Administrative overview · FIPS 42073
Lawrence County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
Municipal Fallback
This profile identifies a handoff outside the county’s ordinary structural permitting lane.
Required jurisdiction check
Confirm the controlling local or state authority before filing.
The record is marked Municipal Fallback. That means the county profile should be treated as a routing brief: incorporated municipalities, a state building department, or a state fire marshal may control plan review, permits, and inspections. Contact the named agency below and verify the parcel’s jurisdiction before paying a fee or scheduling field work.
Responsible agency
Lawrence County Planning and Community Development Department and Lawrence County Planning Commission; building permits are obtained from the municipality where construction occurs
For a project in or near Lawrence County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
Lawrence County Planning and Community Development: 724-656-2144; local building-code agency varies
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Lawrence County Government Center, Planning and Development Office, 430 Court Street, New Castle, PA 16101
Operating hours
N/A on the official planning pages; municipal/code-agency hours vary
Review expectation
Simple county subdivision review: typically 10 working days; major subdivisions or variances require a Planning Commission meeting. Building-permit timing is local, with Pennsylvania UCC generally requiring a code official to grant or deny a complete application within 30 business days.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Lawrence County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
This record is marked Municipal Fallback. Confirm whether a city, state agency, or other local authority controls the parcel before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact Lawrence County Planning and Community Development: 724-656-2144; local building-code agency varies.
How long might review take?
Simple county subdivision review: typically 10 working days; major subdivisions or variances require a Planning Commission meeting. Building-permit timing is local, with Pennsylvania UCC generally requiring a code official to grant or deny a complete application within 30 business days.
How are inspections scheduled?
Contact the municipality where the building work is taking place to identify the Building Code Official or certified third-party agency, submit the UCC application and plans, and schedule inspections. Lawrence County Planning and Community Development reviews subdivision and land-development plans; simple subdivision reviews are typically completed within 10 working days, while major plans or variances go to a Planning Commission meeting. County contact: 724-656-2144.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC), 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401-405 and referenced current ICC codes as adopted by Pennsylvania, including applicable 2021 ICC editions for 2026 permits. Lawrence County's FAQ expressly directs applicants to the municipality for building permits. The county has 27 municipalities; 18 have their own SALDO and the county SALDO applies in the remaining nine, but county planning review does not replace municipal UCC enforcement. Exemptions are controlled by Pennsylvania UCC and the responsible municipality or Building Code Official. Emergency repairs or equipment replacements may proceed without a permit only when the application is submitted to the BCO within three business days. Minor repairs, accessory structures, agricultural work, zoning, floodplain, sewage, driveway, and occupancy requirements vary locally and should be confirmed with the municipality.