City Building Permits

Borough of State College, PENNSYLVANIA Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Borough of State College, Pennsylvania. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Pennsylvania Centre County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Borough zoning approval is required before CRCA issues applicable building permits inside State College Borough.

Department
Centre Region Code Administration (CRCA) for building permits; Borough of State College Planning Department for zoning permits
Address
CRCA: 2643 Gateway Drive, Suite 1, State College, PA 16801; Planning Department: 243 S. Allen Street, State College, PA 16801
Phone
CRCA: 814-231-3056; Planning Department: 814-234-7193
Website
https://www.crcog.net/crca

Online Permit Portal

Open Borough Zoning Permits

Platform: Borough website information page plus CRCA PDF forms • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only

Application Process

  1. Determine whether the project needs a borough zoning permit first; borough pages for fences and other site work state zoning applications must be submitted to the Planning Department before CRCA review.
  2. Prepare the applicable borough zoning materials and the CRCA building permit application if the project also needs UCC review.
  3. Submit zoning materials to the Planning Department and pay the borough fee established by the annual fee schedule.
  4. After zoning approval, submit the CRCA building permit application, plans, workers compensation form, and required deposit.
  5. CRCA reviews the submission, calculates the remaining fee, and issues the permit after approvals and payment.
  6. Schedule required inspections and keep the permit active until final approval.

Typical processing time: No borough-specific zoning turnaround was posted on the reviewed State College pages; CRCA does not post a single standard issuance time for all permit types

Source: Centre Region Code Administration (CRCA) for building permits; Borough of State College Planning Department for zoning permits

General Requirements

Borough zoning permit for regulated site and exterior work; CRCA permit when a structure or portion of a structure is constructed, renovated, or removed

Required Documents

  • Completed zoning/building permit application
  • Site-specific zoning materials
  • Construction drawings as required
  • Workers compensation form
  • CRCA submittals for the project type
Permit validity
Borough page reviewed does not publish a separate zoning expiration rule; CRCA posts an application expiration policy and Pennsylvania UCC inactivity rules apply unless extended
Building code
Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code administered locally through CRCA; PA L&I states the 2021 ICC based triennial update is effective January 1, 2026
Owner-builder
No State College-specific owner-builder rule was clearly posted on the reviewed zoning pages
Contractor requirements
Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act registration applies where required; CRCA also requires workers compensation documentation

Fees

Minimum permit fee
CRCA building permit minimum $55.50; borough zoning fee varies by permit type
Plan check fee
Additional CRCA plan review after the second review is $130.00 per hour
Permit fee formula
CRCA building permit fees are valuation or ICC square-foot-cost based, plus $35 residential or $75 commercial application fee and $4.50 state surcharge; borough zoning fees are permit-type specific
Reinspection fee
CRCA rental no-show fee $100.00; CRCA residential and commercial reinspection fees are generally $100.00
Payment note
CRCA requires a non-refundable minimum payment equal to 40 percent of the total permit fee before plan review starts

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Centre Region Code Administration (CRCA) for building permits; Borough of State College Planning Department for zoning permits to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Inspection hours
Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Typical inspection sequence: Borough zoning review first where required, then CRCA permit issuance, then trade or phase inspections and final approval

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Centre Region Code Administration (CRCA) for building permits; Borough of State College Planning Department for zoning permits before applying.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

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