Pennsylvania installation guides.
Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code applies statewide, and more than 90% of municipalities administer and enforce it locally, so stove permits usually come from the city, borough or township where the property sits.
Pennsylvania Uniform Construction CodeChoose your city.
Allentown
Lehigh County / Lehigh ValleyIn Old Allentown, Old Fairgrounds and West Park, a Certificate of Appropriateness is issued by City Council resolution after staff or HARB review, before building permits.
Read the guideBethel Park
Allegheny County / south of PittsburghBethel Park’s own Building Inspection Division enforces the Uniform Construction Code, and residents can submit a permit by email to the municipality instead of dropping it off.
Read the guideBethlehem
Lehigh and Northampton counties / Lehigh ValleyBethlehem’s mechanical permit application has its own line for fireplace and solid fuel burning appliances, and city code sets a separate fee for wood stoves.
Read the guideEaston
Northampton County / Lehigh ValleyEaston’s historic district guidelines say a chimney’s exterior must be kept visually intact regardless of interior changes, and stucco and tar are not acceptable for chimney repair.
Read the guideErie
Erie County / Northwestern PennsylvaniaErie licenses contractors itself, and every licensed contractor must file a certificate of insurance naming the city before any permit can be issued.
Read the guideHarrisburg
Dauphin County / South Central PennsylvaniaIn Harrisburg’s six municipal historic districts, the city will not issue a permit for visible exterior work until a certificate of appropriateness is issued, but features seen only from a private alley are not regulated.
Read the guideLancaster
Lancaster County / South Central PennsylvaniaIn Lancaster’s HARB district, City Council issues the Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior changes before a building permit can be obtained.
Read the guideMt. Lebanon
Allegheny County / South Hills of PittsburghMt. Lebanon’s fire department will send a trained staff member to your home for a fireplace consultation, and usually recommends a certified sweep inspection before use.
Read the guidePenn Hills
Allegheny County / Eastern suburbs of PittsburghPenn Hills’ code bars any contractor from doing permit work in the municipality without first registering with its Department of Code Enforcement, and the registration must be renewed every calendar year.
Read the guidePittsburgh
Allegheny County / Southwestern PennsylvaniaAllegheny County’s Air Quality Action Day wood-burning ban sits in its open-burning rules, which cover smoke that does not pass through a flue.
Read the guideReading
Berks County / Southeastern PennsylvaniaReading’s Mechanical Code lets an owner-occupant pull their own permit only if the work does not modify or alter any chimney, connector or flue for a wood-burning stove.
Read the guideScranton
Lackawanna County / Northeastern PennsylvaniaScranton’s code says a permit for a heating installation must be filed by a master plumber or mechanical contractor, and its homeowner exception excludes mechanical work.
Read the guideState College
Centre County / Centre RegionState College’s building permits come from the Centre Region Code Administration, whose regional building safety code says the inspection cycle for fireplaces and solid fuel-burning appliances may not exceed one year.
Read the guideWilkes-Barre
Luzerne County / Wyoming ValleyWilkes-Barre permits can be pulled only by city-licensed contractors or by a homeowner for a primary residence, and an out-of-town contractor needs two letters of recommendation for a one-time license.
Read the guideYork
York County / South Central PennsylvaniaIn York’s HARB district, new chimney caps and roof or wall vents go to the board’s consultant as staff reviews, while vents run through windows or doors need a full HARB meeting.
Read the guide
We add guides as local research is completed. Rules and business coverage vary by address. Explore national planning guides for areas not yet covered.