Any time one of these activities occurs a permit must be obtained:
1) construct or alter a structure
2) construct an addition to an existing structure (this includes decks)
3) demolish or move a structure
4) make a change in occupancy of a structure
5) install or alter any equipment which is regulated by the building code
Examples include:
a) heating equipment
b) air conditioning
c) plumbing
d) electrical service
6) Move a lot line, which affects an existing structure

ORDINARY REPAIRS do not require a permit. Some examples of such would be new gutters, painting, replacement of windows where the existing opening in the structure isn't altered.

NOT included in ordinary repairs are:
1) cutting away of any wall, partition, or potion thereof
2) the removal, replacement, re-inforcement or cutting of any structural beam or loadbearing support
3) the removal or change of any required means of egress
4) the rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the means of egress
5) addition to, alteration of, or replacement or relocation of any water supply, sewer, drainage, gas, soil, waste, vent or similar piping
6) addition to, alteration of, or replacement or relocation of any electrical
wiring
7) addition to, alteration of, or replacement or relocation of any mechanical
equipment

The simple acid test to apply to a question about whether or not work requires a permit is this:
Does common sense dictate that the proposed work could affect the public health, safety, and welfare by compromising structural strength, means of egress, sanitary equipment, light and ventilation, and fire safety of the building?

The permit process is designed to insure that the erection, repair, removal,
demolition, or change of occupancy of a building be accomplished in compliance with the building code.

BUILDING PERMIT
1) applicant is registered with the Central Tax Bureau (CENTAX)
2) a certificate of insurance is provided in the name of Media Borough (can be faxed)

COST OF PERMIT
$500 & less (the "homeowner special")=$15.00*
first $1,000 of value=$30.00*
each additional $1,000=$15.00

* The Borough shall assess an additional fee of $4.00 on each
construction or building permit issued in accordance with
Ordinance 990.

Note: We have no "cap" on our permit fees, i.e. you simply keep multiplying 15 times each additional $1,000 over the first $1,000. Many towns have a sliding scale whereby the cost goes down after a certain value- (ex. the first $50,000 is calculated on $15/$1,000, $50,001 to $100,000 goes down to $10/$1,000, over $100,000 drops to say $5/$1,000,etc)

PLUMBING PERMIT-includes water, sewer, and mechanical systems (ex. heaters, air conditioning)
• Plumber must be licensed for current year in borough, complete registration form and submit $50 annual registration fee. This is a different license than business privilege through CENTAX. It insures that plumber is competent to do proposed work.
• Plumber must be registered with CENTAX for the current year.
• Must complete "application for plumbing permit". Same fee structure as building permit
• Must arrange for work to be inspected before it gets buried underground or closed up in walls-we require a minimum of 24 hours notice for such work.

ELECTRICAL PERMIT
• Electrician must show licensure from community in which licensed. Electrician exams are given (ex. Upper or Lower Merion, Upper Darby, City of Chester).
• Electrician must be registered with CENTAX for the current year. Must complete
“building permit application". Same fee structure as building permit.
• Must arrange for work to be inspected by an independent underwriter (Atlantic Inland or similar) before it gets buried underground or closed up in walls. The independent underwriter then furnishes Media Borough with a certificate verifying that work was completed in accordance with the National Electrical Code.

PROGRESS INSPECTIONS DURING A BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT
Individuals who have a building permit for new construction or a major renovation are required to contact us to arrange an inspection of specific portions of their work. They should be calling a minimum of 24 hours in advance; however changing weather conditions may result in their calling and asking for a "hurry-up" inspection (ex. they have holes dug for footings and its going to rain the next day). If their "hurry-up" reason sounds valid, it is valid to have the Code Enforcement Officer paged.

The following is the copy of a page, which we give to those taking out building permits for significant work:

BOROUGH OF MEDIA
CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT
MANDATORY INSPECTIONS
(NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN VALIDITY OF BUILDING PERMIT)
The following intermediate inspections must be conducted by our office to maintain the validity of your building permit. Inspections may be scheduled by calling 566-5210 at least 24 hours in advance of the anticipated need for a particular inspection. Work performed without the required inspection(s) will be required to be demolished to the extent necessary for the code enforcement office to perform the required inspection(s). Trenches & excavations backfilled without the required inspections will be required to be re-excavated so that the necessary inspection(s) can be performed.

FOOTINGS
FOUNDATION/SLAB
MASONRY
ROUGH FRAME
ROUGH PLUMBING, MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL
INSULATION
SHEETROCK
FINAL

If during the course of construction, activities not specifically mentioned above would cause a feature to be closed up such that it was no longer visible for inspection, then that feature must be inspected prior to its being closed up. Such inspection may be scheduled by calling 566-5210 at least 24 hours in advance.

When in doubt, call. We'd rather decide before hand whether or not we need to inspect rather than coming out after the fact and having you tear out/down something you've constructed.

We look forward to your co-operation in constructing a quality, code-compliant project.

SIGNS
Just about any sign requires a permit. The sign permit application process is described in the packet of information appended to this memo.

ZONING HEARINGS
A zoning hearing occurs for one of these reasons:
1) An appeal of a decision of the code enforcement officer.
2) A request for a variance for the provisions of the zoning code, usually
alleging that the provisions of the zoning ordinance inflict an unnecessary
hardship upon the applicant.
3) A request for a special exception; a special exception being a use that is
permitted by the zoning code but requiring review by the zoning hearing
board prior to its inception.
Appended is a copy of a zoning hearing application. If someone knows what they're doing, they will simply come in an ask for this application. When they come back, we must mark on the application a date and time received as there is a 60 day time clock which begins to run on the day upon which the application is returned.

If you have any questions, please contact the Borough's Code Enforcement Department at 610-566-5210, ext. 247.