The City of Johnstown is a member of the Laurel Municipal Inspection Agency(LMIA). LMIA provides the following services to the city. 
  • Building Codes Official (BCO)
  • Building Permits (Residential and Commercial)
  • Zoning


Building and Demolition permits are required for all demolition, repairs, renovations, remodels and new construction in the City, excluding painting and flooring. The City of Johnstown has adopted and administers PA Act 45; the Uniform Construction Code. All commercial and some residential projects must have construction drawings and specifications produced and stamped by a Pennsylvania registered architect and/or engineer.  All UCC related construction will be inspected for compliance prior to the issuance of an occupancy permit.

Building and demolition permits will be issued to the owner, authorized agent, or the contractor doing the work. A stop work order will be issued to any person(s) conducting any of the above detailed activities without the proper City issued permit.

The following is a fee schedule for building permits:

Residential Non-UCC and UCC Building Permits: $59.50
Commercial Building Permit (Project Value $1-$1,000): $55 + state UCC tax
Commercial Building Permit (Project Value $1,001-$5,000): $100 + state UCC tax
Commercial Building Permit (Project Value $5,001-$10,000): $150 + state UCC tax
Commercial Building Permit (Project Value $10,001-$25,000): $200 + state UCC tax
Commercial Building Permit (Project Value $25,001-$50,000): $300 +  state UCC tax
Commercial Building Permit (Project Value $50,001-$100,000): $400 +  state UCC tax
Commercial Building Permit (Project Value $100,001-$250,000): $600 +  state UCC tax
Commercial Building Permit (Project Value $250,001-$500,000): 1/2% (.005) of project value + state UCC Tax
Commercial Building Permit (Project Value $500,001-$1,000,000):1/2% (.005) of project value + state UCC Tax
Commercial Building Permit (Project Value $1,000,001-$2,000,000): 1/2% (.005) of project value + state UCC Tax
Commercial Building Permit (Project Value $2,000,001-$3,000,000): 1/2% (.005) of project value + state UCC Tax
Commercial Building Permit (Project Value $3,000,000+): 1/2% (.005) of project value + state UCC Tax


*Projects that were started before a permit was issued will be charged double

The fee for demolition permits is calculated at one percent (1.0%) of the value of the demolition contract, with a plus a $150 sewer cap fee and the current Act 13 Fee ($4.50). Building permits expire after 60 days. Demolition permits expire after 30 days, but may be extended under certain circumstances.

Signage

Alteration, erection, or moving of any type of signage requires a building permit. All signs must be constructed and maintained in a safe manner that will cause no danger to vehicular or pedestrian traffic. No sign may extend onto any public street or right-of-way. Signs must conform with

Private signs/posters such as those for a yard sale cannot be attached to any public utility pole or tree within the street line.

Specifics such as sign size and illumination vary based on the zoning district where the project will take place.

A building permit is not required for the following signs:

  • Public notices or warnings posted by federal, state or local agencies
  • Signs located in a building, not attached to a window or door
  • Works of art that do not include a commercial message
  • Signs on scoreboards or athletic field fences
  • Traffic signs on private property such as stop signs
  • Project identification signs of a regulated size

For all permit questions please contact the Laurel Municipal Inspection Agency(LMIA).