ATTENTION
The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code will become effective in the City of Philadelphia on July 8, 2004.

The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) includes very specific regulations regarding the administration and enforcement of construction codes. The Department of Licenses and Inspection is now required to enforce these regulations.

Permit applicants will see the following changes:

• A new Building Permit Application will go into effect.
  This form captures the specific information required by the UCC.
   
• Specific construction document requirements will be strictly enforced.
  In the past, in an effort to be customer-friendly, the Department performed plan review with less than the required documentation. The UCC does NOT allow us to do this anymore.  Information concerning required construction documents can be obtained through the  Department's publication "Construction Document Requirements."
   
• Specific documents and pre-requisites are required prior to acceptance of the permit application.
  The UCC requires the Department to deny or approve a permit application in a timely manner. Therefore the Department must insist on submittal of certain required information along with the permit application. We have developed a "Building Permit Checklist" to assist you in compiling the proper information.
   
• Certificates of Occupancy will include the name of the property owner.
  The building permit application should include correct information concerning the owner of record as this will be printed on the final document should the project require a Certificate of Occupancy.
   
• Accessibility appeals must be filed with the PA Department of Labor and Industry.
  Only the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Industry may grant variances related to accessibility requirements.
   
• Technical appeals must meet specific criteria.
  An application for appeal to the City's Board of Building Standards must be based on either:
1. The true intent of the UCC has been incorrectly interpreted.
2. The provisions of the UCC do not fully comply.
3. An equivalent form of construction is to be used.

The Department appreciates your cooperation in helping Philadelphia, like other
municipalities in Pennsylvania, meet the requirements of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.

More information regarding the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code can be obtained on the PA Department of Labor and Industry website by clicking on "Building Code" in the qucik links section.

Read the notice on Philadelphia´s adoption of the code.