Pennsylvania Permit & Stamping Requirements
Requirements vary by region, code cycle, seismic zone, and wind or snow load. Here is what typically drives design for Pennsylvania projects.
What Drives Design in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania projects are governed primarily by formal plan review and special inspections.
- ✓ Special inspection program coordination
- ✓ Full MEP package for commercial filings
- ✓ Plan review comment response and expediting
Exact code edition and local amendments vary by city and county. We confirm the specific requirements for your address before drafting.
Code in effect in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania enforces the statewide Uniform Construction Code (UCC). The 2021 International Codes, as amended by the UCC Review and Advisory Council, took effect on July 13, 2025, and the contract-based phase-in for the previous 2018 codes closed on January 12, 2026. Accessibility is the exception: a Commonwealth Court ruling permanently blocked the 2021 accessibility updates, so the 2018 accessibility standards still apply.
What to plan for
- ✓ Accessibility is reviewed against the 2018 standards even though the rest of the code is on the 2021 editions.
- ✓ Most Pennsylvania municipalities administer the UCC locally, through their own staff or a certified third-party agency.
- ✓ In municipalities that opted out, the state Department of Labor and Industry handles commercial enforcement.
Code information last verified September 2026. Codes change, so we confirm the edition in force for your address before drafting.
Frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania permits
Which code edition does Pennsylvania use?
The 2021 I-Codes as amended, in effect since July 13, 2025, with the phase-in for the older 2018 codes closed on January 12, 2026. Accessibility is the exception and is still reviewed to the 2018 standards.
Who reviews my permit in Pennsylvania?
Most municipalities administer the UCC themselves or through a certified third-party agency. In opted-out municipalities, the state handles commercial enforcement. We confirm who reviews your project before filing.
Sample Work & Other States
Foundation Plan
View full portfolio › Structural
Roof Framing Plan
View full portfolio › Civil / Site