Staff
Hours of
Operation Monday thru Friday 8:30 am - 5:00
pm
Types of Permits required by
West Whiteland Township Building, Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, Fire Prevention, Demolition, Signs, and Use &
Occupancy Applications
for Permits An
Application for a Permit can be obtained
by calling the Township at (610) 363-9525.
The Township will honor all phone requests
by sending out applications via regular
mail. Applications may be picked up in
person at the Township Building or
downloaded and printed.
Non-Owner Occupied Premise
Information Form
All owners of residential rental
property located in West Whiteland
Township are required to report all
occupants living in their units.
This information can be reported on a
Non-Owner Occupied Premises Form
which can be downloaded and printed
Frequently
Asked Questions
Q
How long does it take for Permit approvals?
A
Permits take between seven and ten working days for residential application and up to 30 to 60
days for commercial applications. This depends on the
complexity and the completeness of application.
Q
What are the Permit Fees?
A
Call the Code Administration Office for
pricing.
Q
What are the Inspection requirements?
A
1.) 24-hour notice is required for all inspection requests.
2.) You will be notified what inspections are required when your Permit is issued.
Q
What type of work or uses require a
permit?
A
Additions,
alterations, new buildings, sheds, decks, re-roofs, signs, tenant fit-outs, pools, fences,
wood
burning stoves, heater/air conditioner replacements, kitchen and bath renovations, finished
basements, new
electrical services, underground and above-ground tank removal or installation just to name a few.
Call or
email
the Code Office and ask if a permit is needed.
Q
What is needed for submittal of
a new residential building, addition, or renovations?
A
a) Plot plan indicating the locations of the new building or addition on your lot with distance to the
property lines and or right-of-way.
b) Two
sets of plans indicating the type of construction showing how it will be built. Include construction details indicating size of wood, spans interior wall surfaces, footer sizes, header spans and type of
material. Show typical wall and roof details of the new construction.
c) Complete building permit applications and submit contractor information.
d) If, the new building and/or addition is more than
one-story, architectural drawing with the signature and seal of the designer is required.
Q
What do I need for a deck Permit?
A
1) Pick up a deck package and a Building Permit
application or download it from
Documents.
2) A building application, plot plan, and deck drawings.
Q
How do I know when I need a Building Permit?
A
Most construction projects require permits. If you have a question as to whether or not a
permit is needed, please call or
email
the Code Office.
FIRE SAFETY TIPS
NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION
1. Install and Maintain Smoke Detector Smoke detectors warn you of a fire in time to let you escape. Install them on each level of your home
and outside of each sleeping area. Follow the manufacturer's directions, and test once a week. Replace batteries once a year or when the detector chirps to signal that the battery is dead. Don't borrow them
for other uses!
2. Plan and Practice to Escape If fire breaks out in your home, you must get out fast. With your family, plan two ways out of every room. Fire escape routes
must not include elevators, which might take you right to the fire! Choose a meeting place outside where everyone will gather. Once you are out, stay out! At least twice a year, have the whole
family practice the escape plan.
3. Smokers Need Watchers Carelessly discarded cigarettes cause tens of thousands of home fires every year. Never smoke in bed or when you are
drowsy! Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers, and put water on the butts before discarding them. Before going to bed, check under and around sofa cushions for smoldering cigarettes.
4. Be Careful Cooking Keep cooking areas clear of combustibles, and don't leave cooking unattended. Keep your pots' handles turned inward so children won't knock or pull them over the edge
of the stove. If grease, catches fire, carefully slide a lid over the pan.
5. A Match Is a Tool ... for Adults In the hands of a child, matches or lighters are extremely
dangerous. Store them up high where kids can't reach them preferably in a locked cabinet. And teach your children from the start that matches and lights are tools for adults, not toys for kids. If children
find matches, they should tell an adult immediately.
6. Use Electricity Safely If an appliance smokes or has an unusual smell, unplug it immediately, and have it repaired.
Check all your electrical cords, and replace any that are cracked or frayed. If you use extension cords, don't overload them or turn them under rugs. Remember that fuses and circuit breakers protect you from
fire: don't tamper with the fuse box or use fuses of an improper size.
7. Cool a Burn If someone gets burned, immediately place the wound in cool water for 10 to 15 minutes
to ease the pain. Do not use butter on a burn, as this could prolong the heat and further damage the skin. If the burn blisters or chars, see a doctor immediately.
8. Stop, Drop, and Roll
Everyone should know this rule: if your clothes catch fire, don't run! Stop where you are, drop to the ground, and roll over and over to smother the flames. Cover
your face with your hands to protect your face and lungs.
9. Crawl Low Under Smoke
If you encounter smoke using your primary exit, use your alternate route instead. If you
must exist through smoke, the cleanest air will be several inches off the floor. Get down on your hands and knees, and crawl to the nearest safe exit.
REMEMBER
By planning ahead you can do a lot to prevent a fire.
But once a fire starts in your home, there are only two things to do: first get out, then call the fire department from a neighbor's home.
Don't go back into a burning building, no matter what. If you think someone is trapped inside, tell the fire fighters when they arrive.
Safety Tips for Fireplace or Woodstove Use
A warm, friendly fireplace can be kept safe by observing a few rules:
Burn wood, not trash, in your fireplace. Except for starting a fire, do not put paper in the fireplace unless
you've followed the directions for making safe "paper logs."
Never use charcoal starter, lighter fluid or gasoline to ignite a fire.
Creosote, an oily liquid with a
penetrating odor, can coat the inside of a chimney and form a hazardous build-up. Seasoned wood (split logs that have been left to dry under cover for at least six months) has less creosote than unseasoned
wood and therefore is less likely to damage your chimney and give off offensive odors. Hard woods (i.e. maple, poplar and oak) produce less creosote than soft woods such as pine. Soft wood also gives off
more ash, reducing the fire's heat and causing huge quantities of soot, which hamper log burning.
Fireplaces should be inspected annually for creosote build-up.
Use a fireplace
screen to prevent embers and sparks from spraying past the hearth and burning people, animals, and rugs.
Never place ashes in cardboards or paper bags. Dispose of ashes in metal cans and always
store it outdoors. Never place ash cans near combustible material. West Whiteland Township has had several fire because ashes were placed in paper bags or cardboard boxes.
|
