• All Commercial applications with plans, in addition to submitting hard copies to the Code Enforcement Division, must also be e-mailed to codeenforcement@abingtonpa.gov. Thank you for your cooperation. 
• Please be advised the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (Act 132 of 2008) and the International Building Code mandated by the Department of Labor and Industry of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and adopted by the Township of Abington are in effect.  Contractors who perform home improvements for which the total cash value is $5,000 or more per year are required to register with the Office of Attorney General by July 1. Click here for registration form and details.
• Within the regulations there will be more stringent requirements for plans that are submitted for permits, both commercial and residential;
• Applications for commercial work must include plans prepared by an architect and be complete with electrical, plumbing, HVAC and energy calculations;
• Improperly preparing your application, as noted above, will automatically cause delays in your time schedule for most anticipated work; therefore, ample time should be factored in when preparing your plans. Due to the scope of work to be reviewed, additional time will be required by the Code Department to review the average submittal;
• Any application for a building permit that requires access to a highway falling under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation, will not be issued until a Highway Occupancy Permit is issued;
• The Township of Abington is now requiring that all commercial projects be reviewed entirely prior to permit submission to the Township.  An entire plan review would consist of Building, Electric, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Fire and Accessibility. Applicants must use a state approved third party agency.
• Questions regarding the process can be directed to 267-536-1000 ext. 4. 

All contractors who perform work within Abington Township are required to register with the Township. Contractors who perform home improvements for which the total cash value is $5,000 or more per year are required to register with the Office of Attorney General by July 1. Click here for registration form and details.

Please note, when making application for permits where the permit fee is calculated by the cost of the job, a copy of the “work contract” must be submitted with the permit application. As with all permit applications, if this information is not available at the time the application is submitted, you will be asked to return at a later time to complete the process.

• Contractor License
• Contractor Registration - Home Improvements
• Workers Compensation Insurance Coverage Information

• Apply Online for a Fence Permit 
• Building Permit Application
  • Please note, only the highlighted parts on the application need to be filled out. 
• Plot Plan 
  • Sample Plot Plan
  • Identify if you are a corner property
• Fee Schedule:
  • For fencing (fee schedule #11)
    • $.30 per linear foot
  • For retaining walls (fee schedule #12)
    • $1.50 per linear foot
• Structural review/plan from a professional engineer is required for any wall or retaining wall over 48" in height.
• Grading plan may be required if any changes to topography are proposed for the installation of a new retaining wall.

Click here to view Fire Protection Permits. 

All Fire Protection Plans & Permits are submitted through the Fire Marshal’s Office.

Please note: Separate Electrical permit applications are required for HVAC installations. Job cost needs to be broken out on both applications between the cost for the HVAC and Electrical.   

• HVAC Permit Application
• Commercial Construction Documents
• Fee Schedule ( # 13) 

  • Project Cost	Fees
    $1 - $500	$25
    $501 - $1,000	$35
    Each $1,000 over $1,000 or faction thereof	$10

• Electrical Permit Application
• Inspections must be conducted by an approved third party agency found on the application. Reports are to be submitted to the Township.
• Fee Schedule:
  •  Subject to $4.50 state fee

  • Project Cost	Fees
    $1 - $500	$15
    $501 - $1,000	$30
    $1,001 - $1,500	$45
    $1,501 - $2,000	$60
    Each $1,000 over $2,000 or fraction thereof	$15

• Plumbing Permit Application
• Applications must be submitted by and inspections must be scheduled by a master plumber that is registered with the Township
• Fee Schedule
  • $200 for 1- 6 fixtures
  • $20 for each additional fixture
  • $4.50 state fee

Apply Online for a Roofing/Siding Permit

Building Permit Application

Fee Schedule (#19)

• Project Cost	Fees
  $1 - $2,000	$250
  $1,000 or fraction thereof over $2,000	$35

• Sign (erection, alteration or repair of) Application
• Fee Schedule:
  • Up to (10) square feet of sign area - $50.00.
  • Over (10) square feet of sign area, for each additional square foot or fraction thereof -$15.00
  • Subject to $4.50 state fee
  • Subject to $50 review fee

• Building Permit Application
• Fee Schedule (Item #14)
• Subject to $50.00 plan review fee and $4.50 state fee. 

• Project Cost	Fees
  $1 - $500	$25
  $501 - $1,000	$40
  $1,001 - $2,000	$75
  $2,001 - $3,000	$110
  $3,001 - $4,000	$145
  $4,001 - $5,000	$180
  Each $1,000 over $5,000 or fraction thereof	$35

• Electrical Permit Application
  • Inspections must be conducted by an approved third party agency found on the application. Reports are to be submitted to the Township.
  • Applicants must separate job costs for building and electrical. 
• Fee Schedule:
  •  Subject to $4.50 state fee

  • Project Cost	Fees
    $1 - $500	$15
    $501 - $1,000	$30
    $1,001 - $1,500	$45
    $1,501 - $2,000	$60
    Each $1,000 over $2,000 or fraction thereof	$15

• Approval from utility company (usually PECO)
• Two sets of structural plans signed and sealed from a Pennsylvania licensed Professional Engineer

• Tank Installation and Removal Permit
  • Apply Online for a Tank Installation Permit
  • Apply Online for a Tank Removal Permit
• Fee Schedule
  • $30 for each 1,000 gallons or fraction thereof
  • State Fee: $4.50

• Apply Online for a Use and Occupancy Permit 
• Use and Occupancy Application
• Fee Schedule
  • $200 permanent location
  • $100 seasonal location

Please note this applications is only for commercial, triplex and quadplex use. A use and occupancy permit is not required for the resale of single family dwellings. 

• WCF Application
• Fee Schedule:
  • Collocated WCF - $1,000.00
  • Small WCF (Collocated) - $500.00 for up to five (5) Small WCFs in a single application, $100.00 for each small WCF thereafter
  • Small WCF (requiring new/replacement Wireless Support Structure) - $1,000.00
  • Tower-Based WCF - $2,500.00
•  Subject to $4.50 state fee

All projects relating to WCFs must comply with the requirements of Ordinance # 2195 & 2196 (as applicable):

• Ordinance # 2195 – Standards relating to Wireless Communications Facilities
• Ordinance # 2196 – Standards relating to Small Wireless Communications Facilities in the Right-of-Way

The Township of Abington requires that all WCFs be reviewed entirely for Building and Electrical prior to permit submission to the Township. Applicants must use a state approved third party agency. Certified third party agencies per the PA Department of Labor & Industry can be found at https://www.dli.pa.gov/ucc/buildings/Pages/default.aspx.

Electrical permit applications must be submitted with all WCF applications.

• Electrical Permit Application
• Inspections must be conducted by an approved third party agency found on the application. Reports are to be submitted to the Township.
• We do not accept Fire Alarm Plans combined with Electrical Permit Submittals. Fire Alarm Plans require a separate permit from the Fire Marshal’s Office.
• Fee Schedule:
  •  Subject to $4.50 state fee

Project Cost	Fees
$1 - $500	$15
$501 - $1,000	$30
$1,001 - $1,500	$45
$1,501 - $2,000	$60
Each $1,000 or fraction thereof over $2,000	$15