Overview
Allentown enforces the PA UCC through the municipal Bureau of Building Standards & Safety. As of Jan 1, 2026, the 2021 ICC codes apply citywide. Allentown handles building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits centrally, requiring active trade registrations and proper zoning reviews before issuing permit approvals.
Permit Portal
Allentown Online Portal
Submissions processed digitally or delivered directly to City Hall. Pre-requisite zoning clearance required for footprint changes.
2026 Code Update
2021 ICC Family
Plans submitted to Allentown must reference the 2021 NEC, IPC, IMC, and IFGC editions under PA UCC guidelines.
Trades
Select a trade to view codes, licenses, fees, and common pitfalls.
Electrical
Allentown Bureau of Building Standards & SafetyApplicable Code
2021 NEC / PA UCC
License Requirement
City Electrical License (exam or reciprocity required)
License Fee
Varies by class
CEUs
None mandated by city, must follow PA guidelines
Permit Fee
$50 res / $100 com base + 2% valuation fee
Plan Review Time
≈10–15 business days
Common Pitfalls
- Altering panels/service without pulling plans
- Using an electrician not registered with the City of Allentown
- Failure to coordinate rough-in inspections prior to drywall
Permit-to-CO Workflow
Standard Allentown path; trade permits follow the same stages on their own schedules.
Submit application
online or directly to the Bureau at Allentown City Hall with plan sets
Plan review
≈10–15 business days; zoning officer and code examiners review
Permit issued
issued upon payment; contractors must hold active city licenses
Rough inspections
stage-by-stage plumbing, electrical, and mechanical visual checks
Final inspection
final walk-throughs by municipal code inspectors for all trade work
Certificate of Occupancy
released by the Bureau once all final inspections pass
2026 Fee Quick Reference
Allentown permit fees are calculated as 2% of the total construction cost, plus an application base fee of $50 for residential or $100 for commercial.
Enforcement
Allentown enforces compliance through stop-work orders, permit revocation, and municipal court citations. Unlicensed contracting or failing to pull building / trade permits for regulated construction scopes can delay overall Certificate of Occupancy sign-offs.
Homeowner / Owner-Occupant Rules
Owner-occupants of single-family homes may perform their own general or electrical wiring work on their own properties. However, permits are still required for all non-exempt scopes. Contractors hired by homeowners must register with the city and maintain active PA Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) numbers.