Private Demolition Permits

A demolition permit is required for the following work on a residential or commercial building or structure:

• Demolish an entire building or structure.
• Partial demolition of a building or structure – not required for demolition of interior elements only.

Please see Permit Home for the 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 the Construction Inspector's contact information.

Please see PLI's Private Demolition Requirements and Private Demolition Application.

Complete Demolition Work Types:

• Adjacent Structure Repair: applies to the complete demolition of a party wall structure where the party wall is required to be modified to be a weathertight assembly.
• Primary Structure Demolition: applies to the complete demolition of a primary structure such as a house or commercial use structure.
• Site Work: applies to grading required to return site to natural grade.
• Utility Disconnect: applies to complete demolitions that include disconnection of utility services to the property.

Partial Demolition Work Types:

• Adjacent Structure Repair: applies to the partial demolition of a party wall structure where the party wall is required to be modified to be a weathertight assembly.  Note for residential structures, demolitions limited to accessory structures can be performed as a building permit addition/alteration work type.
• Primary Structure Demolition: applies to the partial demolition of a primary structure such as a house or commercial use structure.
• Site Work: applies to grading required to return the site to natural grade.
• Utility Disconnect: applies to partial demolitions that include disconnection of utility services to the property.

Permit Process

See these web pages for additional information regarding the permitting process:

• Application Submission
  • Applications for Commercial Structures require submission of drawings or narratives prepared and sealed by a PA-licensed architect or engineer that document:
    • Intended demolition operations: method of demolition, type of equipment to be used, and staging of equipment.
    • Protection measures for adjacent buildings and/or properties.
    • Protection measures for pedestrians in the public right of way.
  • All applications shall submit a site plan identifying: structures or portions of a structure that are to be demolished, property lines, adjacent structures on the subject site, and/or on adjacent properties.
  • A signed contract between the property owner and the license holder performing the work.
  • After submission of your application, you will be provided with a Public Notice Placard which is required to be posted on-site.
• Application Review
• Permit Issuance
  • A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is required:
    • With minimum coverage of $500,000 General Liability and $250,000 Property Damage.  
    • The COI Description of Operations 'for the demolition of the structure at subject property address’.
    • The Certificate Holder shall be identified as PLI.
• 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
  • Zoning will review all demolition applications – a ZDR is not required.
• Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD)
  • Removal of materials which contain asbestos materials may require an asbestos abatement permit application from ACHD.