Building and zoning permits are required within Sayre Borough and may be obtained at the Borough Hall or at the Athens-Sayre Joint Code Enforcement Agency, 2 South River Street, Athens, Pa., 18810 (Athens Borough Hall).

As a general rule of thumb, a building permit is necessary if your project involves these activities: structural demolition, installation, construction, erection of any structure, enlargement, alteration, removing, moving, repair, improving, or converting.

If you are unsure if your project requires a building permit, please call the Code Enforcement office, telephone: (570) 888-4410, for further guidance.

For your convenience, you may download a building permit form (pdf file) here. You will need three copies of the completed form for submission to the Code Enforcement Agency. Adobe Acrobat Reader or similar software required.

Plan ahead. It might take up to 30 days from completed application to issue of your permit. Although most applications for a permit will be completed in a shorter period of time, due to the complexity of some applications please allow up to 30 days for the process. Payment for the permit will be due at the time of permit issue, not when we receive the original application. During the course of processing, the Zoning Officer will advise you if there is a need to process your application through the Planning Commission and/or the Zoning Hearing Board.

Under Borough law (§ 173-137. Permits), a building and/or zoning permit is required:

• prior to the erection, addition or alteration of any building or portion thereof;


• prior to the use or change in use of a building or land;


• and prior to the change or extension of a nonconforming use.

All applications for permits shall be accompanied by plans, in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing:

• the actual slope and dimensions of the lot to be built upon,


• the exact size and location of any buildings existing on the lot,


• the lines within which the proposed building or structure shall be erected or altered,


• the existing and intended use of each building or part of a building,


• the number of families or dwelling units the building is designed to accommodate


• and such information as may be necessary to determine compliance with this chapter and all other ordinances. One copy of such plans shall be returned to the owner when such plans have been reviewed and acted upon by the Zoning Officer.


• All applications with accompanying plans and documents shall become a public record after a permit is issued or denied.

No permit shall be issued until the Zoning Officer has certified that the proposed building, addition or alteration complies with all the provisions of Chapter 173, Zoning, as well as the provisions of all other applicable ordinances.

Once issued, the permit is valid for 12 months after the issuance date. You may request an extension from the Zoning Officer, in necessary. Such request shall be filed with the Zoning Officer at least 30 days prior to the permit expiration date.

Temporary permits. A temporary permit may be authorized by the Zoning Officer for a structure or use which it deems necessary to promote the proper development of the community, provided that such nonconforming structure or use shall be completely removed upon expiration of the permit without cost to the borough. Such permits shall be issued for a specified period of time, not to exceed one year, and may be renewed annually for an aggregate period not exceeding two years.

REFERENCES:

Athens-Sayre Joint Code Enforcement Agency — See Ch. 3.
Planning Commission — See Ch. 23.
Building construction — See Ch. 55.
Flood damage prevention — See Ch. 89.
Swimming pools — See Ch. 145.