City Building Permits

Greensburg, PENNSYLVANIA Building Permit Guide

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

Pennsylvania Westmoreland County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

City planning, zoning, occupancy, rental, and local permit intake within Greensburg; UCC plan review and specialized inspections are handled by Code Enforcement Agency (CEA) under City direction.

Department
Planning and Development Department
Address
416 S. Main Street, 2nd Floor, Room 203, Greensburg, PA 15601
Phone
724-838-4335
Website
https://www.greensburgpa.org/planning-development

Online Permit Portal

Open OpenGov

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

Additional resources:

Application Process

  1. Determine whether the project is zoning only, occupancy/rental related, or UCC reviewed by checking the City property permit guidance and inspections page.
  2. Create an OpenGov account and complete the applicable permit application online.
  3. For residential UCC work, submit completed application, workers compensation insurance or affidavit, and two sets of plans; for commercial work, submit completed applications and two sets of stamped plans sealed by a registered architect or engineer.
  4. Greensburg routes UCC plan review and specialized inspections through CEA; residential reviews are stated at 15 working days and commercial reviews at 30 working days as required by the PA UCC.
  5. Pay City and CEA fees, receive permit issuance, and schedule required inspections and any occupancy or fire inspections.

Typical processing time: Residential UCC review 15 working days; commercial UCC review 30 working days

Source: Planning and Development Department

General Requirements

Greensburg states permits are needed for new builds, additions, structural changes, footers to decks, retaining walls over 4 feet, sheds over 1,000 square feet, fences, demolitions, home based businesses, minor parking lots and garages, greenhouses, pools, sheds, sidewalks, signs, and occupancy/rental uses; businesses and rental units also require occupancy and fire inspections every two years.

Required Documents

  • Completed application
  • Workers compensation insurance certificate naming the City as additional insured or approved affidavit
  • Plans (two sets for residential UCC, two stamped sealed sets for commercial)
Building code
2018 UCC, 2018 IPMC, and 2018 IFC (some pages reference 2015 UCC; confirm with City)
Owner-builder
Workers compensation affidavit is accepted where applicable.
Contractor requirements
Home improvement contractors over $5,000 must comply with Pennsylvania Attorney General registration; Greensburg also requires workers compensation documentation with permit submittals.

Fees

Minimum permit fee
CEA municipal plan review starts at $375 for new construction, additions, extensions, and alterations up to 2,000 square feet; occupancy and rental inspections are $208 every two years per business or per rental unit
Plan check fee
Residential plan reviews for 1 or 2 family dwellings are $125; commercial new construction/addition review starts at $375; commercial alterations/repairs/change in occupancy also start at $375
Permit fee formula
Mixed. City fees are set by ordinance; CEA plan review is square-foot based for larger projects and 1 percent of project cost for individual reviews with a $150 minimum
Reinspection fee
Additional CEA reviews beyond three are 50 percent of the original fee with a $375 minimum
Payment note
Greensburg directs permit applicants to OpenGov for online applications and payments; confirm any split City/CEA payment routing at application

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Planning and Development Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Typical inspection sequence: Varies by project; UCC reviewed work proceeds through plan review, permit issuance, trade/building inspections, then occupancy or final inspection as applicable.

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Planning and Development Department 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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