Pittsburgh Remodel Permits: Coordinate City and County Reviews

2. Build a shared scope record

For a remodel that moves a sink, alters walls, and changes circuits, write three separate scope lines. Give each line an owner, a drawing reference, an agency, and a next action. This example organizes the questions; it does not decide which permits your specific building needs.

Building scope

Identify walls being removed or added, existing and proposed use, and the plan sheet showing each change. Assign the city application and any zoning questions to one coordinator.

Electrical and mechanical scopes

Record circuit, equipment, and ventilation changes separately. Ask each trade contractor to confirm its application and inspection responsibilities.

Plumbing scope

Record the fixtures being installed or altered and the related drawing revision. Assign county review and inspection follow-up to the plumbing lead.

Keep one revision log: date, changed scope, changed sheets, agencies notified, and response received. An email saying “updated plans attached” is harder to reconcile than a record identifying exactly which sheet and fixture changed.

3. Prepare the county plumbing package

ACHD’s guidance calls for a plumbing plan covering installed or altered fixtures, water service, building sewers, and a drawing of locations, connections, and materials. Plans and permits can be filed through its Citizen Access Portal. Commercial projects need commercial plan-review approval before filing the commercial plumbing plan. Obtain the required plan approval and permit before starting plumbing work. ACHD filing guidance

For commercial work, use the county’s Commercial Plan Review Checklist (PDF) to identify scope-specific items. It covers building classification, occupancy, fixture needs, and sewer information, among other topics. Review applicable items with the plumbing designer instead of treating a generic checklist as the full submission standard.

4. Record issuance separately from review approval

PLI’s issuance guidance separates plan approval from permit issuance. Conditions, applicable licenses, contractor assignment, and outstanding fees can remain after review. Work is authorized after issuance for the scope covered by that permit. A scope or design change may require an amendment. City issuance requirements

In your project record, use distinct statuses: submitted, corrections requested, approved, issued, inspections pending, and complete. Save the actual issuance document beside the approved drawing revision. Release each trade to work only after its required authorization is confirmed.

5. Make inspection records part of the handoff

PLI requires approved documents on site and work to remain exposed until a passed inspection authorizes concealment. Its sequencing guidance requires passed sub-permit inspections for framing and calls for the ACHD plumbing inspection report as a close-out document. The city permit holder requests PLI inspections through OneStopPGH. PLI inspection sequencing

Keep the county inspection report with the related city record. ACHD also requires a final inspection for its plumbing permits. County inspection requirement

• Before scheduling closure or framing, ask each trade for its required inspection outcome.
• Save the report, inspection date, permit number, and any correction still open.
• Assign an owner to request the next inspection and resolve missing documents.
• At handoff, reconcile every permit against its completion requirements rather than assuming one final inspection closes the entire remodel.