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A permit grants legal permission to start a project in the City of Altoona. Building, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing permits are required in the City of Altoona in accordance with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code. Permits allow for the enforcement of the codes to ensure safe construction.

The City of Altoona reviews and approves plans for commercial and residential work. For a commercial project, plans must be submitted electronically to Middle Department Inspection Agency. One hard copy set of plans is required to be submitted to the City.

Building Permits are required for all new construction, and existing construction:

• Construction of any new type of building
• Building or repairing a deck, garage, accessory building
• Prefabricated structures and temporary structures
• Demolition of any structure or part of a structure
• Swimming pools
• Signs
• Replacing or repairing a roof, porch, foundation or siding
• Cutting away any wall, partition or portion thereof, removal or cutting of any structural beam or loadbearing support, or rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting egress requirements
• Four or more windows
• Four or more steps

Simple repairs such as painting, floor coverings, wallpaper, suspended ceilings, cabinets, countertops, sidewalk repairs, spouting, and accessory structures less than 100 sq. ft. in size or replacing less than four windows are exempt from building permit requirements.

Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing permit applications are only available in our offices, and may only be obtained by a licensed master tradesman.

Questions regarding permits should be directed to the Codes & Inspections Department by calling 814-949-2456 or use this contact E-Form.