Overview
Pittsburgh enforces the PA UCC through PLI (Bureau of Building Inspection). As of Jan 1, 2026, the 2021 ICC codes apply citywide. Plumbing is county-run — permits and licenses go through Allegheny County Health Dept., not the City. All other trades use PLI and OneStopPGH.
Permit Portal
OneStopPGH
All PLI permits submitted online. Fire prevention permits through the City Fire Bureau separately.
2026 Code Update
2021 ICC Family
All plans submitted from Jan 1, 2026 onward must reference 2021 NEC, IMC, IFGC, and IFC editions.
Trades
Select a trade to view codes, licenses, fees, and common pitfalls.
Electrical
PLI (Pittsburgh)Applicable Code
2021 NEC (eff. Jan 1, 2026)
License Requirement
City Electrical Trade License — ≥6 yrs experience + exam
License Fee
$90 / year
CEUs
8 hrs / year
Permit Fee
$6/$1,000 res · $7/$1,000 com (min $130/$605)
Plan Review Time
≈30 business days
Common Pitfalls
- Energizing before final sign-off
- No permit for low-voltage work
- Outdated NEC edition on plans
Permit-to-CO Workflow
Standard PLI path; ACHD plumbing follows the same stages on its own schedule.
Submit application
via OneStopPGH portal
Plan review
≈30 business days; respond to any correction comments
Permit issued
40% fee due at application, remainder at issuance
Rough & ongoing inspections
stage-by-stage sign-offs during construction
Final inspection
all trades must pass; fire permit must be closed out
Certificate of Occupancy
issued within 5 business days of final approval
2026 Fee Quick Reference
40% of permit fee due at application; remainder due at issuance. Plumbing fees set entirely by Allegheny County Health Dept.
Enforcement
Up to $1,000 and 30 days jail per offense (Title 10 / Title 1). Stop-work orders, permit revocation, and license suspension are common. ACHD handles plumbing violations separately. Unregistered GCs on site violate Ch. 751.
Homeowner / Owner-Occupant Note
Owner-occupants of single- or two-family homes are exempt from GC registration and city trade licenses, but must still pull permits and meet code. County plumbing permits always apply; county licenses may still be required for non-owner work.