SAFETY & CODES
Building Regulations

Mission Statement

"To assure, through proper plans review and inspections, compliance with the applicable standards, adopted by the Board of Supervisors, which provide a reasonable degree of protection to the health, safety and welfare of our citizens and visitors."

Contractor Registration Requirements

In accordance with Ordinance No. 88-546, Contractor Registration, all persons who perform any construction, repair, tank installation or removal, roofing, remodeling, painting, demolition, rehabilitation, paving, landscaping, electrical, sprinkler, HVAC or any other residential or non-residential work in Upper Merion Township must annually apply for a Contractor Registration. This registration process must be completed prior to the start of the job and /or issuance of the required permits for the work being done.

You will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader software, version 4 or above, in order to read the contractor registration requirements letters listed below. Adobe Acrobat Reader is available free of charge. Just click on the icon below and follow the step by step instructions to download and install the latest Reader software.

Choose the link appropriate for your situation.

Contractor or Plumber Registration Requirements.

Contractor or Plumber Registration Form.

Remember, this is an annual registration requirement.

Permit(s) are Required for:

• Construction:
  All new construction, additions, alterations, roofing, siding, decks, replacement windows and demolitions in residential, commercial, and industrial facilities.
  
• Fences, swimming pools, tennis courts, greenhouses, shelters for common household pets and storage sheds.
  
• Plumbing and sanitary sewer laterals
  
• Heating and Air-Conditioning -- new, expansion and replacement.
  
• Sprinkler Systems -- new, expansion, alterations and replacements
  
• Tanks -- also needs PA DEP notification
        All underground storage tank work must be done by DER approved installers with       inspections conducted by DEP approved third-party inspectors
  
• Temporary Construction Trailers
  
• Signs -- permanent and temporary, except yard sales
  
• Road occupancy, road opening, replacement, addition to or new construction of curbs, sidewalks or driveway openings.
        This includes work done by utilities.
  
• Removal of shade trees in Township rights-of-way.
  
• Sanitary sewer connections
  
• Roofs
  
• Storm drainage, paving, curbing, sidewalks and driveways within rights-of way
  
• Pools
  
• Bridge and culverts
  

The Safety and Codes Department has published an informational pamphlet to further explain the permit and inspection requirements. Click here to obtain the " Codes Information Packet."

Click here to obtain and complete a " Building Permit."

Inspection Requests

The contractor of builder shall be responsible for requesting a required inspection. This request must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Inspections will be made as quickly as possible, but Safety and Code Enforcement cannot guarantee the time of inspection. To request an inspection, call (610) 265-2606.

Inspections
Inspections shall be required, as follows:

• Footings: Bearing soil, prior to pouring concrete
• Foundation: Prior to pouring concrete and prior to backfilling
• Plumbing - Separate permit required
        outside: prior to backfill of underground sewer laterals
        inside: prior to enclosing piping in walls, floor slabs, floors, etc.
        final: upon completion of all work
        in an individual disposal system: prior to placing drain tile, septic tank, or construction
        of leaching wells, etc. after placing the material or system and prior to backfilling
• Sprinkler - Separate permit required
        Prior to enclosing piping in walls, ceilings, etc.
• Electrical, rough - conducted by approved 3rd party inspection agency
        Prior to enclosing of any structural elements.
  
        Upon completion, an inspection sticker to be placed on the electrical panel, with the       approved agency the forwarding an inspection certification card to the Safety and Codes       Enforcement Department.
• Structural and/or rough framing: Prior to plastering, drywall or ceiling work
• Electrical, final conducted by approved 3rd party inspection agency:
        Upon completion of all work, must be completed prior to issuance of Use and       Occupancy Permit.
  
        Upon completion, an inspection sticker to be placed on the electrical panel, with the       approved agency the forwarding an inspection certification card to the Safety and Codes       Enforcement Department.
• Use and Occupancy - Separate Permit Required
        Upon completion of all required inspections, successful testing of all emergency systems       and prior to occupying the space covered by the permit.
• Roof
• Storm drainage, paving, curbing, sidewalks or driveways
• Pool
        Grading and earth removal specifications to be submitted with permit application.
        Pool area to be staked and setbacks verified prior to excavation.
        Pool inspections include:
              steel
              electrical
              final
• Bridge and culverts
        footings
        pipe bedding
        headwall
        endwalls
        abutments
        decks

Building, Zoning and Mechanical Division Permit Fees

• Permit fees
  Calculated utilizing current fee schedule.
  
• Sewer Access Rights fees
  A sewer tapping fee in an amount to be calculated by the gallons per day generated by the use of the property, as per the fees schedule adopted by the Upper Merion Municipal Utility Authority
  
• Highway Capital Improvement fees
  An assessment, imposed by Ordinance 84-470, upon all new traffic generators determined by applying the unit improvement cost to the peak hour traffic generated by a project.
  Peak hour traffic rates are determined by the Institute of Transportation Engineers in "Trip Generation and Informational Report, 4th edition, 1984."
  To determine the fee for a specific use, the peak hour trip generation rate for the proposed use shall be multiplied by the unit improvement cost rate, as adopted by the Upper Merion Highway/Traffic Authority.

Deviations From Approved Drawings

Additions or changes to approved plans may be accomplished by submitting revised drawings. These revisions will be duly processed and approved, if in accordance with Township codes. Additional fees may be levied for revisions.

Non-Compliance

The codes official, at his/her discretion, shall require that any construction performed without a permit or proper inspection, be removed, demolished, uncovered, exposed, etc, such that adequate inspections may be accomplished.

Pennsylvania Department of
Labor and Industry Approvals

Where applicable under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Fire and Panic Act (Public Law 465, as amended), Upper Merion Township permits shall not be issued until plans approval by the PA Department of Labor and Industry is evidenced.

Upper Merion Township Safety
& Codes Enforcement Department Approvals

A copy of the plans bearing the approval seal of the Upper Merion Township Safety and Codes Enforcement Deparment shall be available at the building site at all times during construction..

Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection Approvals

All earth moving activity shall be conducted in accordance with Pennsylvania Title 35, Rules and Regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Chapter 102, Erosion Control.

Immediately upon receipt of a plan which would involve earthmoving activity which will affect five (5) or more acres, the Upper Merion Township Safety and Codes Enforcement Department shall notify PA DEP.

In the event a plan involves earthmoving activities which will affect twenty-five (25) acres, an Upper Merion Township Construction Permit will not be issued until and Erosion Control Permit, issued by PA DEP, is
evidenced.

A copy of the Erosion and Sedimentation Control plan shall be available at the building site at all times during construction.

The PA Department of Environmental Protection can be reached at:

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Lee Park – Suite 6010
555 North Lane
Conshohocken, PA 19428

Financial Security

Upper Merion Township will not issue a permit and no construction of improvements shall commence until the developer/contractor provides financial security to the Township in such form as acceptable to the Township in accordance with Section 509 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

Financial security will be released during the course of the construction as the required guaranteed work is completed.