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 and residential structures.
Over the counter applications will require a Private Demolition Application.
Complete Demolition Work Types:
- Accessory Structure Demolition: applies to the complete demolition of an accessory structure such as a garage. Note for residential structures, demolitions limited to accessory structures can be performed as a building permit addition/alteration work type.
- 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:
- Accessory Structure Demolition: applies to the partial demolition of an accessory structure such as a garage.
- 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 webpages for additional information regarding the permitting process:
- Permit Process
- After submission of your application, you will be provided with a Public Notice Placard which is required to be posted on site.
- Application Submission
- Applications for Commercial Structures require submission of drawings or narrative 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.
- Applications for Commercial Structures require submission of drawings or narrative prepared and sealed by a PA licensed architect or engineer that document:
- 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.
- A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is required:
- 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.
