Bensalem, PA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- Department of Building and Planning
- Adopted codes
- IBC 2000, IRC 2000, UCC Act 45 of 1999
- Unpermitted start penalty
- All permit fees tripled (§66-2(6))
- Violation fine
- Up to $1,000 per violation per day (§66-2(8))
- Stop-work violation fine
- Up to $1,000 per day (§66-2(10))
- Director appointment
- Appointed by Mayor with Council consent
- Non-1-2-family inspections
- May be handled by PA Dept. of Labor & Industry
Summary
Bensalem Township charges a fee for every plan examination, building permit and inspection under the adopted fee schedule administered by the Department of Building and Planning. Starting construction, repair, alteration, removal or demolition before a permit issues triples every fee due under that schedule. Violating the Township's Building Code is a summary offense carrying a fine of up to $1,000 per violation, and each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense.
Section 108.2 is deleted in its entirety and amended to read as follows: Section 108.2. Schedule of Permittee. A fee for each plan examination, building permit and inspection shall be paid in accordance with the adopted fee schedule of the Township of Bensalem. ... 108.4. ... Work Commencing Before Permit Issuance. All fees as set forth in the adopted fee schedule shall be tripled for all applications submitted or permits acquired after the start of construction, repair, alteration, removal or demolition of building, structure or any part thereof. ... 113.4. ... Violation Penalties. Any Person who shall violate a provision of this code and/or any part of this ordinance, or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof, or who shall erect, construct, alter or repair a building or structure in violation of an approved plan or directive of the code official shall be guilty of a summary offence and each and every violation shall be fined a sum not in excess of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for each violation, and each day shall constitute a separate violation.
Full Breakdown
The Township adopted the International Building Code, First Edition, 2000, and the International One and Two Family Dwelling Code, 2000, as the Bensalem Township Building Code of 2001, subject to amendments in Section 66-2. That section deleted the model code's fee provision and replaced it with Section 108.2, tying every plan examination, permit and inspection fee to the Township's own adopted fee schedule rather than the model code's default. Section 108.4 adds a penalty for starting work early: any application submitted, or permit obtained, after construction, repair, alteration, removal or demolition has already begun has every one of its fees tripled, and the Township can still sue to force compliance on top of the tripled fee.
Section 103.1 creates the Department of Building and Planning as the enforcement agency, and Section 103.2 has the Mayor appoint its Director, with Council's consent, to serve at the Mayor's discretion. Under Section 66-4, adopting the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (Act 45 of 1999, 35 P.S. §§ 7210.101-7210.1103), the Township may administer inspections itself, retain a third-party construction code agency, join an intermunicipal agreement with another municipality, or turn structures other than one- and two-family dwellings over to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for plan review and inspection.
A Board of Appeals hears disputes over how the code is interpreted or applied. Section 113.4 makes any violation, including building contrary to an approved plan or a code official's directive, a summary offense fined up to $1,000 per violation, with each day of noncompliance a new offense, and Section 114.3 fines continued work after a stop-work order up to $1,000 a day.
Violations & Fines
A summary Building Code violation, including construction that departs from an approved plan or a code official's directive, is fined up to $1,000 per violation under Section 113.4, with every additional day of noncompliance treated as a new offense. Continuing work after a stop-work order adds a separate fine of up to $1,000 per day under Section 114.3. Starting construction, repair or demolition before the permit is issued triples every plan-examination, permit and inspection fee under Section 108.4, regardless of any later legal action the Township brings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit before starting construction in Bensalem Township?
Who inspects buildings and enforces the code in Bensalem?
What is the fine for a building code violation in Bensalem Township?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bensalem
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