City Building Permits

Scranton, PENNSYLVANIA Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Pennsylvania Lackawanna County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Applies within Scranton city limits; code enforcement is handled in-house by the city, with commercial plan review also routed through NEIC per the city permit process page

Department
City of Scranton, Department of Economic and Community Development, Bureau of Code Enforcement
Address
340 N Washington Ave, Scranton, PA 18503
Phone
570-348-4193
Website
https://scrantonpa.gov/your-government/oecd/code/

Online Permit Portal

Open OpenGov

Platform: OpenGov • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only

Additional resources:

Application Process

  1. Contact Code Enforcement first to confirm code requirements and whether plans are required.
  2. Complete zoning review first, including any variance, special exception, conditional use, historic review, or floodplain review that applies.
  3. Submit the permit application through OpenGov or the city permit workflow, with plans for new construction, expansions, and other projects requiring plan review.
  4. For commercial work, complete third-party plan review through NEIC where required.
  5. After approval, pay fees and pick up or print the permit, then post it visibly on site.
  6. Complete inspections during construction and obtain the final certificate of occupancy when applicable.

Typical processing time: One to two business days for permits generally; 15 business days for residential permits and 30 business days for commercial permits

Source: City of Scranton, Department of Economic and Community Development, Bureau of Code Enforcement

General Requirements

All construction projects require a permit; almost everything needs a permit including solar, decks, business construction, and most other work

Required Documents

  • Complete application
  • Contractor or homeowner information
  • Scope of work
  • Required plans
  • Contract copy when a contractor is doing the work
  • Any floodplain, zoning, or historic review materials applicable to the site
Permit validity
No standard permit expiration was clearly published
Building code
Effective January 1, 2026: 2021 ICC code set as adopted through the Pennsylvania UCC, plus 2024 IPMC, 2020 NEC, and 2017 ANSI 117.1
Owner-builder
Homeowners may pull permits only when doing the work themselves; if a contractor is doing the work, the contractor must pull the permit
Contractor requirements
Contractors working in Scranton must be city-licensed and insured; the city requires a certificate of insurance for all licenses and states multiple license classes require testing

Fees

Minimum permit fee
$30 for projects costing $1 to $300, plus $4.50 state fee
Plan check fee
Building plan review up to $3,000,000 is 0.000715 x construction cost with a $137.50 minimum; trade plan review charges are generally 25% of the building fee
Permit fee formula
Valuation-based permit fee table
Penalty (no permit)
Work without a permit doubles the fee
Payment note
Permit is issued after approval and payment; permit pickup or printout occurs after approval

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

  • Painting inside or outside of homes
  • Gutter installation

Inspections

How to Schedule

  • City page states an inspector will reach out to request an inspection for completed work (contact)
  • Call Code Enforcement for permit and inspection assistance (phone)
Inspection hours
Office hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM; full-time code officer on duty Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM beginning the week of January 6, 2025

Typical inspection sequence: Permit issuance, any needed trade and building inspections during work, then final inspection and certificate of occupancy where applicable

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the City of Scranton, Department of Economic and Community Development, Bureau of Code Enforcement before applying.

Need help with your project?

Navigating permits in Scranton can be complicated.

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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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