Building Permit, Zoning Review and Plan Examination Application

Document Overview

This is a multi-page application form for the City of Altoona regarding building permits, zoning reviews, and plan examinations. The form collects detailed information about the property owner, applicant, proposed construction work, costs, and required professional licenses.

Application Details (Page 1)

The first page requires the following information:

• Property Information: Location, lot size, current use (primary and secondary), and ownership type (private or public).
• Applicant & Owner Info: Names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses for both the applicant and the property owner.
• Type of Work: Checkboxes to select the nature of the project, such as repair, alteration, demolition, addition, new building, or change of use.
• Proposed Use: Classification of the property as Residential (e. g. , one family, garage, pool) or Commercial (e. g. , church, industrial, office, school).
• Cost Breakdown: A section to itemize costs for general construction, electrical, plumbing, heating/AC, and other items (like elevators), leading to a total cost.
• Job Description: A text area to describe the proposed work in detail. It notes that residential additions, garages, sheds, or pools require a sketch on the back page, while new construction requires stamped drawings.
• Identification: A table to list the names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails of involved professionals: Contractor, Architect/Engineer, Plumber, Electrician, and Mechanical/HVAC.
• Licensing Note: A footer states that all contractors must be licensed in Altoona and provides the Inspections Department phone number (949-2455) for licensing questions.

Selected Characteristics & Demolition (Page 2)

The second page covers technical specifications and demolition rules:

• Building Specs: Fields for the principle type of frame (Masonry, Wood Frame, etc. ), sewage disposal, water supply, dimensions (stories, square footage), and heating fuel.
• Demolition Work: A numbered list of strict requirements for demolition, including:
  • Approval from the Department of Public Works if encroaching on public right-of-way.
  • Submission of a site plan showing adjacent streets and infrastructure.
  • Keeping public rights-of-way free of debris.
  • Notification to the Department of Public Works (814-949-2446) 24 hours prior to starting demolition and sewer cap inspection.
• Office Use Only: A large table for internal city use to track plan reviews (Building, Demolition, Plumbing, etc. ) and additional permits/approvals (Curb cut, Elevator, Zoning, etc. ).
• Zoning: A section to record the Zoning District, Subdivision, Parcel, and Block. It asks if drawings comply with zoning requirements and if there are any nonconforming buildings or uses.

Validation & Approval (Page 3)

The third page is for financial and administrative processing:

• Validation Fees: A table listing various fees such as Building Permit Fee, Zoning Fee, Demolition Permit Fee, Stormwater Review Fee, and others, with a Grand Total field.
• Building/Zoning Approval: Signature lines for the Zoning Officer, Building Official, and other approvers, along with dates.
• Notes: A large lined area for departmental notes and data.

Sewer Cap Inspection Procedures

The final page contains specific procedural instructions for sewer cap inspections, likely attached to demolition or new construction permits:

• Capping Location: Sewer caps must be outside the foundation wall unless obstructed by a sidewalk or structure.
• Inspection: The pipe must be inspected prior to capping, and the cap must be made in the presence of an Engineering Inspector.
• Scheduling: The Public Works Department must be called at 814-949-2446 to schedule the inspection. A 24-hour advanced notice is required.
• Access: The contractor must provide safe access to the pipe/cap; inspectors can refuse inspection if access is inadequate.
• Excavation: Applicants are required to contact the PA One Call System before beginning any excavation.