DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & INDUSTRY
UCC UPDATE
NOVEMBER 23, 2004

Department Procedure for Permitting Buildings Illegally Occupied
Buildings that lack occupancy permits required under pre-UCC laws, regulations and ordinances are technically required to meet the UCC requirements for new construction. As this is problematic and, in some cases, impractical, the Department has established a special process whereby buildings for which it has jurisdiction may obtain a UCC occupancy permit.

This procedure is outlined on the page accessed by link number 8. [See “I” below.] View section “I” to read these requirements.

Department Procedure and Application for Alterations-Level 1
The Department has now developed a special application for alterations to legally existing buildings that will undergo minor renovations. The application form and the procedure are detailed on the page accessed by link number 8 under section “F.” [See “F” below.]

Department Form UCC-2 Revised
The Department’s “UCC PLAN REVIEW CHECKLIST” (UCC-2) has been revised and is linked off the page accessed by link number 8. Please be sure that, when this checklist is required as part of the application package, the revised form (UCC-2 REV 11-04) is submitted.

F. Application Requirements: ALTERATIONS-LEVEL 1 PERMITS
Alterations (renovations) that meet the scope of Section 303 of the International Existing Building Code 2003 (ALTERATION-LEVEL1) and that will be made to a legally occupied building should follow this simplified application process:

1. Submit one copy of the form UCC-15 (APPLICATION FOR ALTERATIONS-LEVEL 1 PERMIT). Click here to access a copy of this form.

2. Submit payment of $100.00 plus $20.00 per each $1,000 of the estimated construction cost via check or money order made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Be sure to accurately detail all of the work to be done under the building permit. After reviewing this information, we will either issue a UCC Building Permit or contact you regarding work that appears to fall outside the scope of Alterations-Level 1. If a permit is issued, we will also inform you of inspections that must be passed, before a certificate of occupancy can be issued.

I. Application Requirements: UNAPPROVED EXISTING BUILDING PERMITS
Buildings that were not approved for use or occupancy under pre-UCC statutes (the Fire and Panic and Universal Accessibility Acts) and under local building code ordinances are deemed to be “illegally existing buildings.”

In order to achieve legal approval of their use and occupancy or to obtain a permit to alter these buildings under the UCC, all of the following must be submitted to the Department:

1. A completed UCC APPLICATION FOR BUILDING PERMIT (UCC-3). Click here to access a copy of this form.

• If only applying for an occupancy permit to occupy the building legally under the UCC, check only the box labeled “Unapproved Existing Building.”
• If applying for approval to make alterations also check the box labeled “Alteration or Renovation.”
• Please complete this fully. If an informational item does not apply, indicate this by a “NA.”
• It is imperative that applicants indicate the name of the political subdivision and the county where the proposed construction will occur. Without this, we cannot verify that the Department has jurisdiction for this work. We will not process applications that lack this information.

2. A copy of the UCC INSPECTION PROCEDURES STATEMENT (UCC-9) signed by the same person who signed the building permit application form. Click here to access a copy of this form.

3. Payment of either:

$100.00 (the base application fee), if just requesting use and occupancy approval. Note that an additional permit fee will have to be paid for any building changes imposed in order to issue a UCC building permit and certificate of use and occupancy.

OR

If application is also being made for alterations or renovations, please pay the base application fee of $100.00, plus $20.00 per each $1,000.00 of estimated construction cost.

4. Three complete sets of construction drawings. Drawings must be at least 18” x 24” (but no more than 36” x 42”) in size, drawn to scale of no less than 1/8”=1’. These must include:

• Site and location plans showing locations of the building in relationship to adjacent streets, buildings, distances from adjacent buildings and streets. Must show access and egress paths to public ways, and parking. Flood zone documentation is not required.
• Elevations either drawn on the plans or shown via photographs. If used, photographs must provide enough detail to show all doors, windows, exterior stairs, height of building and any exterior elements in relationship to grade, plus each entire side of the building. Photographs will not be accepted for any newly constructed areas.
• Drawn wall sections and /or descriptions of the building components of the exterior walls, floor/ ceiling and roof/ceiling assemblies.
• Floor plans (sketches are unacceptable) showing all components of egress (door swings & sizes, properly drawn stairs, and interior finishes), fire ratings of all required assemblies, all uses of rooms labeled, and new and/or demolition work. Show all handicapped accessible elements including site requirements.
• Electrical plans showing location, types and mounting heights of all luminaries, emergency systems (emergency lighting, exit signs, fire alarms, smoke detectors and visual/audible alarms), all electrical outlets and switches.
• Plumbing plans showing locations of all new and existing fixtures, including accessible features. Provide sprinkler head layouts, type of system and location of supply manifold.
• Mechanical plans showing type, and capacity of all existing HVAC equipment, including locations of all fire/smoke/radiation dampers.