City Building Permits
Chester, PENNSYLVANIA Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Chester, Pennsylvania. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
City-run UCC enforcement for Chester; building official and L and I handle permits, licenses, and inspections.
- Department
- City of Chester Licenses and Inspections, including the Office of the Building Officials
- Address
- 1 Fourth Street, Chester, PA 19013
- Phone
- 610-447-7751; 610-447-7917; main 610-447-7700
Online Permit Portal
Platform: WordPress forms download page; e-Collect Plus for business tax registration • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Obtain required contractor trade license first; homeowners also must confirm permit need before starting work.
- Submit completed permit application with three drawings describing the work and materials; engineered sealed drawings are required where applicable.
- Pay permit fees at application and respond to any review comments from L and I.
- Schedule required inspections during construction.
- For occupancy, submit a letter that work is complete and request final inspection for the certificate of occupancy.
Source: City of Chester Licenses and Inspections, including the Office of the Building Officials
General Requirements
Anyone performing construction, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, alterations, or additions must first obtain a license and permit; homeowners may also need permits.
Required Documents
- Permit application
- Contractor license
- Three drawings
- Engineered plans when required
- Homeowner exemption form if applicable
- Contractor requirement documents
- CO request letter for final occupancy
- Building code
- Pennsylvania UCC framework enforced by the City
- Owner-builder
- Homeowner Exemption Form is published in the L and I forms list.
- Contractor requirements
- All contractors must first obtain a trade license before a permit for work within the City.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Valuation-based schedule per City permit fee documents; trade licenses are annual flat fees
- Payment note
- City states fees are collected through L and I with applications; downloadable fee schedules control
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the City of Chester Licenses and Inspections, including the Office of the Building Officials to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Call L and I / Building Officials (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Typical inspection sequence: Trade and building inspections during construction, then final inspection before certificate of occupancy
Additional Resources
- Building code: Pennsylvania UCC framework enforced by the City
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Office of the Building Officials
- License lookup guide: Pennsylvania Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Pennsylvania Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Pennsylvania hub: Pennsylvania Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the City of Chester Licenses and Inspections, including the Office of the Building Officials before applying.
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