Erie, PA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

City Code Section 1503.41(a) sets Erie's baseline rule for residential work: anyone who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a residential building, or to erect, install, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system regulated by the Uniform Construction Code, must first apply to the Building Code Official and obtain the permit under Section 1503.42. Section 1503.31(a) imposes the identical requirement for commercial buildings, structures and facilities. Emergency repairs or equipment replacement can proceed without a permit in hand, but the permit application must still be filed within three business days under Section 1503.41(b).

A permit fee applies from the moment the application is filed: Section 1502.02 sets a $25 administration and technology fee for every building permit plus a construction-cost fee starting at $25 for projects up to $2,000 and rising by $7 for every $1,000 above that, with a separate $100 fee for the certificate-of-occupancy inspection and a $300 charge for emergency or weekend call-out inspections. Not every project needs a permit. Section 1503.41(c) lists specific exemptions, including retaining walls four feet or less in height, water tanks up to 5,000 gallons, sidewalks and driveways 30 inches or less above grade, prefabricated pools less than 24 inches deep, uncovered decks under 100 square feet at 30 inches or less above grade, and cosmetic work such as painting, papering and re-siding.

A Building Code Official must grant or deny a complete permit application within 30 business days of filing, in writing if denied, under Section 1503.33(a).