residential UCC, two stamped sealed sets for commercial)

Building code: 2018 UCC, 2018 IPMC, and 2018 IFC (some pages reference 2015 UCC; confirm with City)
Owner-builder: Workers compensation affidavit is accepted where applicable.
Contractor requirements: Home improvement contractors over $5,000 must comply with Pennsylvania Attorney General registration; Greensburg also requires workers compensation documentation with permit submittals.

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Residential UCC review 15 working days; commercial UCC review 30 working days

01

Determine whether the project is zoning only, occupancy/rental related, or UCC reviewed by checking the City property permit guidance and inspections page.
02

Create an OpenGov account and complete the applicable permit application online.
03

For residential UCC work, submit completed application, workers compensation insurance or affidavit, and two sets of plans; for commercial work, submit completed applications and two sets of stamped plans sealed by a registered architect or engineer.
04

Greensburg routes UCC plan review and specialized inspections through CEA; residential reviews are stated at 15 working days and commercial reviews at 30 working days as required by the PA UCC.
05

Pay City and CEA fees, receive permit issuance, and schedule required inspections and any occupancy or fire inspections.

Typical processing time: Residential UCC review 15 working days; commercial UCC review 30 working days

Source: Planning and Development Department ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Greensburg building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

CEA municipal plan review starts at $375 for new construction, additions, extensions, and alterations up to 2,000 square feet; occupancy and rental inspections are $208 every two years per business or per rental unit

Plan check fee

Residential plan reviews for 1 or 2 family dwellings are $125; commercial new construction/addition review starts at $375; commercial alterations/repairs/change in occupancy also start at $375

Permit fee formula

Mixed. City fees are set by ordinance; CEA plan review is square-foot based for larger projects and 1 percent of project cost for individual reviews with a $150 minimum

Reinspection fee

Additional CEA reviews beyond three are 50 percent of the original fee with a $375 minimum

Greensburg directs permit applicants to OpenGov for online applications and payments; confirm any split City/CEA payment routing at application

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

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Greensburg/OpenGov (online)
Code Enforcement Agency (phone)

Typical sequence: Varies by project; UCC reviewed work proceeds through plan review, permit issuance, trade/building inspections, then occupancy or final inspection as applicable.

Source: Planning and Development Department ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Greensburg permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Greensburg, PA? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in Greensburg, PA? ▸

Building permit fees in Greensburg, PA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is CEA municipal plan review starts at $375 for new construction, additions, extensions, and alterations up to 2,000 square feet; occupancy and rental inspections are $208 every two years per business or per rental unit. Fees are calculated as: Mixed. City fees are set by ordinance; CEA plan review is square-foot based for larger projects and 1 percent of project cost for individual reviews with a $150 minimum. Plan check fee: Residential plan reviews for 1 or 2 family dwellings are $125; commercial new construction/addition review starts at $375; commercial alterations/repairs/change in occupancy also start at $375.

03 How do I apply for a building permit in Greensburg, PA? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Greensburg, PA, follow these steps: 1. Determine whether the project is zoning only, occupancy/rental related, or UCC reviewed by checking the City property permit guidance and inspections page. 2. Create an OpenGov account and complete the applicable permit application online. 3. For residential UCC work, submit completed application, workers compensation insurance or affidavit, and two sets of plans; for commercial work, submit completed applications and two sets of stamped plans sealed by a registered architect or engineer. 4. Greensburg routes UCC plan review and specialized inspections through CEA; residential reviews are stated at 15 working days and commercial reviews at 30 working days as required by the PA UCC. 5. Pay City and CEA fees, receive permit issuance, and schedule required inspections and any occupancy or fire inspections.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Greensburg, PA? ▸

Building permit processing times in Greensburg, PA typically run Residential UCC review 15 working days; commercial UCC review 30 working days. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in Greensburg, PA? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Greensburg, PA via: Greensburg/OpenGov, Code Enforcement Agency.

last verified April 2026 source Planning and Development Department ↗ entry id permits/pennsylvania/westmoreland/greensburg

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Planning and Development Department before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

City of Greensburg