Washington, Pennsylvania Building Permit Guide

The City of Washington takes building and zoning permit applications through the City Clerk’s office at City Hall, 55 West Maiden Street (724-223-4200, option 1, ext. 6). Council appointed Municipal Consulting Services as building code official at its September 11, 2025 meeting (effective August 25, 2025), and Harshman CE Group is the city’s zoning and planning agency. Every building permit needs a $75 city zoning permit first, and selling a property takes a $50 owner change registration and, at the sale, a $225 sewer dye test.

What requires a building permit in Washington?

Washington uses two layers. A city zoning permit (the “zoning letter”, $75) comes first for every building permit and on its own for many small jobs: fences, sheds, pools and signs, and even shingle, siding, window and door replacements that keep the same openings. The UCC building permit then covers the construction itself.

Small jobs still carry city permits. A fence under 6 feet needs the zoning permit and a fence permit, and a retaining wall under 4 feet the zoning permit and a wall permit. Re-roofing a house needs a Residential Maintenance & Improvement Permit ($60) even though the roof covering is outside the UCC permit.

What Washington decides and what the state holds

The city opted in to enforce the Uniform Construction Code from May 13, 2004, with no older local amendments kept. It enforces the code through a third-party building code official: at its September 11, 2025 meeting council ended Harshman CE Group’s building code official services and appointed Municipal Consulting Services, both effective August 25, 2025, then reappointed Municipal Consulting Services on January 5, 2026, with Harshman CE Group kept for code enforcement, zoning and engineering. Zoning follows the Washington & East Washington Multi-Municipal Zoning Ordinance, enacted April 3, 2017, shared with East Washington.

Washington building department: who handles permitting

The City Clerk’s office is the permit desk for zoning, building, demolition, dumpster, street opening and closing, vacant property and rental registration permits, as well as lien certificates, dye certificates and owner change applications. Plan review and inspections for building permits are done by Municipal Consulting Services; zoning review by Harshman CE Group; and property maintenance complaints by the city’s Code Enforcement Department, which sees people by appointment.

Washington permit types

The city posts separate applications for each step: the zoning permit (with a sample site plan on the back), Municipal Consulting Services’ residential and commercial UCC building permit applications, residential and commercial demolition permits, sign permits, a construction dumpster permit, street opening and street closing applications, and the Zoning Hearing Board and Planning Commission hearing applications.

Residential permits

The residential UCC application asks for the flood zone (A/AE, X or not applicable), the type of work (new construction, alteration or renovation, addition, phased approval, demolition or pool), the stories, existing and new gross square footage and the estimated cost of labor and materials. It must come with three copies of the construction documents, one site plan, one set of specifications or installation instructions, a copy of the zoning approval and the contractor’s Pennsylvania registration number and insurance certificate. The plan review checklist the city posts asks for a site plan with distances to lot lines, a floor plan naming every room, footing details below the frost line, foundation and waterproofing details, roof framing and full wall sections.

Building or remodeling a home here? Alliance handles home building permits, so the crew isn't waiting on the counter.

Commercial permits

Commercial work uses Municipal Consulting Services’ commercial application. A new business in an existing building needs the city’s commercial occupancy ($100), and signs need a sign permit priced at 5% of the sign’s total cost, including installation, plus the zoning letter; some signs also need a building permit. A commercial roof needs a full building permit, and commercial demolition has its own application.

For tenant improvements and new commercial builds, Alliance handles commercial permit filing through issuance. More on this: commercial building permits explained.

What comes before the building permit

• Zoning permit. Filed with a site plan showing all existing and proposed structures and distances to lot lines, the zoning district, setbacks and height; the form flags permitted uses, conditional uses, special exceptions and variances.
• Zoning Hearing Board. Interpretations, special exceptions and variances. Since Resolution 16 of 2025 (July 10, 2025) the hearing fee is $1,000 plus $2,500 held in escrow for hearing costs, paid by two separate checks.
• Planning Commission. Land development and subdivision plans under the city’s SALDO; its hearing fee rose to $1,000 plus $2,500 escrow under the same resolution.
• Sewer. Council adopted an Official Sewage Facilities plan revision on November 6, 2025 (Resolution 26 of 2025); sewage and utility permits may be needed before the building permit, according to the application.
• Streets and driveways. Street openings, sidewalk work and curb cuts need city permits; driveways on state roads need a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit.
• Floodplain. The city participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, and the building application records whether the site is in an A/AE flood zone.

Washington permit costs and fees

The city’s permits page links two 2026 documents: the City of Washington 2026 Fee Schedule for city permits, and a “UCC Fee Schedule – 2026” for building permits, which the city schedule calls Exhibit A. The UCC sheet carries the letterhead of Harshman CE Group, the previous building code official.

Trade permits and who may pull them

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work is reviewed and inspected as part of the UCC building permit by Municipal Consulting Services; a new electric service is priced on the UCC schedule at a $150 minimum, and non-residential jobs add an electrical permit at the agency’s own pricing. Commercial electrical plan review is quoted after the plans are received. Fire alarm systems tied to the city need a fire alarm communication application ($150 a year) or a conversion application ($75).

The building application asks for the contractor’s Pennsylvania contractor registration number (HICPA, through the state Attorney General) and certificate of insurance. The city’s pages set no local electrician, plumber or HVAC license.

How to apply for a Washington building permit

Review, corrections and what causes delay

State rules give the building code official 15 business days for a residential decision and 30 for commercial, unless extended in writing. In Washington the zoning permit has to come first, and the UCC fee sheet says the stated fees are only the initial amount: extra plan review time, re-inspections for deficiencies and hourly inspector time ($105 an hour) are billed before the permit or before occupancy, and nothing is refunded once review begins. Construction cost used for a fee must be backed by documentation of labor, materials and equipment.

Inspections in Washington

Municipal Consulting Services carries out the UCC inspections; call 724-263-0377 to book them. Its fee sheet bills re-inspections caused by deficiencies on top of the initial permit fee, and all added fees must be paid before the occupancy permit is issued. Commercial tenants also go through the city’s commercial occupancy process.

Selling a property: owner change and dye test

Washington has not issued an occupancy permit at the sale of a property since 2017. Instead, the city requires an Owner Change Application with a $50 fee; no permit is issued. A sale also needs a sewer dye test ($225, not required for a refinance): the city sends the application to WEWJA, the sewer authority listed on the form, and a Document of Certification is issued by the City Clerk once the property passes; it is valid for one year, and each re-test after a failure costs another $225. Closing companies also order the lien certificate ($50) and tax receipts ($25 for three years). The city says the package takes about 14 days once all forms and fees are in. Landlords register every rental unit each year at $15 per unit.

Pennsylvania building code in Washington

Washington enforces the Uniform Construction Code under its May 13, 2004 opt-in, through Municipal Consulting Services. FEMA’s Community Status Book lists the City of Washington (community 420861) as participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, with flood maps effective September 30, 2015.

Pennsylvania has one Uniform Construction Code for the whole state, based on the 2021 International Codes since January 1, 2026. Most municipalities enforce it themselves or through a certified third-party agency; where a municipality has opted out, the Department of Labor and Industry handles commercial work and home owners hire a certified agency. Counties do not issue building permits. Pennsylvania rules

Washington permit search and official resources

There is no online permit search. Permit, zoning and property records come from the City Clerk, who is also the city’s Right-to-Know Open Records Officer; requests go on the city’s Right-to-Know form under its policy effective April 14, 2025, and anonymous verbal requests may be filled, though a written request is needed to pursue the law’s remedies. Council agendas and minutes, including the building code official appointments, are posted on the city site, and the city code is on General Code’s eCode360.

• Licenses, permits and fees
• Forms and applications
• City of Washington 2026 Fee Schedule
• UCC Fee Schedule 2026
• Residential UCC building permit application
• Commercial UCC building permit application
• Zoning permit application
• Zoning Hearing Board application
• Real estate transaction forms
• Codes and ordinances
• Washington & East Washington Multi-Municipal Zoning Ordinance (2017)
• Council minutes, September 11, 2025 (building code official)
• Pennsylvania L&I municipal UCC elections list
• FEMA Community Status Book, Pennsylvania

City of Washington building permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in the City of Washington?

The City Clerk’s office takes the applications, Municipal Consulting Services is the building code official, and Harshman CE Group reviews zoning.

Do I need a zoning permit for a new roof or windows?

Yes. The city requires its $75 zoning permit for shingle, siding, window and door replacements, and a re-roof on a house also needs the $60 Maintenance & Improvement Permit. No UCC building permit is needed unless sheathing or trusses are replaced.

Do I need a permit for a fence?

Yes. A fence under 6 feet needs the zoning permit and a fence permit; a fence over 6 feet at any point needs the zoning permit and a full building permit.

Is there an occupancy inspection when I sell my house?

No resale occupancy permit has been issued since 2017. Instead you file a $50 Owner Change Application and get a $225 sewer dye test certification.

How much is a building permit for a new house?

The UCC fee schedule the city posts charges $0.45 per gross square foot with a $650 minimum, plus $105 plan review per unit and the $4.50 state fee.

Can I email my building permit application?

Yes. The application says to email building applications to washington.cityclerk@gmail.com or mail them to City Hall.

What does a Zoning Hearing Board hearing cost?

$1,000 plus $2,500 held in escrow for hearing costs, under Resolution 16 of 2025.

Simplify Washington permitting with Alliance Permitting

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.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Washington permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.