Bensalem Township, PENNSYLVANIA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Township-level building, planning, zoning, occupancy, and related permit administration.

Department

Bensalem Township Building and Planning Department

Address

2400 Byberry Road, Bensalem, PA 19020

Phone

(215) 633-3644

Email

permitcenter@bensalempa.gov

Website

https://bensalempa.gov/departments/building-and-planning/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Select the correct residential or commercial application from the Applications, Inspections and Requirements page.
2. Submit the non-refundable application fee with the permit package.
3. Email digital plans to permitcenter@bensalempa.gov, or submit on disk/thumb drive; a physical drop box is also available.
4. Include required supporting approvals such as BCWSA plumbing approval where new fixtures are added and alteration-of-land permit materials for exterior/grading work.
5. Permit fees are invoiced by Code Inspections and inspections follow review/issuance.

Source: Bensalem Township Building and Planning Department

General Requirements

Bensalem publishes residential and commercial packets for building, demolition, fence, pools and spas, sign, zoning, occupancy, subdivision/land development, street openings, and many other work types.

Required Documents

• One complete set of plans
• Plot/site plan
• Specs sufficient for review
• Digital plans for documents larger than 11 by 17
• Commercial plans signed and sealed where required

Permit validity

Not clearly posted in the reviewed public packet scrape.

Building code

Project design shall conform to the most current edition of the IRC adopted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Owner-builder

Owner or agent may sign the permit application.

Contractor requirements

Bensalem publishes a contractor license application. PA home improvement registration still applies where required.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$15 single-discipline application review fee; $125 multi-discipline application review fee; $50 application fee for commercial/industrial/multi-family permits

Plan check fee

Included within the adopted building and planning fee schedule

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Application review fee is due at submission; permit fees then follow the Township fee schedule by permit type and valuation.

Reinspection fee

Penalties are included in the fee schedule; verify current line items from the PDF before quoting

Payment note

Submission fee by cash, check, or money order; permit fees are invoiced by Code Inspections

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2024).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Bensalem Township Building and Planning Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• (215) 633-3644 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Confirm at submission

Inspection hours

Confirm at submission; office phone is (215) 633-3644

Typical inspection sequence: Plan review, permit issuance, discipline/building inspections, then occupancy/certificate as applicable

Additional Resources

• Building code: Project design shall conform to the most current edition of the IRC adopted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Zoning Permit
• Contractor License Application
• License lookup guide: Pennsylvania Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Pennsylvania Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Pennsylvania hub: Pennsylvania Contractor License & Permit Hub

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