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1. How much does a Building permit cost in Easttown Township?

All Building permits (including Re-roofing and Mechanical permits) have an application fee and a permit fee. Note: A permit is not valid until the required fees are collected.

As of December 2022,
according to the Easttown Township fee schedule* the application fee is $75 for
residential properties and $105 for non-residential or multi-family properties.

The permit fee for
all building permits is calculated as 2% of the project cost.

Kindly note that
additional fees apply for Certificates of Occupancy (CO). If a building project
requires a CO, a fee will be added to the permit cost upon approval ($75 for residential projects and $105 for non-residential). Should
a residential temporary or conditional CO be requested, another fee will be charged for the additional CO.

*The Easttown Township Fee Schedule is reviewed and
approved annually by the Board of Supervisors. Please be sure to review the
most current fee schedule prior to applying for your permit.

2. Do I need to post a copy of my permit on-site?

There is not a specific requirement to post the permit on-site, however, the permit holder must keep a
copy of the permit and any released plans on the work site until the completion
of the construction.

3. Does my Building permit expire? If so, when?

A permit expires (becomes invalid) unless the authorized construction work begins within 180 days after the permit’s issuance or if the authorized construction work permit is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after the work has commenced. A permit holder may submit a written request for an extension of time to commence construction for just cause. The building code official may grant extensions of time to commence construction in writing. A permit may be valid for no more than 5 years from its issue date.

4. My permit has already been issued. I'd like to make changes to the originally approved plans. What do I do?

All work shall be performed in accordance with the approved construction documents. The permit holder shall submit a revised set of construction documents for approval for changes made during construction that are not in accordance with the approved construction documents.

5. How can I change a contractor on my permit?

In order to change, remove, or add a new contractor to your open permit, submit the following information in person or by email to easttown@easttown.org: 

1. Letter signed by the applicant and property owner referencing the permit number and informing the township of the addition/change/removal of contractors
2. Certificate of Insurance showing Easttown Township as the Certificate Holder for new contractor listing the following: 
   • General Liability Coverage
   • Worker's Compensation Coverage
     • If the contractor is not required to carry Worker’s Compensation Insurance, a notarized affidavit must be submitted
3. Copy of contractor’s PA Home Improvement Registration 
   • If the contract does not hold this registration, the contractor must register with the township directly

6. Electrical - How do I submit an electrical permit?

An electrical permit
would be considered a type of building permit and can be applied for using the
general building permit application (parts X and XI on page 3 are specific to
electrical work). 

Note: Easttown Township does not provide the required electrical
inspection services in order to authorize work to be installed in construction
projects. The contractor of record shall supply their own electrical inspection
through an authorized agency. For all work requiring an electrical permit, an
approved third party electrical underwriter must
be selected and all submitted electrical plans must contain an approval stamp from the chosen underwriter.

7. Electrical - What is a third party electrical underwriter?

A third party electrical underwriter is an agency certified by the PA Department of Labor
& Industry.  

Underwriters provide code services to ensure all electrical
installations comply with applicable provisions of the National Electrical
Code and the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.

8. Electrical - What third party agencies are approved electrical underwriters for Easttown Township?

• American Inspection
  Agency, Inc. – 610-678-4336 | 342 Miller Road, Sinking Spring, PA 19608
• Bureau
  Veritas-Atlantic Inland Inspection, Inc. – 610-543-3925 | 790A Parkway Drive,
  Broomall, PA 19008
• Code Inspections,
  Inc. – 215-672-9400 | 603 Horsham Road, Horsham, PA 19044
• Commonwealth Code
  Inspections Service, Inc. – 717-664-2347 | 176 Doe Run Road, Manheim, PA 17545
• Middle Atlantic
  Inspections, Inc. – 215-322-2626 | 302 East Pennsylvania Boulevard,
  Feasterville, PA 19053
• Middle Department
  Inspections Agency, Inc. – 610-696-3900 | PO Box 2654, West Chester, PA 19380
• United Inspection
  Agency (Len Warren) – 215-542-9977 | 716 N. Bethlehem Pike, Suite 300, Lower
  Gwynedd, PA 19002

9. Emergency - I had an repair performed without a permit due to an emergency. How do I obtain a permit?

Emergency repairs or replacement of equipment may be made without first applying for a permit if a permit application is submitted to the building code official within three (3)
business days of the repair or replacement.

10. Plumbing/Sewer - What is the difference between a Plumbing permit and a Sanitary Sewer permit?

A plumbing permit is considered a type of building permit and can be applied for using the general building permit application. The scope of work for this type of permit would be limited to work performed on interior plumbing. 

A Sanitary Sewer permit application is separate from the general building permit application and applies to work performed between the principal building and the sewer main. This includes, but may not be limited to, repairs to the sewer lateral as well as disconnection, reconnection, or new connection to the sewer main.

Costs for Sanitary Sewer permits will vary depending on the scope of work. Please refer to the most recent Easttown Township Fee Schedule for more details.

11. How can I obtain a temporary/conditional certificate of occupancy?

A building code official may issue a temporary certificate of occupancy (CO) for a portion or portions of the building or structure before the completion of the entire work covered by the permit if the portion or portions may be occupied safely. The building code official shall set a time period during which the temporary certificate of occupancy is valid.

In order to request a temporary/conditional certificate of occupancy in Easttown Township, kindly submit the following:

1. Letter of instruction signed by the permit holder requesting a conditional CO referencing the open building permit number, property address, and date by which the project is expected to be completed.
2. $10,000 check deposit* to be held in escrow until project completion. 

*Please note projects related to an open subdivision plan may be subject to a different deposit amount. 

12. My building project is now complete. When will I receive my final Certificate of Occupancy?

If a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is required for your project, a final occupancy inspection must be conducted and all outstanding payments (permit fees and Township Consultant Fees) must be paid in full. Provided all fees are paid and final inspection has passed, the Building Code Official will issue a final certificate of occupancy within five (5) business days.*

*Per the Easttown Township fee schedule, a Certificate of Occupancy will not be issued until all outstanding payments (permit fees and Township Consultant Fees) have been paid in full.