Project Plans and Permitting
New Citizen Access Portal
Submit or renew plumbing permits and plans through the new Citizen Access Portal. Create an account to begin.(PDF, 377KB)
Residential and commercial plumbing projects require a plumbing permit. In order to get a permit, a plumbing plan must be approved by the Health Department prior to starting plumbing work.
This applies to any plumbing that is installed or altered. It includes replacement cards for the installation of water heaters and dishwasher transmittal sheets.
The submitted plumbing plan should indicate any and all fixtures to be installed or altered, in addition to information about water service and building sewers. The reverse side of the plan (abstract) requires a drawing showing the location, connections, and types of materials to be installed.
Once the plan is approved and a permit is obtained, plumbing work may begin and an inspection will be conducted as work proceeds. A final inspection is required as part of all plumbing permits issued.
Plumbing permits are issued in accordance to Allegheny County Health Department Rules and Regulations, Article XV, "Plumbing" .
Approximately 14,000 plans are filed, reviewed, and have permits issued by the Health Department annually.
Special note for landlords: In Allegheny County, landlords must hire a Master Plumber to make repairs or modifications to the plumbing in their rental units. A landlord can only make plumbing repairs to their own residence, not their rental units.
Where to Get a Plumbing Permit
All types of plumbing permits and plans can be filed online through the Citizen Access Portal.
Commercial plumbing plans can be filed online after undergoing preapproval through the Commercial Plan Review process. Although Commercial Plan Reviews and Commercial Plans can be filed online, the workflow and approval requirement has not changed: you must receive approval from a commercial plans reviewer before filing for a commercial plan.
There are two Plumbing Inspection Offices in Allegheny County where you can get a plumbing permit in-person:
Clack Office (Lawrenceville)
3901 Penn Avenue, Building 5
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Pittsburgh Office
2121 Noblestown Road, Room 207
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
Only residential plans can be filed at this office
Questions? Please contact the main plumbing office at 412-578-8036.
Important Plan and Permitting Documents