williamsport construction codes

Construction Projects, Building and Remodeling all require Zoning approval, the issuance of a Building Permit and possibly other permits and approvals.

Before beginning any project, you should check with the Bureau of Codes for help in determining what, if any permits and approvals are required.

Inspections Required

Contact Information - All notification must be received at least 24 hours in advance

Required Inspections Brochure	Zoning Official	Building Official
Click Here to Download This brochure contains all the information in the section below.	Gary Knarr 245 West Fourth Street Williamsport, PA 17701 (570) 327-7518	Joe Gerardi 245 West Fourth Street Williamsport, PA 17701 (570) 327-7527

Be advised a complete set of drawings must accompany the permit application. Once the project(s) have been approved a permit will then be issued.


Required plans & drawings

Site Plans A site plan is to be submitted for the following application(s): Building location in relationship to setback requirements. Construction of new driveways. Construction of new septic or sewer locations. Construction of new well or water locations. Construction of drainage and water run off control. Construction of roads, streams, flood locations and wetland areas.	Click Here to Download Required Drawings This brochure contains all the information in the section below.
Floor Plans Floor plans must be submitted with the following information: All levels of the dwelling such as the basement, first floor and second floor. All plans are required to be drawn to scale. All plans must have dimensions on them. Plans must denote all door and window locations. Any information concerning code requirements, such as emergency egress, windows, fire barriers, access, etc.	Wall Sections All wall sections must contain the following information: All sections must be shown in its entirety. All materials need to be indicated on the sections. All insulation needs to be identified. Floor and roof structures need to be identified. All reinforcing needs to be identified.
Windows & Doors All plans for windows & doors must have the following information: Rough opening sizes U-Values Indication of which windows are emergency accessible & emergency egress. Indication of the windows which have tempered glass.	Elevation Plans Elevation plans must have the following information: All elevations must be to scale Grade lines Exterior material indicated Window heights off floor levels Window heights off exterior grade.
Mechanical Drawings All mechanical drawings must contain the following information: Furnace, heat pump or boiler location and size. Air conditioning unit location and size. The location of all main duct runs.	Electrical Drawings All electrical drawings must contain the following information: Smoke alarm locations. General lighting fixture locations. GFCI locations. Exhaust fan locations. Panel box location and size of box.
Energy Compliance You have a choice of the following: Residential IRC, Chapter 11 IECC, Chapter 5 PA Alternative RES Check Commercial IBC, Chapter 13 IECC, Chapter 5 Com Check	Plumbing Drawings All plumbing drawings must contain the following information: Water heater location. General layout of the sanitary system with venting shown. General layout of all domestic lines.
Please note: Additional drawings may be required, depending on the size and type of building. The City of Williamsport abides by all current International Code Standards, Codified Ordinances of the City of Williamsport, Third Class City Code and by the Uniform Construction Code. "ICC" or International Code Council may be contacted at: WWW.ICCSAFE.ORG

permit & license fees

Cost of Construction Permit Fee Add to the permit fee an additional $ 4.00 for the Act 45 Fee.		Click Here to Download License & Permit Fees This brochure contains all the information in the section below.
$ 0.00 - 999.99 $ 1,000 - 1,499.99 $ 1,500 - 2,499.99 $ 2,500 - 4,999.99 $ 5,000 - 9,999.99 Over $10,000	$ 28.00 $ 33.00 $ 39.00 $ 55.00 $ 110.00 $100.00 plus $ 5.00 for each additional $1,000
Planning & Zoning Permits Zoning Book is available online		Contractor Registration Fees
Zoning Map Zoning Permit Variance Special Exception Conditional Use Land Development Easement Final plan review + $ 40.00 for each lot	$ 10.00 $ 45.00 $ 150.00 $ 150.00 $ 150.00 $ 150.00 $ 75.00 $ 125.00	Building Contractor Electrical Contractor Master Plumber Journeyman Plumber Apprentice Plumber Tree Arborist 2-year Contractor 3-year Contractor	$ 60.00 $ 60.00 $ 30.00 $ 20.00 $ 15.00 $ 60.00 $ 110.00 $ 165.00
Other Permits		Other Licenses
Event Permit Event which does not require ANY type of City service. Fee will be waived if event is city co-sponsored. Special Event Permit Event which requires at least ONE type of City service. Fee will be waived if event is city co-sponsored. Mall Permit Dumpster Permit Tent Permit Temporary Pool Permit Sidewalk Permit Driveway Permit Street Tree Permit Outdoor Seating Permit Pyrotechnics Permit Includes Fire Inspection Bonfire Permit Includes Fire Inspection Bleacher Permit Includes set-up and removal	$ 5.00 $ 10.00 $ 10.00 $ 15.00 $ 25.00 $ 3.00 $ 20.00 $ 20.00 $ 5.00 $ 25.00 $ 75.00 $ 75.00 $ 25.00	Restaurant License Food Vendor License Merchandise Vendor License Pole Permit Street Cuts Curb Cuts	$ 40.00 $ 30.00 $ 15.00 $ 15.00 $ 75.00 $ 50.00

Electrical & Handicap inspectors

All electrical work performed in the City of Williamsport must be insepected by third party Electrical Inspector that has been approved by the Bureau of Codes to perform these required inspections.

Approved Electrical Inspectors:

Fire Protection Systems
Information on Fire Protection Systems
All information is from the 2009 International Property Maintenance Code Book, Chapter 7, Fire Safety Requirements

Section 704.1 General
All systems, devices and equipment to detect a fire, actuate an alarm, or suppress or control a fire or any combination thereof shall be maintained in an operable condition at all times in accordance with the International Fire Code.

Section 704.2 Smoke Alarms
Single or multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed and maintained in Groups R-2, R-3, R-4 and in dwellings not regulated in Group R occupancies, regardless of occupant load at all of the following locations:

• On the ceiling or wall outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms
• In each room used for sleeping purposes.
• In each story within a dwelling unit, including basements and cellars but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics. In dwellings or dwelling units with split-levels and without an intervening door between the adjacent levels, a smoke alarm installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper level.

Single or multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed in other groups in accordance with the International Fire Code.

Section 704.3 Power Source
In Group R occupancies and in dwellings not regulated as Group R occupancies, single-station smoke alarms shall receive their primary power from the building wiring provided that such wiring is served from a commercial source and shall be equipped with a battery backup. Smoke alarms shall emit a signal when the batteries are low. Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than as required for overcurrent protection.

Exception: Smoke alarms are permitted to be solely battery operated in buildings where no construction is taking place, buildings that are not served from a commercial power source and in existing areas of buildings undergoing alterations or repairs that do not result in the removal of interior wall or ceiling finishes exposing the structure, unless there is an attic, crawl space or basement available which could provide access for building wiring without the removal of interior finishes.

Section 704.4 Interconnection
Where more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit in Group R-2, R-3, R-4 and in dwellings as Group R occupancies, the smoke alarms shall be interconnected in such a manner that the activation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual unit. The alarm shall be clearly audible in all bedrooms over background noise levels with all intervening doors closed.

Exceptions: 1. Interconnection is not required in buildings which are not undergoing alterations, repairs, or construction of any kind.
2. Smoke alarms in existing areas are not required to be interconnected where alterations or repairs do not result in the removal of interior wall or ceiling finishes exposing the structure, unless there is an attic, crawl space or basement available which could provide access from interconnection without the removal of interior finishes.

* Smoke alarms that are ten (10) years old or older must be replaced. Smoke alarms must be installed according to manufacturer's instructions. NFPA Regulation