Lebanon County Planning Department
Room 206
Municipal Building
400 South Eight Street
Lebanon, PA 17042
(717)274-2801, ext. 2325
Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Pre-requisites for building Plans

Traffic County

Earl Myer is the head of the Lebanon County Planning Department. 

In 1987, Lebanon County published an interim plan for future development.   It was labeled "interim" since it was designed as a transition document to update the 1970 plan.  In December 2007, a new Comprehensive Plan was adopted for Lebanon County.

You may apply for a Building and Zoning Permit for the following municipalities in Lebanon County:

Fee schedule approved Resolution 3-23-00:

A) Each subdivision or land development plan application shall be accompanied by the required review and recording fees. Fees are payable at the time of plan submission and plan processing, approval and recording shall not be completed until all required fees are paid. There is no refund or credit of fees or a portion of fees when the subdivider or developer withdraws a plan during the review process or if approval is denied.

B1) Minor subdivision, not involving new lots: FINAL PLAN $125.00.

2) Minor and Major Subdivision or Land Development with new lots/units:

Number of lots/units                 Preliminary Plan Fee            Final Plan Fee

Land Development Plan: Commercial, Industrial, Institutional….

            Acres - Plan Review Fee

C Municipal Fees must also be paid to the municipality for approval or disapproval of the plan.

D Engineer Review Fees: All applications involving storm water management or engineering review shall be accompanied by fees, payable to the County Engineer (H Edward Black & Associates), as follows:

For review of subdivision and land development plans and requests for inspections:

For review of commercial, industrial, or institutional land developments, resubmitted plans, inspections, and other plans which don’t qualify for the per lot or unit rate:

A base fee is required for review or inspection based on site acreage. An additional hourly fee is charged for reviews/inspections requiring excess time over the base fee.

0-10 acres $400 up to 4 hours

10.01-20 acres $1000 up to 10 hours

20.01 or more acres $2,000 up to 20 hours

An hourly rate of $95 per hour of County Engineer review or inspection time.

E Recording Fee: $27 for the first four pages, and $5 per page thereafter.

Building and Zoning Permit Fees

Permit fees are based on your actual cost of construction in accordance with the following scale:
                        Construction Cost                              Fee
                            $0 - $1,000                                      $10

(Add $1.00 for every $1,000 or fraction thereof of construction cost over $1,000)

You may also purchase a copy of township or borough ordinances from the Planning Department.

Building Code Checklist

Before application, please check the following items that apply with the appropriate officials:

During the 1950's, a few of the 26 municipalities in Lebanon County enacted zoning regulations as a tool to facilitate orderly development and also to aid other laws in the protection of the public health, safety and welfare.  Today, all municipalities have adopted their own zoning laws. Of these municipalities, 19 have taken advantage of a service provided by the Lebanon County Commissioners, namely, the enforcement of their own laws by the Lebanon County Planning Department.  The County, in this relationship, works for the townships and boroughs listed above.  The decision-making process used by the staff of the Department is limited to authority granted by the municipality through its respective ordinances. The features of the ordinances that are held in common are listed on this page for the convenience of applicants; other commonly asked questions relevant to enforcement are answered in below.

TYPICAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What kinds of work require a building and zoning permit?
Generally, a change in use of a building or land; construction of a building;
any alteration in size or shape of an existing building; a home occupation;
a sign or; removal or relocation of a building.

What kinds of work are exempted form permits?
The following generalizations may not apply in all cases; however, these are examples of exempted work: painting; re-roofing; and installing siding; which do not change the principal use of or add a new use to the building.
However, please take note
There is no exemption for work less than a particular construction cost.
There is no exemption for a building smaller than a particular size.
There is no exemption for a temporary building or use as opposed to a permanent one.

What information is necessary when applying?
Usually, an applicant should be prepared with a plat plan, the size and estimated cost of the building or addition, the materials to be utilized in construction, the contractor's name and address, exact location of property, and any necessary preliminary permits or prerequisites, (see checklist). The fee is determined by the estimated construction cost (see permit fees).

When should I apply for my permit and how long is it valid?
Application should be made weeks in advance, not to exceed 90 days before work is to begin. Permits are generally valid for one to two years and must be renewed thereafter.

What if my plans change after the permit is issued?
Contact should be made with the Department as soon as possible.  Most minor corrections do not require new permits.

Will the estimated construction cost result in an equal increase in my tax assessment?
Not necessarily; the tax is determined by a body of entirely different and separate laws which are completely independent of zoning regulations, (see the Assessment Office for further information).

Do I need to build according to any building code?
Building Codes are becoming a reality in a growing number of municipalities. If codes apply in your area, a separate building code permit is required. Department Officials can explain requirements and procedures.

What about fences, chimneys, bay windows, swimming pools, tennis courts. . .?
The items mentioned above and many others are treated differently for each municipality.  It is best to contact the Department with specific questions.

Why drive to Lebanon for a permit?
The office hours are ample and convenient for most.  Also, other County offices are nearby which can provide additional information (often not kept at home or within easy access) which may be necessary to process your permit.

How much does it cost my municipality for enforcement services?
The service is provided at no cost to the municipality.  Permit fees paid by applicants are retained by the County to cover the expenses of operation.

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SUBDIVISION & LAND DEVELOPMENT

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