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| Code Enforcement The Borough follows the statewide Uniform Construction Code (UCC) for all properties including residential, commercial and industrial. This means we require a building permit for alterations as well as new construction. A zoning permit may be required. In addition, the Borough enforces the International Property Maintenance Code, which requires all properties to be maintained in such a way that the neighborhood is enhanced. All rental properties must be registered and have a Certificate of Occupancy. Before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued, the unit and the building must comply with the Property Maintenance Code. A subcontractor handles our building inspections. ARRO Consulting provides contract inspectors who act on the Borough's behalf. The building code official stops in the Borough Office daily. Please call the office to check his availability. If you have any questions regarding code enforcement, check the Frequently Asked Questions listed below or you can contact the Borough's Code Enforcement Officer at 610-587-9950. |
| 1. When do I need a Building Permit? | |||||||||
| The
International Building Code states that Any owner or authorized agent
who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or
change the occupancy of a building or structure shall first make application
to the building official and obtain the required permit.
This primarily means that if you are going to do anything (but basic
cosmetic changes to a building -paint, paper, replace one item with
one that is exactly the same as the old one) - you will need to check
with the Building Inspector about a permit. |
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| 2. When do I need an Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical Permit? | |||||||||
Any owner or authorized agent who intends to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit. This is the same answer as to when you need a building permit. These permits are called sub codes and they are all now regulated under the International Building Code. While the code could be interpreted to mean that any change to the system at all requires a permit, the interpretation in Parkesburg is to require a permit when the change affects the main system. Replacing an existing plumbing fixture will not require a permit, however adding a new fixture will. Changing a lighting fixture does not require a permit but adding an outlet to a room will. The important word there is system. If you are only replacing an individual component with a like component, then permits are not generally required. Any addition or significant change that affects the system will require a permit. It is generally best to check with the code official if you are in doubt. |
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| 3. How is a Building Permit different from a Zoning Permit? | |||||||||
| There are some similarities in the two permits, but primarily the differences are a zoning permit regulates how the land and structures are used while a building permit regulates how the structures are constructed. Some changes to a building may require a zoning permit as well as a building permit. In Parkesburg, we use the same permit to minimize the hassle. This is also a way of making certain that neither permit is overlooked. Examples of times when a zoning permit is required would include: change in building dimensions, additions such as decks, fences over 4 ft., etc., or a change in use. |
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| The Borough
of Parkesburg has requirements for permits for the following issues:
Zoning, Curb Cut, Fences, Sidewalk, Highway Occupancy, Street Opening,
Fire Protection, Health, as well as Labor and Industry Permits may
be required depending on use, design, and location upon the project. |
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| 5. Can I do my own work? | |||||||||
| Yes, however all work must be completed in a workmanlike manner and in accordance with the Building Code. Whenever the building official finds any work regulated by this code being performed in a manner contrary to the provisions of this code or in a dangerous or unsafe manner, the building official is authorized to issue a stop work order. |
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| 6. If I do my own work, do I need a permit? | |||||||||
Yes, permits are required based on what work is necessary, not who is doing the work. |
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| 7. Must I have an architect or engineer do the plans? | |||||||||
| The Code allows the building official to require signed and sealed plans. For commercial projects, however, we strongly recommend and often require signed and sealed construction documents. We also require signed and sealed construction documents for residential construction. Examples of when we may require these documents might include additions or structural alterations. Signed and sealed construction documents can be waived if the work is deemed minor in nature. All new construction will require signed and sealed plans, as well as plans reviewed by the Plans Review Officer before a permit will be issued. |
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| 8. How long does it take to get a permit approved? | |||||||||
Time frame can vary depending upon the following:
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| 9. What information should I be prepared to provide in order to get my permit in a timely fashion? | |||||||||
The following items should be provided:
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| 10. How long do I have to get the work done? | |||||||||
Building Permits become void if work authorized by the permit is not started within 6 months after the permit is issued or work is discontinued for a period of 6 months after work has commenced. This time frame shall hold true unless the building permit was issued in order to abate an outstanding violation of the property maintenance code. In that case, work needed to abate the violation shall be completed in accordance with the time prescribed on the Notice of Violation. |
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| 11. What are the average fees for a permit in Parkesburg? | |||||||||
| The fees vary. Permits are broken down into Residential and Commercial categories which are further broken down into new construction or alterations to existing facilities. Permits for other categories are broken down depending on the cost of work or square feet of construction. Each sub code that is necessary also has a fee attached to it. These fees are designed to just cover the cost of providing the inspection services. Please see fee schedule. |
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| 12. What is a Change of Use? | |||||||||
| A Change
of Use is defined when a structure or portion of a structure changes
from one group classification to another. Use groups are clearly listed
in the building code as follows: Assembly, Business, Educational, Factory & Industrial,
High Hazard, Institutional, Mercantile, Residential, Storage, and Utility.
Changing a commercial property from business to mercantile or reverse
of that is common. This change of use brings about a need to secure
a building permit and to provide for certain types of code compliance
which is based on the renovations required to conduct the new use. |
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| 13. What is a Change of Occupancy? | |||||||||
A change in the purpose or level of activity within a structure that involves a change in application of the requirements of this code. No change shall be made, without a permit, in the use or occupancy of a building that would place the building in a different division of the same group of occupancy or in a different group of occupancies. |
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| 14. What is the ADA and what is it all about? | |||||||||
| The ADA is a Federal law that is commonly called Americans With Disabilities Act. It is a law that requires that all public buildings are accessible to those with wide ranging types of disabilities. In addition, it requires accessibility standards for all new construction and to a lesser standard, any older building that invites the public in to do business. |
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| 15. What type of building must comply with the ADA? | |||||||||
In order to comply with the ADA, the International Building Code created chapters for accessibility requirements. These requirements for buildings are determined and enforced in accordance with Chapter 11 & 34 of the Building Code and ANSI Standard A 117.1. These must be evaluated based upon planned or required construction and may be required with a change of use or occupancy, even if no significant work is planned. |
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| 16. Can you tell me why my existing office/store needs a handicap bathroom when I am the only employee, I am not handicapped, and I am not going to allow the public to use my bathroom? | |||||||||
The law was written so that buildings would be brought into an accessibility standard as quickly as possible but without mandating that every building be in compliance by a certain date. The theory is that if a building is accessible to the public and to the employees, then the lack of accessibility is not a valid limitation to either serving the handicapped public or hiring the interested but handicapped employee. Under this type of guidance from the enacting law, the code was written to generate as much accessibility as quickly as it can be done. This definitely puts an impact on a new owner of a building, someone changing the use of the building, or an existing owner who decides to do some renovation. Each of these events can and probably will trigger some type of accessibility requirements. The amount of the project and which particular project is required is dependent on the particular situation. As for the exact answer to the question, it is uncertain what the trigger was that caused the bathroom to have to be accessible, but in general if you are doing work on the bathroom in a commercial structure, you can probably depend on having to make it accessible. |
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| 17. If I am just replacing something like steps or windows, do I need a permit? | |||||||||
| This is really a two-part question. Any changes to the entrances and exits to a building, including owner occupied residential structures require a permit. This means that the replacement of steps would require a permit because there are code requirements for width, tread height, tread depth, handrails, and guardrails that must be met. On the other hand, window replacement that does not alter the type, size, location, or number of windows does not require a permit. If you are altering any of these items with the new windows, then a permit will be required as there light, ventilation, emergency egress, and framing issues that the code addresses. |
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| 18. Other than a completed permit application as you suggested above, what are the recommendations for a successful permit process? | |||||||||
Don't wait to the last minute to apply for your permit. Leave some time to complete the process. The building department is here to protect the residents. Ensuring compliance and safe structures takes time. If your project requires a zoning permit, please leave at least two weeks from the submission of the project until you want to start your project. The Borough of Parkesburg does not employ a full time zoning officer and these only get reviewed weekly. |
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| 19. What is a Certificate of Occupancy (CO)? | |||||||||
| A Certificate of Occupancy is issued after the building official inspects the building or structure and finds no violations of the provisions of this code or other laws that are enforced by the building department. A CO is issued when a building permit has been issued and the project is complete and without violations. In addition, in the Borough of Parkesburg, a CO is required every two years of any property that is not owner occupied. These properties must be brought into compliance with the property maintenance code of the International Building Code every two years. No rental property is allowed to have tenants without having a CO issued. |
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| 20. If I need more information how do I get it? | |||||||||
The Borough of Parkesburg is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM. The phone number is 610-857-2616. You may pick up an application at the Borough Office between the same hours.
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