Shawn Wolfe, Permitting & Codes

The Permitting and Codes Officer (swolfe@antistownship.org) is responsible for the non-technical inspections required by the Township codes and ordinances to ensure that properties are maintained in a safe and code compliant manner.

Building Inspection & Code Enforcement

The Code Enforcement Officer is an inspector, officer or investigator employed by the municipality, who possesses specialized training, and whose primary duties are the prevention, detection, investigation and enforcement of violations of laws regulating public nuisances, health, safety, welfare, business activities, land use and consumer protection.

The Officer is responsible for working with property owners, explaining the regulations on vegetation growth, storage of materials, litter and other related issues. Laws also known as ordinances are adopted by the Township Supervisors which are intended to protect the health, safety and welfare of the Township residents. The Officer is also responsible for the investigation, citation and prosecution before the District Justice on violations of Township ordinances.

Middle Department Inspection Agency serves as the Township’s Building Code Official for conformance to the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code. Duties include, but not limited to: management of building code enforcement activities, authorizing issuance of building permits and certificates of occupancy, violation notices and the initiation of prosecutions

The Uniform Construction Code

The Uniform Construction Code (a.k.a. UCC, Act 45 and the Statewide Building Code) became enforceable as law throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on April 9, 2004. After considering all administration and enforcement options, the Antis Township Board of Supervisors voted to contract with Middle Department Inspection Agency (MDIA) to provide plan review and inspection services. Currently, Joe Muscatello (800-982-6342) is the MDIA inspector for Antis Township.

Completing an Application

Applications are available at the Antis Township Municipal Office Building or on our website. detailed instructions are in the left margin of the application. Residential and commercial permit fees submitted under the Pennsylvania UCC vary according to the type of application and complexity of the project. On July 1, 2004 the Township adopted Ordinance No. 3-2004, adopting the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act (Act 45 of 1999, 35 P.S.§§7210.101-7210.1103). A commercial or institutional project require additional materials:

  • A separate non-residential application to MDIA
  • Signed drawings by a design professional (architect or engineer)
  • All MDIA submittals must be submitted electronically (preferably in pdf format) to MDIA.
  • Additional items may be required depending upon the end-use of the building or project and the related UCC standards. Your design professional should be familiar with those requirements.

The Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance requirements can be found in Chapter 110 of the Township Code of Ordinances. Copies are available for viewing at the Reception Desk of the Municipal Building.

Review & Approval by the Township

The plans and survey are reviewed to ensure compliance with:

  • The Township’s Land Development Ordinance
  • Township setback requirements
  • Pennsylvania Floodplain Management Act (Act 166-1978)

When the construction documents have been approved and the fee paid, the permit is issued. A placard is provided and posted in a conspicuous location, visible from the street. This signifies the project has the approval of all regulating agencies and construction has been authorized by the Township. For Commercial Building Permits please send plans electronically to Middle Department Inspection Agency at https://www.hightail.com/u/wexfordoffice1 for plan review.

Building Permit Applications

In order to ensure a successful project and avoid costly delays, interested parties should call the Township Municipal Building to discuss their building and remodeling plans with the appropriate personnel, so that permit requirements can be determined. The contractor or design professional can then prepare the project’s construction documents to meet the Township’s building and planning codes. Applications are available as PDF. Before downloading and submitting a permit application, please read the information on the permit process.

Typically, permits are required for the following:

  • adding an alarm system or installation of a fire suppression system
  • electrical work (new or rewiring or upgrade in service)
  • erecting a building addition or a new principal structure
  • excavating within a street right-of-way
  • interior renovation when cutting into or removing or adding interior bearing walls
  • occupancy, the change of occupant or, change of use from one type of business to another on a commercial property
  • roof replacement on a commercial structure
  • roof replacement on a residential building if the substrate is replaced
  • replacement, enlargement, alteration, removal, demolition or repair
  • of existing, or construction of new, accessory structures (garages, utility sheds etc.), decks, swimming pools, fences,(over 6”-0”high) gazebos, hot tubs, and signs
  • signs and billboards

New residential driveway permits are normally issued in conjunction with a building permit

Note: Demolition of a commercial structure requires a notification form from DEP Altoona Office.

Permits are not required for the following:

  • exterior or interior painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, flooring, cabinets, countertops and similar finishing work.
  • replacement of gutters, soffit, downspouts and fascia.
  • replacement of existing windows and/or doors with same size.
  • prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inches deep.
  • fences that are not more than 6 feet high
  • retaining walls that are not over 4 feet high measured from the lowest level of grade to the top of the wall unless the wall supports a surcharge.

Applications

Certificate of Occupancy

The Building Code Official uses the Certificate of Occupancy to control the uses and occupancies of the various buildings and structures within the Townships’ jurisdiction.

The Building Code Official is required to issue a Certificate of Occupancy after a successful final inspection has been completed, all disciplines have been approved and any deficiencies or violations have been resolved. This reflects the conclusion of the work allowed by the building permit. This information is useful to both the Building Code Official and the owner because it indicates the criteria under which the structure was evaluated and approved at the time the Certificate of Occupancy was issued.

Agricultural Building

Generally, an agricultural building is a structure designed and constructed to house farm implements, hay, grain, poultry, livestock or other horticulture products. This structure shall not be a place of human habitation or a place of employment where agricultural products are processed, treated or packaged, nor shall it be a place used by the public. Such buildings shall include, but not limited to, the following uses:

  • Livestock shelters, shade structures and milking barns
  • Poultry buildings or shelters
  • Storage of equipment and machinery used exclusively for agriculture
  • Detached production greenhouses and crop protection shelters
  • Grain storage

Appeals

The Blair Region Uniform Construction Code Board of Appeals (BRUCCBA), an intermunicipal appeals board, was established between: the Townships of Antis, Blair and Logan and the Boroughs of Duncansville, Hollidaysburg and Tyrone.

The BRUCCBA is the body that will hear appeals brought under the codes and standards promulgated in the most current version of the Uniform Construction Code (Act 45 of 1999) of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Board of Appeals was established to provide a process for the resolution of code grievances derived from the decision of the code official in order to insure the health, safety, and general welfare for the citizens of the Blair Region.

EXCEPTION: Appeals pertaining to accessibility shall be deferred to the Accessibility Advisory Board as outlined in Chapter 403, Para 403.142 of the PA U.C.C.

Applications

What is Code Enforcement?

Code Enforcement is an important function local governments perform for accomplishing community wide goals. Code Enforcement helps empower the citizens of their community to create and maintain safe, healthy and attractive living and working environments. The aim is to help improve neighborhoods and economic conditions so that the community is known as a good place to live, raise families, work and retire in.

Some may view code enforcement as an annoying intrusion into the free use of private property. Traditionally, code enforcement is a process whereby local governments use various techniques to work with the community to gain compliance with duly-adopted regulations such as land use ordinances, health and housing codes, sign standards, building and fire codes.

Contemporary code enforcement involves local enforcement officials in the job of ensuring compliance with policies, codes, rules, regulations and permits in a proper, timely fashion within the limits of the law. Consequently, enforcement officials must be fully acquainted with the adoption process and the thinking behind the regulations they enforce as well as the legal limits placed on them. Conversely, those who write the laws must understand the problems particular to enforcement and administration as the codes and regulations are implemented.

Definitions:

Public Nuisance: Is an act or process that interferes with a community’s enjoyment of a land, area or region. It may include anything that disturbs the health and safety of a community, and can also include things that are not particularly unsafe or unhealthy, but annoy the general public and keep people from being comfortable in a community.

Deleterious Object: Anything injurious, or with reasonable potential to become injurious to the health, safety or welfare of any persons.

Solid Waste: Garbage, refuse, rubbish hazardous waste, dead animals, sludge, liquid or semi-liquid waste, and other spent, useless or worthless or discarded materials.

Weeds: Vegetation that has become a fire hazard, vegetation that is noxious, a nuisance or dangerous. Grasses, stubble, brush, clippings and cuttings that endanger the health and safety by creating a fire hazard; insect, rodent or other vermin harborage, or other nuisance.

Outdoor Storage: The keeping of any personal property, equipment, materials, products, junk, trash or materials that is not entirely contained within a structure.

Junk: Any scrap, waste, reclaimable material or debris whether or not stored or used in conjunction with dismantling, processing, salvage, storage, disposal or other use or disposition. Junk includes, but is not limited to tires, furniture tools, paper, rags, plastics, cordage scrap iron or other metal, glass, building materials, machinery and appliances or parts thereof, brush, wood and lumber, solid waste and vehicles and parts thereof.

Preservation of Existing Provisions

All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by the Township on or before July 1, 1999 and which equal or exceed the requirements of the PA U.C.C. shall continue in full force and effect until such time as such provisions fail to equal or exceed the minimum requirements of the PA U.C.C., as amended form time to time. Provisions continuing in effect which exceed the requirements of the PA U.C.C include the following:

Each building permit shall be valid for one calendar year from the date of its issuance. Any construction not completed within one calendar year will require a renewal building permit. A renewal permit shall expire after one calendar year from the date of its issuance. Antis Township Code Chapter 66, Para.66.15.A(2)

Nuisance Abatement

Nuisance abatement is a growing concern within policing and code enforcement. The term refers to using building codes, fire codes and local ordinances in order to improve the quality of life and resolve life safety issues within neighborhoods. Nuisance abatement ordinances are most often a component of problem oriented or community policing programs.

Compliance Procedure

Notice of Ordinance Violation

A notice is a letter sent by certified mail advising the property owner of an apparent violation on the property. The notice indicates which ordinance has been violated and a copy of the ordinance is included. This notice simply states what action needs to be taken by the property owner to come into compliance and a time frame from the date the notice is received. A reasonable extension of time can be granted on an individual basis, if requested, and the code officer observes that the owner is making an honest attempt to gain compliance.

If an inspection, by the Code Officer, reveals that no attempt has been made to remove the violation, formal enforcement is instituted by way of citations to the District Justice for disposition.

“Red Tag” Ordinance

An “on site” inspection is made by the Code Officer and the Township Manager. If in agreement, the Code Officer will send a “letter of inquiry” to the property owner, by certified mail, stating the deficiencies that have been observed and that he/she have a thirty (30) day “grace period” to respond to the letter “in writing”. If the Code Officer does not receive a reply to his letter, the officer will present his findings in a report to the Board of Supervisors at the next scheduled meeting stating in what respect the structure is dangerous and if it is capable of being repaired or should be demolished. If the Board is in agreement with the officers findings, then written notice by certified mail is issued to the owner to appear before the Board on a date specified in the notice to show cause why the structure should not be repaired, vacated or demolished. The Board will issue an order based on said findings and advise the owner that the provisions as stated in the notice are justified and should proceed accordingly. In addition the structure or building shall be placarded with a “RED TAG” notice as set forth in the ordinance. To view a copy of the ordinance Please Click Here.

“Stop Work” Order

A building code official may issue a written stop work order when it is determined that construction violates the PA UCC, being performed in a dangerous or unsafe manor or that no permit has been issued for the work. The stop work order shall contain the reasons for the order, and list the required conditions for construction to resume. The building code official shall serve the stop work order on the permit owner, or the owner’s agent by certified mail or personal service.

The Officer interacts with the public by telephone, written correspondence and personal contact.

Monday through Friday
8:00am to 3:30pm

John Frederick, Recreation and environmental Code Director
Antis Township Municipal Building
909 North Second Street
Bellwood, PA 16617
Phone: (814) 742-7361
Fax: (814) 742-9820
JFrederick@antistownship.org

Contact the Township Municipal Office Building for the Following:

  • Flood Maps Residential burning regulations
  • Door-to-door sales people Plan submittals for subdivisions, lot mergers, site development and storm water management
  • Unsafe structures Sign permits and regulations
  • Security requirements for Township roads for vehicles engaged in logging /timbering operations

Useful Contacts

Middle Department Inspection Agency
101 North Meadows Dr. Suite 130 Wexford, PA 15090
Phone: (724) 935-1558
Phone: (724) 935-1559
Fax: (724) 935-7480

Animal Complaints
1837 East Pleasant Valley Blvd.
Altoona, PA 16602
Phone: (814) 942-5402
Fax: (814) 942-8505
info@centralpahumane.org
www.centralpahumane.org

District Court
Magisterial District Judge Fred Miller
5628 E Pleasant Valley Blvd, Tyrone, PA 16686
Phone: (814) 684-4617

Antis Township Code