Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code, the statewide building code, requires a permit before most work that changes a house’s structure, exits, wiring, plumbing, gas or mechanical systems. Conshohocken Borough, West Conshohocken Borough, Plymouth Township and Whitemarsh Township each enforce that code through their own office, so the permit comes from the municipality where the house sits. The state’s exemptions also give way to some local ordinances, so a job the state rules exempt can still need a local permit. Call the office before work starts.
Who to call
The Department of Labor and Industry lists all four municipalities as “opt-in,” meaning they chose to enforce the code themselves. Its list notes that each one carried over amendments to the code from an ordinance in effect before July 1, 1999, and the department says it keeps no record of what those amendments say. The offices below are the ones each municipality names on its own website, checked on October 3, 2026.
| Office | Address and phone | Posted hours |
|---|---|---|
| Conshohocken Borough, Licenses & Inspections | Borough Hall, 400 Fayette Street, Suite 200; 610-828-1092 | Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Borough Hall) |
| West Conshohocken Borough, Code Enforcement | Borough Hall, 112 Ford Street; 610-828-9747, ext. 3 | Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. |
| Plymouth Township, Code Enforcement Department | Township Building, 700 Belvoir Road, Plymouth Meeting; 610-277-4103 | Weekdays, 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. |
| Whitemarsh Township, Building & Permits | 616 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill; 610-825-3535 | Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
What the state code exempts
The permit rule for houses is in 34 Pa. Code § 403.62. An owner or the owner’s authorized agent has to apply to the building code official and get a permit before building, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving or demolishing a house, or before installing or changing an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system the code covers.
The regulation exempts some work, as long as it does not break another law or ordinance:
- Fences up to 6 feet high.
- Retaining walls up to 4 feet high, unless the wall supports a surcharge, an added load on the ground behind it.
- Sidewalks and driveways no more than 30 inches above the ground and not over a basement.
- Uncovered decks with a floor no more than 30 inches above grade.
- Prefabricated pools less than 24 inches deep, playground equipment, and wall-mounted awnings that project no more than 54 inches.
- Ordinary repairs.
The regulation says what an ordinary repair is not. Cutting into a load-bearing wall, removing or cutting a beam or other structural support, changing a required exit, and adding or relocating any water, sewer, drain, gas or vent piping, wiring or mechanical equipment all need a permit.
The code’s scope section, § 403.1, adds more exemptions for houses: sheds, detached garages, carports and greenhouses under 1,000 square feet next to a detached single-family house; alterations that change neither structure nor exits; repairs; and vinyl or aluminum siding on an existing house. Each of those carries the same condition, that a municipality with a qualifying local ordinance can still require a permit. That is why the local office has the final word.
An emergency repair or replacement of equipment, such as a failed water heater, can go ahead without a permit if the application reaches the building code official within 3 business days.
Conshohocken Borough
The borough’s Licenses & Inspections division enforces borough ordinances and state and federal building codes. It issues permits for repairs, replacements, additions and new installations such as boilers and roofs, as well as use and occupancy permits.
The borough’s building permit application packet covers building, electrical, plumbing, sewer and mechanical work on one form. It asks whether there is a written contract between the owner and the contractor, and if there is, a copy has to be attached. It asks for each contractor’s borough license number. In capital letters, it says the permit must be approved, issued and posted on the job site before work begins. The fees listed in the packet for residential work include:
| Permit | Residential fee in the borough’s packet |
|---|---|
| Building | $50 minimum for work up to $1,000, plus $10 for each additional $1,000 or part of $1,000 |
| Electrical | $75 minimum plus 2% of the cost of the work, rounded up to the next $100 |
| Plumbing | $50 for the first 3 fixtures, $25 for each additional fixture; water heater $50 |
| Mechanical | $50 for a boiler or furnace up to 250,000 Btu; $50 for an air conditioner or heat pump |
| Sewer | $100 for a new or replacement building sewer |
West Conshohocken Borough
The borough’s Forms & Permits page posts a building permit application, a contractor registration form updated in May 2026, a fee schedule posted in January 2026, a zoning application, a residential use and occupancy application and a form for appealing code decisions. The fees and requirements in those documents could not be verified. Call the code enforcement office for the current fees and requirements.
Plymouth Township
Plymouth’s Code Enforcement Department handles building, zoning, housing and property maintenance, and it inspects every construction project. It asks for 48 hours’ notice for inspections, and the building inspector meets by appointment only.
The township’s residential code package, revised in April 2022, lists the work it treats as ordinary repair. That list includes painting, flooring, cabinets and countertops; replacing a window or door in the same opening without changing its size or framing; replacing siding; replacing up to 25% of a roof’s area within 12 months; and replacing a toilet, sink or faucet in the same location. The package says any work not on its list needs a permit. Sheds and detached garages under 1,000 square feet still need a zoning permit.
The package says fees for residential alterations, additions and repairs are based on the contract price, and a copy of the signed contract must come with every permit application. The total fee is the plan review and inspection fee, plus a 20% administrative charge, plus a $4.50 state fee. Residential plan review takes 15 working days from a complete submission, according to the package. It also lists codes from 2017 and 2018 editions, while the state moved to the 2021 International Residential Code on January 1, 2026, so ask the township whether the 2022 package is still current.
Whitemarsh Township
Whitemarsh uses one combined building and zoning permit application, last updated in May 2025. The township’s form center says applications cannot be submitted online and must be delivered in person at the Township Building or mailed with payment. The checklist at the front of the application asks for the fees, an insurance certificate, one paper set of plans and one electronic set, a site plan, foundation, architectural and structural details, energy calculations, and any zoning decisions. It says applications missing required information will not be accepted. The zoning officer and the building official both sign off.
Inspections
Under 34 Pa. Code § 403.64, the code official inspects all permitted work. The permit holder has to call when the work is ready and give the inspector access. The regulation names foundation, plumbing, mechanical and electrical, frame and masonry, wallboard and final inspections. Plymouth’s package adds footing and concrete inspections before a pour, sheathing, insulation and deck framing, and it says changes to approved plans must be submitted for approval before the changed work is done.
Who pulls the permit
The regulation lets the owner or an authorized agent apply, and most contractors apply for their clients. Put in the contract who applies for each permit, who pays the fees and who schedules inspections. Pennsylvania’s home improvement law lets you void a contract that asks you to waive building code requirements, as the contractor hiring guide explains.
Roofing permits, including Conshohocken’s re-roofing addendum, are covered at Conshy Roofers. Window permits are covered at Conshy Windows.