Building permits in Allegheny County come from each municipality, not the county. Plumbing is the exception: plumbing permits are issued by the Allegheny County Health Department, not the municipality, and plans must be approved before work begins. By the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates the most populous municipalities are Pittsburgh (307632), Penn Hills (39452), Mount Lebanon (32552) and Ross Township (32218).
This guide covers the building offices of those four municipalities and the county, conservation district, DEP and PennDOT offices that handle other parts of a project.
Plumbing work anywhere in the county needs a Health Department permit, filed online through the Citizen Access Portal or in person at 2121 Noblestown Road, Room 207, Pittsburgh.
What requires a building permit in Allegheny County?
Allegheny County issues no building permits: under Pennsylvania’s Construction Code Act counties are not municipalities. Each municipality administers the statewide Uniform Construction Code itself or through a certified third-party agency, so what needs a permit, what it costs and how it is filed depend on the municipality.
Two county permits sit alongside the municipal one: a Health Department plumbing permit for plumbing work, and a county Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) for work within, under or over an Allegheny County road right-of-way, such as driveways, utilities, sidewalks and storm connections.
Pennsylvania enforces one statewide Uniform Construction Code under Act 45 of 1999, based since January 1, 2026 on the 2021 ICC codes and administered by most municipalities themselves or through certified third-party agencies; counties issue no building permits. Building codes in Pennsylvania
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Get a free quote →Who handles permitting in Allegheny County?
Each municipality issues its own building permits. The county’s roles are:
- Plumbing: Allegheny County Health Department, 2121 Noblestown Road, Room 207, Pittsburgh; questions to the main plumbing office at 412-578-8036.
- County roads: the Department of Public Works issues the HOP; hop@alleghenycounty.us or 412-350-5874.
- Subdivisions: Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED) administers the county Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance for 27 municipalities that have not adopted their own, and reviews and signs final record plans of approved subdivisions.
| Municipality | Office | Contact and hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections (PLI); OneStopPGH counter, 412 Boulevard of the Allies | 412-255-2175; pliapptech@pittsburghpa.gov; Monday-Friday 9 am to 3 pm |
| Penn Hills | Municipal Code Enforcement Department, Municipal Building, 102 Duff Road | 412 342-1086; Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Mt. Lebanon | Inspection Office, 710 Washington Road, second floor | 412-343-3408; Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Ross Township | Department of Community Development, 1000 Ross Municipal Drive | 412-931-7048; Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
Local rules in the largest Allegheny County municipalities
Pittsburgh
PLI issues building permits through the online OneStopPGH system, with in-person and remote service at the counter. PLI appeals must also be filed electronically through OneStopPGH.
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The Municipal Code Enforcement Department handles building, zoning and grading permits. Building permit applications are not accepted online, and plan review submittals from architects, engineers and contractors need one digital PDF copy plus one stamped and sealed hard copy.
Mt. Lebanon
The Inspection Office reviews plans and issues building permits; applications can be filed online through Municity Connect, reached via MyLebo. Residential building permits are generally issued within 15 business days and commercial permits within 30 days.
Ross Township
The Department of Community Development handles building permits, applied for online through iWorq.
Allegheny County permit costs and fees
Each municipality sets its own fees. Penn Hills (Ordinance No. 2689 of 2022) charges $6.00 per $1,000.00 of total construction cost for a building permit, with a minimum fee of $75.00.
Fees are set by the municipality or its third-party agency, plus the flat $4.50 state Uniform Construction Code fee on each permit. Permit fees in Pennsylvania
Trade permits in Allegheny County
Plumbing permits come from the county Health Department; all permit types can be filed online through the Citizen Access Portal, and a final inspection is required on every plumbing permit. Electrical work is arranged by the municipality: in Mt. Lebanon electrical permits and inspections go through Middle Department Inspection Agency (1-800-362-6342), and in Ross Township electrical inspections are scheduled directly with Code.sys Consulting (412-821-0337 x12).
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Trade work follows the Uniform Construction Code; electrical, plumbing and HVAC licences are issued locally where they exist, not by the state. Trade permits in Pennsylvania
How to get a building permit in Allegheny County
The municipality where the parcel is issues the building permit.
Pittsburgh through OneStopPGH, Mt. Lebanon through Municity Connect, Ross Township through iWorq; Penn Hills does not accept building applications online.
Health Department plumbing plans must be approved before work begins.
Work in a county road right-of-way needs the county HOP; in the 27 municipalities without their own ordinance, subdivisions go to ACED.
One or more acres of disturbance needs a General or Individual NPDES permit through the Conservation District.
A Pennsylvania permit lapses if work does not start within 180 days or stops for 180 days, and lasts no more than 5 years; residential applications must be decided within 15 business days. Permit validity in Pennsylvania
Rather not deal with the Allegheny County building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Allegheny County
Mt. Lebanon inspections are requested by phone at (412) 343-3408 and cannot be left on voicemail; they are made Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Ross Township needs 48-hour notice for all inspections (412-931-7048), and its plumbing permits and inspections go through the Health Department Plumbing Program (412-578-8036).
Erosion control and state offices for Allegheny County
The Allegheny County Conservation District (ACCD) runs the Chapter 102 erosion and sediment control program under an agreement with PA DEP and reviews NPDES construction stormwater permit applications. It is at The Highline, 317 East Carson Street, Suite 119, Pittsburgh; phone 412-241-SOIL (7645). ACCD requires a pre-application meeting for expedited NPDES construction stormwater submissions.
PA DEP’s Southwest Regional Office (400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222; 412-442-4000; 8am - 4pm) serves the county, and PennDOT District 11 (45 Thoms Run Road, Bridgeville, PA 15017; 412-429-5000; 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday) is responsible for the state-maintained roads.
Official Allegheny County permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →- Allegheny County Health Department plumbing permits
- Allegheny County road and bridge permits (HOP)
- Allegheny County land use planning
- Allegheny County Conservation District Chapter 102
- Pittsburgh OneStopPGH Permit Center
- Penn Hills Code Enforcement
- Mt. Lebanon permits and zoning
- Ross Township building
- PennDOT District 11
Frequently asked questions
Does Allegheny County issue building permits?
No. Each municipality issues building permits; the county Health Department issues plumbing permits.
Can I apply for a building permit online in Penn Hills?
No. Penn Hills does not accept building permit applications online.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How long does a Mt. Lebanon building permit take?
Residential building permits are generally issued within 15 business days and commercial permits within 30 days.
Simplify Allegheny County permitting with Alliance Permitting
- Confirm which municipality, and which code official or third-party agency, handles the parcel
- Prepare the municipal application plus any county, conservation district or PennDOT filing the project needs
- Schedule the required inspections and close out the permit
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Pennsylvania. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
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More Pennsylvania permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Allegheny County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.