Jeannette, PENNSYLVANIA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

City building, zoning, occupancy, rental, sidewalk, signage, demolition, and pool permits within Jeannette.

Department

Code and Zoning Enforcement Office

Address

110 S. Second Street, Jeannette, PA 15644

Phone

724-527-4000 Ext. 20

Email

BWhetzel@cityofjnt.com

Website

https://cityofjeannette.com/departments/code-zoning-enforcement/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Select the correct permit form from the City Forms and Permits page.
2. Complete the form and mail or drop it off to City Hall at 110 S. 2nd Street.
3. For occupancy inspections, call or stop at the Tax Office to schedule the inspection and pay before inspection.
4. For commercial occupancy, contact the Code Enforcement Officer directly before beginning the process because the City notes it can be more detailed.
5. The City or Fire Department performs the inspection, issues corrections if needed, and emails the permit or occupancy document once the property passes.

Typical processing time: Rental occupancy requests are typically scheduled through the Tax Office; lien and zoning certificate requests are typically completed within 24 hours of receipt and payment; no general building permit turnaround was published

Source: Code and Zoning Enforcement Office

General Requirements

The City enforces the PA UCC and zoning rules for accessory structures including pools, fences, sheds, and garages; public forms cover zoning permits, residential building permits, manufactured homes, demolition, sidewalks, signage, swimming pools, and commercial occupancy.

Required Documents

• Completed permit form
• Plans where required
• Three sets of sealed plans prepared by a licensed architect or engineer for commercial building permits
• Electrical inspection reports before certificate of occupancy

Building code

Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code

Contractor requirements

Electrical inspections and fees are the responsibility of the owner or contractor and reports must be submitted to the City building code official; PA home improvement contractor registration rules still apply where applicable.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Examples include above-ground pool $105 plus $20, deck over 30 inches $105 plus $20, demolition $105 plus $20, and commercial plan review $150 plus $30

Plan check fee

Commercial building permit plan review fee is $150 plus $30, due at plan submission

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Residential examples are flat permit plus flat inspection amounts; commercial new, alteration, and renovation permit fee is total construction cost multiplied by 0.0075 after plan review

Reinspection fee

Electrical inspections are extra and paid separately by owner or contractor; no separate public reinspection penalty schedule was found

Payment note

Jeannette says forms may be mailed or dropped off and occupancy inspection payments can be made in person or by mail; checks should be payable to the City of Jeannette

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2021).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Privacy fence under 6 feet
• Residential retaining walls under 4 feet
• For owner occupied structures, the City's rental occupancy inspection program does not apply

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Tax Office (phone)
• Tax Office (in-person)

Inspection hours

7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

Typical inspection sequence: City fee schedule lists footing, foundation, sanitary underground, rough framing, rough plumbing, rough mechanical, energy, drywall, plumbing final, mechanical final, and overall final; electrical rough-in, service, and final are separate third-party reports.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Forms and Permits
• Rental Occupancy Inspections
• Building Permit Fee Schedule
• MS4 Storm Management
• License lookup guide: Pennsylvania Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Pennsylvania Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Pennsylvania hub: Pennsylvania Contractor License & Permit Hub

Other cities in Westmoreland County