Commercial Building Permit
A commercial building permit is required for the following work on a commercial building or structure:
- Renovate and repair an existing building or structure
- Construct an addition to an existing building or structure
- Construct a new structure or accessory structure.
Please see Permit Home for definition of commercial structures and work types. Please see work not requiring a permit for work that can be performed without a PLI permit. Please visit our Contacts page for Construction Inspector contact information.
Over the counter applications will require a Commercial Building Permit Application.
Accessory Structure
An accessory structures are smaller normally un-occupied structures that are associated with a structure that serves as the primary use of the property. Accessory structures include, but are not limited to fences, pools, decks, sheds, garages, etc.
New Construction Work Type:
- New Building Complete: applies to the complete construction of a new building or structure under a single building permit.
- New Building Phased: applies to the construction of a new building or structure under separate permits for each phase.
- For example, separate permits for each: foundation, superstructure, building shell, building core and fit-out.The scope of each phased permit is up to the applicant to define.
- Please note that permit holders proceed at their own risk with phased permits with no assurance that PLI will grant a permit for the entire structure.
- Site Work: applies to modifications to the site beyond those directly associated with the construction of the building. This would exclude excavation for the foundation.
- Accessory Structure – applies to the construction of accessory structures in association with the primary building or structure.
Addition / Alteration Work Type:
- this applies to modifications of an existing structure which either increases the area or the volume of the building or structure.
- Alterations – Exterior: this applies to any modification to the exterior of the structure which are beyond a level 1 alteration or is associated with the construction of addition or accessory structure.
- Alterations – Interior: this applies to any modification to the interior of the structure that are beyond a level 1 alteration or is associated with the construction of addition or accessory structure.
- Accessory Structure: this applies to construction of a new accessory structure or modifications to an existing structure that is accessory to an existing primary building or structure.
Minor Work Type:
- Interior Non-Structural Demolition: applies to interior demolition that is non-structural in nature. Note a separate building permit with Addition / Alteration Work Type
- Level 1 Alterations Only - Exterior: applies to modifications of exterior of the structure which are limited to level 1 alterations.
- Level 1 Alterations Only - Interior: applies to modifications of interior of the structure which are limited to level 1 alterations.
Level 1 Alterations:
Level 1 alterations are those as defined by the current applicable International Existing Building Code: removal and replacement of the covering of existing materials or elements with new materials or elements that serve the same purpose. This would include but is not limited to:
- Exterior: replacement of roofing, replacement in kind (same size and location) of windows and doors, exterior wall covering such as siding.
- Interior: replacement of interior wall coverings, replacement in kind (same size and location) of existing window and doors.
This would exclude:
- Reconfiguration of space
- Elimination or addition of any door or window (interior or exterior)
Permit Process
See these webpages for additional information regarding the permitting process:
- Application Submission
- Application Review
- All Work Types other than Minor Alterations require submission of drawings to OneStopPGH
- Permit Issuance
- Permit Inspections
- Permit Completion
Please see Other Agency Coordination for processes related to other agencies that may relate to your permit scope. For commercial building permits:
- Zoning Development Review application submission is required for the following:
- New Construction Work Type for all work scopes
- Addition / Alteration Work Type with these work scopes:
- Addition
- Alterations – Exterior
- Accessory Structure
- Work that includes a change in use or certification of a new use.
- Or any work scope if the property is located in a regulated floodplain.
- Minor Work Type with this work scope:
- Level 1 Alterations Only - Exterior
- Or any work scope if the property is located in a regulated floodplain.
- Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI)
- Required for if work includes vehicle access onto the subject site or encroachments into the public right of way such as accessible ramps at building entrances, balconies or decks.
- PA Department of Health (DOH)
- Required for a structure regulated by the PA Health Care Facilities Act.
- Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD)
- Required for new plumbing systems and may be required for modifications to existing plumbing systems.
- PA Department of Community and Economic Development
- Required for any pre-fabricated modules or components used as part of the permit scope for a building or structure that is classified as a Group R occupancy.
- Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire
- Required for new structures to review: fire apparatus access roads, fire flows, fire command center (if required) and emergency responder radio coverage.