Local building department guide · Updated 2026-07-30

Montgomery County Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

Use this guide to find the official Montgomery County Planning Commission Building Permit Guide, start a permit application, search permit records, schedule an inspection, and locate the correct zoning or plan review contact.

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Quick actions

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Apply for a building permit

Review the typical application path and prepare your project details.

See permit steps

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Track or search permits

Find Montgomery County permit search resources and application status links.

Search permits

Schedule a building inspection

Learn what to have ready before requesting your next inspection.

Read inspection guide

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portal login

Open the department's official online services and permit portal.

Visit official site

Montgomery County does not function as one countywide building-permit office for every property. Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code requires the application to identify the political subdivision, and the local municipality or its appointed building code official is normally the correct place to apply for a building permit, schedule construction inspections, and obtain a certificate of occupancy. Confirm the municipality before filing; a Norristown, Upper Merion, Cheltenham, Lower Merion, or other municipal address may have a different code office and portal.

Montgomery County plan review and development applications

The Montgomery County Planning Commission (MCPC) reviews subdivision and land-development proposals under Pennsylvania’s Municipalities Planning Code, Act 247, before municipal action. The county review is advisory; final approval is made by the municipality. Applicants generally submit the plans and county-review request to the municipality, while municipal staff use the county’s 247 submission process. MCPC also publishes a public map with plan documents and review letters.

Building permits, inspections, zoning, and occupancy

For a building addition, renovation, new structure, demolition, trade permit, inspection, or certificate of occupancy, contact the code enforcement/building department and zoning officer for the municipality where the property sits. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s UCC guidance explains that permits and inspections apply to residential and commercial construction, electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing, pools, and changes in occupancy. County planning review does not replace the municipal UCC permit or local zoning approval.

County contact and next step

MCPC lists the county contact as P.O. Box 311, Norristown, Pennsylvania 19404-0311, with a main county phone of (610) 278-3000. Use the official county review page for Act 247 submissions and public plan information, then contact the property’s municipality for the actual building-permit application, inspection request, code-compliance question, or certificate-of-occupancy record.

Permit process

How to Apply for a Montgomery County Building Permit

Confirm the project scope

Identify the work, property address, project valuation, and whether plans are required.

Prepare your documents

Gather plans, owner and contractor details, site information, and any zoning approvals.

Submit and monitor

Submit through the department’s stated process, pay fees, and watch for review comments.

Field work & closeout

Building Inspections & Code Compliance in Montgomery County

Most permitted work must remain accessible for inspection at defined stages. Before scheduling, check your permit record for the required inspection sequence and make sure the site is safe and ready. Final inspections can be especially important for code compliance and a certificate of occupancy.

Helpful preparation

Keep the permit card or approval number available, confirm the property address, and ask the official office about lead times or reinspection fees.

Planning & review

Zoning and Plan Review Requirements

A building permit is not always the only approval your project needs. Zoning guidelines may affect use, setbacks, height, parking, signage, or lot coverage. Residential and commercial building permits can also follow different plan review tracks, so confirm the correct path before investing in a full plan set.

For a project in Montgomery County, start with the official department below and ask which zoning, planning, conservation, or fire review approvals apply to your address.

Keep this handy

Official Contact Information

Department	Montgomery County Planning Commission Building Permit Guide
Phone	610-278-3000
Address	P.O. Box 311, Norristown, PA 19404-0311
Official website	https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/departments/planning-commission/subdivision-land-development-reviews
Last verified	2026-07-30

Official source pages used for this guide

These links were checked on 2026-07-30. Requirements, fees, office hours, and portal addresses can change; use the official source as the final authority.