Harris Township, PENNSYLVANIA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Public-facing online permit information is thin; township zoning is local, while CRCA handles UCC building permits and sewage enforcement.

Department

Harris Township Zoning Officer (zoning matters); Centre Region Code Administration (sewage enforcement and UCC building code)

Address

Harris Township: 224 East Main Street, Boalsburg, PA 16827; CRCA: 2643 Gateway Drive, Suite 1, State College, PA 16801

Phone

Township: 814-466-6228; CRCA: 814-231-3056

Email

harris@harristownship.org

Website

https://www.harristownship.org/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Contact the Harris Township office or zoning officer to confirm local zoning requirements for the project.
2. Submit any required township zoning materials to the township office.
3. For UCC-regulated construction, submit the CRCA building permit application and required plans and forms.
4. Pay any township zoning fee and the CRCA application and permit charges.
5. Await township zoning clearance and CRCA permit review.
6. Complete required inspections and close out the permit.

Typical processing time: Not publicly posted in the thin machine-readable sources reviewed

Source: Harris Township Zoning Officer (zoning matters); Centre Region Code Administration (sewage enforcement and UCC building code)

General Requirements

Township zoning requirements are project specific; CRCA permit is required for construction, renovation, or removal of a structure or portion of a structure

Required Documents

• Township zoning submission (specifics vary)
• CRCA building permit application
• Plans and workers compensation documentation as applicable

Permit validity

Thin public township data; CRCA application expiration policy and Pennsylvania UCC inactivity rules apply on the building permit side unless extended

Building code

Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code enforced by CRCA

Owner-builder

Not clearly posted in the reviewed public materials

Contractor requirements

Pennsylvania HICPA registration applies where required; CRCA workers compensation documentation applies on building permits

Fees

Minimum permit fee

CRCA building permit minimum $55.50

Plan check fee

CRCA additional plan review after the second review is $130.00 per hour

Permit fee formula

CRCA building fees are valuation or ICC square-foot-cost based plus residential or commercial application fee and state surcharge; township local fee detail is thin publicly

Reinspection fee

CRCA reinspection and rental no-show fees are $100.00 where applicable

Payment note

CRCA requires a 40 percent minimum payment before plan review; township payment instructions were not clearly posted

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Harris Township Zoning Officer (zoning matters); Centre Region Code Administration (sewage enforcement and UCC building code) to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Township office: 814-466-6228 (phone)
• CRCA office (in-person)

Inspection hours

Township office Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM; CRCA Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Typical inspection sequence: Township zoning clearance if required, then CRCA permit issuance, then CRCA inspections and final approval

Additional Resources

• Building code: Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code enforced by CRCA
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Online Resources
• CRCA Building Permits
• Centre County Municipal Directory
• License lookup guide: Pennsylvania Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Pennsylvania Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Pennsylvania hub: Pennsylvania Contractor License & Permit Hub

Other cities in Centre County