Building permits in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Of the 9 common home projects we have verified in Pittsburgh, 5 need a permit outright and 4 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 2 official sources
Verified against official sources- Project types verified
- 10
- in Pittsburgh
City of Pittsburgh Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections (PLI)
- OneStopPGH Counter, 412 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
- Phone: 412-255-2175
- Email: pliapptech@pittsburghpa.gov
- Official permit page
- Permit portal
- Official fee schedule
Look up a permit in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh runs an online permit portal. Many local portals let you check application status, search permit records, and view inspection results without calling the office.
What needs a permit in Pittsburgh
Of the 9 common home projects we have verified in Pittsburgh, 5 need a permit outright and 4 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Any size | 2026 PLI Fee Schedule, effective 1/1/2026: "Base Permit Fee (Residential) $6.00 per... |
| Electrical Permit | It depends | Before installing a new electrical system, extending or modifying an existing one, or... | 2026 PLI Fee Schedule, effective 1/1/2026: "Base Permit Fee (Residential) $6.00 per... |
| Fence Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...only pays the Department of City Planning fee, "Residential Zoning Review... |
| HVAC Permit | It depends | Before installing, replacing, extending or modifying a furnace, air conditioner, heat... | 2026 PLI Fee Schedule, effective 1/1/2026: "Base Permit Fee (Residential) $6.00 per... |
| Patio Permit | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not published |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Any size | 1, 2023: Level 1 Plans (0-5 fixtures) $80.00, Level 2 Plans (6-50 fixtures) $117.00... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | prefabricated pools accessory to a single-family or two-family dwelling that also hold no more than 5,000 gallons and are installed entirely above grade | 2026 PLI Fee Schedule, effective 1/1/2026: "Base Permit Fee (Residential) $6.00 per... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Any size | 2026 PLI Fee Schedule, effective 1/1/2026: "Base Permit Fee (Residential) $6.00 per... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure accessory to a single-family or two-family dwelling | 2026 PLI Fee Schedule, effective 1/1/2026: "Base Permit Fee (Residential) $6.00 per... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | 2026 PLI Fee Schedule, effective 1/1/2026: "Base Permit Fee (Residential) $6.00 per... |
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Pittsburgh permit fees compared with nearby Pennsylvania localities
| Pennsylvania locality | Deck Permit | HVAC Permit | Electrical Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | ...1/1/2026: "Base Permit Fee (Residential) $6.00 per... | ...1/1/2026: "Base Permit Fee (Residential) $6.00 per... | ...1/1/2026: "Base Permit Fee (Residential) $6.00 per... |
| Philadelphia | ...the accessory structure and addition bucket at $75... | $100 filing fee (nonrefundable) | $100 filing fee (nonrefundable) |
Each cell is the opening clause of that Pennsylvania jurisdiction's own fee schedule; the full wording and source sit on each permit page.
Pittsburgh permit questions, answered from the data
- Do you need a permit in Pittsburgh?
- For most projects, yes. Of the 10 permit types we have verified for Pittsburgh, 5 always require a permit (for example a deck permit), 4 depend on size or scope (an electrical permit, for instance). Each Pittsburgh permit type's page states the exact rule and its source.
- How much does a permit cost in Pittsburgh?
- Pittsburgh publishes a fee for 9 of the 10 permit types we cover, each quoted on its page from the jurisdiction's own schedule (linked on every page that carries one). Fees are set by City of Pittsburgh Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections (PLI); we do not estimate or mark them up.
- Where do you apply for a permit in Pittsburgh?
- City of Pittsburgh Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections (PLI) issues permits in Pittsburgh, with an online portal for applications, plan uploads and status checks, and takes questions at 412-255-2175. The Pittsburgh official page and portal are linked in the office section above.
How the Pittsburgh pages were verified. 10 permit types, 6 distinct official sources, most recently checked . Every rule is read from City of Pittsburgh Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections (PLI) or the applicable code and cited on its page; anything we could not confirm for Pittsburgh is marked rather than estimated. How we verify.