Frequently Asked Questions

While Easttown Township does not have a catalogue of site maps or plot plans for every property within its jurisdiction, you may submit an Open Records request to access any site maps, plot plans, or lot drawings on file from previous permits or historical property records. Additionally, aerial views of each property along with district information, set back requirements, and land use information can be found using Easttown Township's interactive zoning map, MapLink. If you are seeking high levels of detail for your property, you may wish to hire a company to create a site map or perform a land survey.

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.

If you did not receive an automated payment request email within 24 hours of your permit approval notice, please call or email the Permit Clerk at 610-687-3000 or easttown@easttown.org. Please note that the automated payment request process for final permit fees due does not apply to zoning permits or drainage permits.

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.

A zoning permit expires (becomes invalid) after one year from the date of issuance.

A building 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

• 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

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.

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.

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. 

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.