How to Get a Building Permit in Pittsburgh, PA
Whether your are building a small bungalow on the North Side or trying to build a skyscraper near Heinz Field, the permitting process in Pittsburgh is pretty much the same for both. It's about a four-step process that requires the approval of several agencies including the zoning office and public works. There has been a lot of redevelopment in Pittsburgh during the last decade, but you can still find some good land deals. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Start at the zoning office, which is open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. five days a week. Here is where you must file an occupancy permit as well as provide the basic plans for the construction. The zoning administrator will then decide whether the project meets city codes or is worthy of a special exemption.
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Go to the Bureau of Building Inspections next. This is where you will get the actual building permit if your project met zoning laws. This is where you will spend the bulk of your time in the process. However, you are not done yet.
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Find 414 Grant Avenue, which is where the public works office is located. This office will decide if you can get special variances from the city to help construction as well as see if new water lines need to be run to the project.
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Then it is off to the water and sewer authority to get approval for sewage and water to be run to the house. This will require several forms to be filled out.
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Call up the health department. Its plumbing division will have final say on sewage pipes. In addition, if you are building a restaurant the health department will check on that as well.
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Tips & Warnings
While the process for permitting is the same, the fees are very different. In general, the more you build, the more you pay in fees. It is $25 just to apply.
