Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 38, September 21, 2024
(a) An owner or authorized agent who intends
to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of
a commercial building, structure and facility or to erect, install, enlarge,
alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or
plumbing system regulated by the Uniform Construction Code shall first apply to
the building code official and obtain the required permit under §
403.42a (relating to permit
application).
(b) Emergency repairs
or replacement of equipment may be made without first applying for a permit if
a permit application is submitted to the building code official within 3
business days of the repair or replacement.
(c) A permit is not required for the
exceptions listed in §
403.1(b)
(relating to scope) and the following construction as long as the work does not
violate a law or ordinance:
(1) Building
construction for the following:
(i) Fences
that are not over 6 feet high.
(ii)
Oil derricks.
(iii) Retaining
walls, which are not over 4 feet in height measured from the lowest level of
grade to the top of the wall, unless it is supporting a surcharge or impounding
Class I, II or III-A liquids.
(iv)
Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000
gallons and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2 to
1.
(v) Sidewalks and driveways not
more than 30 inches above grade and that are not located over a basement or
story below it and which are not part of an accessible route.
(vi) Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting,
cabinets, counter tops and similar finishing work.
(vii) Temporary motion picture, television,
and theater stage sets and scenery.
(viii) Prefabricated swimming pools accessory
to a Group R-3 occupancy which are less than 24 inches deep, do not exceed
5,000 gallons and are installed entirely aboveground.
(ix) Shade cloth structures constructed for
nursery or agricultural purposes that do not include service systems.
(x) Swings and other playground equipment
accessory to one- or two-family dwellings.
(xi) Window awnings supported by an exterior
wall which do not project more than 54 inches from the exterior wall and do not
require additional support of group R-3 as applicable in the "International
Building Code of 2018," and Group U occupancies.
(xii) Movable cases, counters and partitions
that are not over 5 feet 9 inches in height.
(xiii) Window replacement without structural
change.
(2) Electrical
work for the following:
(i) Minor repair and
maintenance work that includes the replacement of lamps or the connection of
approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently installed
receptacles.
(ii) Electrical
equipment used for radio and television transmissions. The provisions of the
Uniform Construction Code apply to equipment and wiring for power supply and
the installation of towers and antennas.
(iii) The installation of a temporary system
for the testing or servicing of electrical equipment or apparatus.
(3) The following gas work:
(i) A portable heating appliance.
(ii) Replacement of a minor part that does
not alter approval of equipment or make the equipment unsafe.
(4) The following mechanical work
or equipment:
(i) A portable heating
appliance.
(ii) Portable
ventilation equipment.
(iii) A
portable cooling unit.
(iv) Steam,
hot or chilled water piping within any heating or cooling equipment governed
under the Uniform Construction Code.
(v) Replacement of any part that does not
alter its approval or make it unsafe.
(vi) A portable evaporative cooler.
(vii) A self-contained refrigeration system
containing 10 pounds or less of refrigerant and placed into action by motors
that are not more than 1 horsepower.
(5) The following plumbing repairs:
(i) Stopping leaks in a drain and a water,
soil, waste or vent pipe. The Uniform Construction Code applies if a concealed
trap, drainpipe, water, soil, waste or vent pipe becomes defective and is
removed and replaced with new material.
(ii) Clearing stoppages or repairing leaks in
pipes, valves or fixtures, and the removal and installation of water closets,
faucets and lavatories if the valves or pipes are not replaced or
rearranged.
(d)
An ordinary repair does not require a permit. The following are not ordinary
repairs:
(1) Cutting away a wall, partition
or portion of a wall.
(2) The
removal or cutting of any structural beam or load-bearing support.
(3) The removal or change of any required
means of egress, or rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the egress
requirements.
(4) The addition to,
alteration of, replacement or relocation of any standpipe, water supply, sewer,
drainage, drain leader, gas, soil, waste, vent or similar piping, electric
wiring or mechanical.
(e)
A permit is not required for the installation, alteration or repair of
generation, transmission, distribution, metering or other related equipment
under the ownership and control of public service agencies.
(f) A building code official may issue an
annual permit instead of an individual permit for each alteration to an already
approved electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing installation. All of the
following are required:
(1) The applicant
shall regularly employ at least one qualified trades person in the building or
structure owned or operated by the applicant.
(2) The applicant shall submit an application
in accordance with § 403.42a(m).
(3) An annual permit holder shall keep
detailed records of alterations made in accordance with the annual permit. The
permit holder shall provide access to these records to the building code
official.
The provisions of this §403.42 amended under section
304(a)(1) and (2) of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act (35 P.S. §
7210.304(a)(1) and
(2)).
This section cited in 34 Pa. Code §
403.41 (relatiing to commercial
construction); 34 Pa. Code §
403.42a (relating to permit
application); and 34 Pa. Code §
403.102 (relating to
municipalities electing to enforce the Uniform Construction
Code).
