Plains Township, PENNSYLVANIA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within Plains Township

Department

Plains Township Zoning Office, with BHW Construction Consultation Services handling building inspections

Address

126 North Main Street, Plains, PA 18705

Phone

570-829-3439 ext. 4141

Email

zoning@plainstownship.org

Website

https://www.plainstownship.org/departments/code-enforcement/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Contact the zoning office to determine whether zoning approval, zoning compliance, and building permit approval are all required.
2. Complete the fillable building permit and any required zoning or one-to-one permit application.
3. Submit supporting approvals shown on the building form as applicable, including driveway, PennDOT, floodplain, sewer, zoning, historical review, and stormwater approvals.
4. Provide project documents, drawings, calculations, and workers compensation information as required by the BHW permit package.
5. Pay the township fee.
6. Schedule inspections directly with the named inspectors by phone or email.

Typical processing time: Not publicly posted

Source: Plains Township Zoning Office, with BHW Construction Consultation Services handling building inspections

General Requirements

The township publishes building, zoning, commercial zoning-compliance, sale zoning-compliance, rental zoning-compliance, and stormwater permit forms; a zoning compliance permit is required before occupying existing residential or commercial buildings

Required Documents

• Permit application
• Contractor information
• Project drawings and calculations
• Workers compensation information
• Any required external approvals listed on the form

Permit validity

Building permit form contains an 'Expires On' field but the township does not post a separate expiration rule; Pennsylvania UCC default timing governs if no different local rule is applied

Building code

Pennsylvania UCC, with current statewide update effective January 1, 2026

Owner-builder

Thin data; permit package captures owner information but no separate owner-builder policy was posted

Contractor requirements

Township publishes a 2026 contractor license application; Pennsylvania HICPA registration still applies for covered residential home improvement work

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Residential $24 plus $4 state fee for work up to $500; commercial $29 for work up to $500

Plan check fee

No separate plan-check line was posted; required drawings and calculations are part of the permit package

Permit fee formula

Residential and commercial bracket schedules through $10,000, then formula pricing above $10,000; commercial adds a 25% administration fee plus $4 state fee above $10,000

Reinspection fee

Failed inspections are $65 each; fees double for work started before a permit is secured

Payment note

Checks or money orders are payable to Plains Township

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Plains Township Zoning Office, with BHW Construction Consultation Services handling building inspections to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Named BHW inspectors (phone)
• Named BHW inspectors (email)

Inspection hours

Township office hours are not summarized on the zoning page reviewed

Typical inspection sequence: Project-specific; permit package identifies building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and foundation document categories and requires direct scheduling with assigned inspectors

Additional Resources

• Building code: Pennsylvania UCC, with current statewide update effective January 1, 2026
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Occupancy Permits
• Code of Ordinances
• License lookup guide: Pennsylvania Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Pennsylvania Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Pennsylvania hub: Pennsylvania Contractor License & Permit Hub

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