City Building Permits
Manheim Township, PENNSYLVANIA Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Manheim Township, Pennsylvania. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Township runs separate zoning and code compliance workflows; zoning permits can be submitted online and building permits are still described as in-person or first-class mail submissions on the public permit instructions page.
- Department
- Code Compliance Department for building permits; Planning & Zoning Department for zoning permits
- Address
- 1840 Municipal Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601
- Phone
- 717-569-6408 main township line; inspection and permit instructions direct applicants to 717-569-6406 ext. 6 for many code inspections
Online Permit Portal
Platform: CityView Permit Portal • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Determine whether the project needs zoning only, or both zoning and building/code review.
- Submit the zoning permit packet or online zoning application with site plan and required stormwater exemption form if applicable.
- For building permits, submit a completed application, fee worksheet, two plan sets, and two site plans to Code Compliance.
- Await township review in order of submittal and respond to comments.
- Pay fees and receive the issued permit.
- Call the township or the approved third-party agency listed by the township for required inspections and final approvals.
Typical processing time: Township goal is 10 business days for residential building permits and 25 business days for non-residential projects; zoning review time varies seasonally and is handled in order of submittal.
Source: Code Compliance Department for building permits; Planning & Zoning Department for zoning permits
General Requirements
Zoning permits are required for covered new construction and site changes; building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire, pool/hot tub, and certificate of use and occupancy permits are handled by Code Compliance.
Required Documents
- Application
- Fee worksheet
- Two copies of plans and specifications
- Two copies of site plan
- Other zoning or stormwater documentation as applicable
- Building code
- Pennsylvania UCC administered locally by Manheim Township
- Owner-builder
- Permit applications may be submitted by owners or authorized applicants; no separate township owner-builder summary page was located.
- Contractor requirements
- Pennsylvania home improvement registration rules apply where required; township also publishes contractor-related registration forms for some specialty work.
Fees
- Plan check fee
- Included in the township permit fee schedule and worksheets.
- Permit fee formula
- Residential and non-residential fee worksheets are required with applications; exact formula is on the linked permit fee schedule and worksheets.
- Reinspection fee
- Included in the township permit fee schedule.
- Payment note
- Over-the-counter permits require applicable fee at submission; other fees are paid during permit processing.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Small sheds and outbuildings up to 400 square feet
- Low decks 30 inches or less above grade
- Patios
- Paved terraces
- Fences
- Some driveway reconstruction or expansion
- Sidewalks or walkways outside the road right-of-way
Important: Township states zoning permits are required for all new construction not requiring a building permit. Confirm any claimed exemption directly with Planning & Zoning or Code Compliance because the public page is a permit-routing guide, not a full exemption ordinance digest.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- 717-569-6406 ext. 6 for many residential electrical, plumbing/mechanical, and occupancy inspections (phone)
- Some non-residential electrical inspections are through approved third-party electrical inspection agencies (other)
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Typical inspection sequence: Rough inspections, trade inspections, certificate of use and occupancy inspection where applicable, and final inspection.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Pennsylvania UCC administered locally by Manheim Township
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- How to Obtain a Permit
- Permit Forms
- 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 Code Compliance Department for building permits; Planning & Zoning Department for zoning permits before applying.
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