County Permit SearchU.S. compliance directory
PennsylvaniaMontour County

Administrative overview · FIPS 42093

Montour 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

Montour County Planning Commission and County Zoning Office; municipalities or designated UCC agencies issue building permits and conduct building inspections

For a project in or near Montour 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

Montour County Planning Commission: 570-271-3028; local building-code agency varies

Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.

Permit counter

Montour County Planning Commission, Montour County Administration Center, 435 East Front Street, Danville, PA 17821

Operating hours

Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; closed weekends and holidays; municipal/code-agency hours vary

Review expectation

N/A countywide for building permits; Pennsylvania UCC generally requires a code official to grant or deny a complete application within 30 business days, while municipal or third-party review timing varies. County planning review timing depends on the applicable ordinance and completeness.

Compliance workbench

Choose the next project decision.

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 Montour 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 Montour County Planning Commission: 570-271-3028; local building-code agency varies.

How long might review take?

N/A countywide for building permits; Pennsylvania UCC generally requires a code official to grant or deny a complete application within 30 business days, while municipal or third-party review timing varies. County planning review timing depends on the applicable ordinance and completeness.

How are inspections scheduled?

Contact the municipality where construction will occur to identify its Building Code Official or certified third-party agency, submit the UCC application and plans, and schedule inspections. Contact Montour County Planning/Zoning at 570-271-3028 for county zoning, subdivision, land-development, sewage-planning, or ordinance questions. The county Planning Commission meets monthly and maintains county planning fee and ordinance materials.

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. Montour County administers county subdivision and land-development review and zoning in applicable county-jurisdiction areas, but its zoning ordinance states that after a zoning permit is issued the applicant may apply for a separate building permit. Building-code enforcement and inspections are handled by the municipality, a certified third-party agency, or Pennsylvania Labor and Industry as applicable. The Montour County Zoning Ordinance exempts from county zoning permits, unless located in a floodplain, non-commercial/non-industrial interior alterations with no increase in gross floor area or change in use; general maintenance and repair including siding, roofing, painting, storm windows and similar work; land cultivation; landscaping; fences or walls meeting ordinance standards; steps or similar features; and private utility lines. These zoning exemptions do not eliminate any separate UCC, sewage, stormwater, driveway, floodplain, or building permit requirement.

Before contacting the permit counter

Have the project facts ready.

A productive call starts with a clear description of the property and proposed work. Keep the site address, parcel or assessor number, project valuation, existing occupancy, approximate square footage, structural scope, contractor information, and desired start date in front of you. Those facts help the Authority Having Jurisdiction route the question to building, planning, fire, environmental health, or another reviewing discipline.

Questions worth asking

  • • Is the parcel inside an incorporated city or county service area?
  • • Does this scope require building, trade, zoning, fire, or site permits?
  • • What plans and supporting documents make the submittal complete?
  • • How much lead time is needed for each inspection?