Code Enforcement

THE NORTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT IS DEDICATED TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF THE TOWNSHIP.

THE CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT ADMINISTERS AND ENFORCES ALL OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE ADOPTED INTERNATIONAL CODES, TOWNSHIP CODES AND ORDINANCES ADOPTED BY THE TOWNSHIP. THESE VARIOUS CODES AND ORDINANCES HELP KEEP NORTHAMPTON A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, AND WORK IN. THE PA INTERNATIONAL (UCC) CODES INCLUDE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING, BUILDING, PLUMBING, MECHANICAL, FIRE PREVENTION, ENERGY, ELECTRICAL, EXISTING BUILDING, ALONG WITH ALL OF THE REFERENCED STANDARDS THAT APPLY.

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING AND ZONING PERMITS AND APPROVALS

BUILDING PERMITS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE FOLLOWING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
NEW BUILDINGS
RETAINING WALLS
RENOVATIONS
FENCES
ALTERATIONS
DRIVEWAYS
DEMOLITION
ACCESSORY STRUCTURES
FIREPLACES
DECKS
SWIMMING POOLS
SHEDS
FOUNDATIONS
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES
ROOF COVERING AND REPLACEMENT
WINDOW REPLACEMENT
PATIO/AWNINGS
ELECTRICAL PERMIT:
WIRING
LIGHTS
SWITCHES.

BUILDING PERMITS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR: PAINTING, CARPETING, INTERIOR DECORATING.

ALWAYS CHECK WITH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO ANY WORK TO VERIFY IF A PERMIT IS REQUIRED.

GENERAL INFORMATION

PERMIT APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED BY THE CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT AT 55 TOWNSHIP ROAD, RICHBORO, PA 18954 FROM 8:30 AM TO 4:30 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, DURING REGULAR BUSINESS DAYS. PHONE NUMBERS: 215-355-3883 OR 215-357-6800 THE DEPARTMENT STAFF WILL PROCESS YOUR APPLICATION FOR ZONING REVIEW, VARIOUS UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODES (UCC) REVIEWS AND PLAN EXAMINATION. THE ZONING AND UCC CODE REVIEWS ARE SEPARATE PROCESSES.
UPON ISSUANCE OF THE APPLICABLE PERMIT, THE PERMIT APPROVAL REQUIRES COMPLIANCE WITH ALL CODES AND ORDINANCES THAT NORTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP ADOPTED.
THE APPLICANT, OR OWNER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR INSPECTIONS, AND THAT THE REQUIRED INSPECTIONS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED AND APPROVED BY A TOWNSHIP OFFICIAL. BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES CAN NOT BE USED OR OCCUPIED UNTIL, A CERTIFICATE OF USE AND OCCUPANCY, OR GIVEN A FINAL INSPECTION FOR CERTAIN PERMITS.

TOWNSHIP TIDBITS

IS YOUR DECK SAFE? LOOK FOR SOME OF THE WARNING SIGNS.

IF YOU SEE ANY OF THESE WARNING SIGNS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER REPAIRING, RETROFITTING, OR REBUILDING YOUR DECK.

DECKS BUILT 12-15 YEARS AGO,OR LONGER MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXCESSIVE DETERIORA TION, WEAR, AND FATIGUE. THIS SHOULD BE CHECKED OUT BY USING THE SERVICES OF A REPUTABLE AND KNOWLEDGEABLE CONTRACTOR, OR, ENGINEER.

SOME OF THE SIGNS:
MISSING CONNECTIONS. A DECK SHOULD BE CONSTRUCTED USING NAILS, SCREWS, BOLTS, AND METAL CONNECTORS. DECK CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, HARDWARE, AND , REQUIREMENTS HAVE VASTLY IMPROVED OVER THE LAST DECADE. FACTORS SUCH AS EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS, LACK OF MAINTENANCE, LEAKING FLASHINGS AROUND WINDOWS AND DOORS ABOVE THE DECK, AND EVEN AROUND THE DECK ITSELF COULD MAKE YOUR DECK UNSAFE. LOOK FOR MISSING OR LOOSE CONNECTIONS, CORROSION, ROT AND CRACKS.

THE FORCES THAT ACT ON A DECK ARE PEOPLE AND OBJECTS, SUCH AS FURNITURE, AND MOTHER NATURE, LIKE WIND AND SNOW.

GRAVITY LOADS- THIS IS THE WEIGHT OF PEOPLE, OBJECTS, SNOW, OR ICE.

Example of Gravity Loads

LATERAL LOADS- THESE ARE THE BACK AND FORTH MOTION ( HORIZONTAL) CAUSED BY PEOPLE WALKING OR RUNNING AND LEANING ON THE RAILING. WIND AND EARTHQUAKES CAN CAUSE LATERAL MOVEMENT.

Example of Lateral Loads

UPLIFT LOADS- THESE ARE CAUSED BY WIND FLOWING UNDER THE DECK CREATING A LIFTING EFFECT. PEOPLE STANDING ON THE OVERHANG PORTION OF SOME DECKS CREATE UPWARDS PRESSURE ON THE CONNECTION AT THE HOUSE.

Example of Uplift Loads

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY SIMPSON STRONG-TIE COMPANY.

Northampton Township

Northampton Township Complex
55 Township Road
Richboro, PA 18954

Phone: (215) 357-6800
Fax: (215) 357-1251

Police Department

Northampton Township Police
50 Township Road
Richboro, PA 18954

Emergency: 911
Need a Police Officer? (Non-Emergency): (215) 357-8700
Business Only: (215) 322-6111

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