Ingram borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania requires building permits under the Uniform Construction Code, and sheds of 200 square feet or more need one too12. The borough has its own zoning chapter3. Septic permits for on-lot systems come from the Allegheny County Health Department, not the borough4.
At a glance
- Building permit
- Required under the Uniform Construction Code, issued through the borough12
- Zoning
- Borough zoning chapter exists; district rules not confirmed3
- Sheds and accessory buildings
- Permit at 200 sq ft or more, or any size with a utility service2
- Septic
- Allegheny County Health Department4
- Subdivision
- Regulated by the borough's own chapter5
- Owner-builder
- Statewide exemption for an owner's own residence from contractor licensing6
Who to call
Building permits
Borough office; lists a building/zoning code enforcement department. Ask here for building permits and zoning approval.
40 W Prospect Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15205
Septic permits
Allegheny County Health Department, Plumbing Program
Plumbing permits and contact point for private on-lot sewage permitting
2121 Noblestown Road, Suite 207, Pittsburgh, PA 15205
Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 14, 2026.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Borough of Ingram means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
- Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
- Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
- Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
- Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.
These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.
Do you need a building permit in Ingram borough, Pennsylvania?
Yes. Ingram borough has adopted Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code as its municipal building code, so construction inside the borough needs a permit1.
The borough also requires its own building permits beyond the state code. An accessory structure of 200 square feet or more needs a permit whether or not it has utilities, and a smaller one needs a permit if it is provided with a utility service2. Decks, porches and stoops also require a permit, while listed minor repairs such as siding or same-opening windows are exempt2.
Inspections and a certificate of occupancy follow the state code: a building may not be used until a certificate of occupancy is issued7. How the borough staffs inspections is set by council resolution, so confirm who inspects with the borough office1.
Who issues building permits in Ingram borough, and what do they cost?
The Borough of Ingram administers its building code, using an employee, contracted code officials, a third-party agency or an agreement with another municipality as council decides1. Call the Borough of Ingram office at (412) 921-3625 or visit 40 W Prospect Ave8.
Permit fees are set by borough council resolution, so we could not confirm a dollar amount; ask the borough office for the current schedule9. Allegheny County does not issue municipal building permits; the county tells applicants to file in the municipality where the work happens10.
Does Ingram borough have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and setbacks?
Yes. The borough code includes a zoning chapter, Chapter 1853. Zoning here is set by the borough, not Allegheny County11.
We could not confirm the district rules, so we cannot say what Ingram allows for RV living, tiny homes, minimum lot size or setbacks. Do not assume any of these is unrestricted; ask the borough's building/zoning office before you buy or place a structure3. Subdivision and land development are separately regulated by the borough's Chapter 1635.
How do septic permits work in Ingram borough?
On-lot sewage systems in Allegheny County are permitted by the Health Department's Sewage Enforcement Officers under Pennsylvania's Sewage Facilities Act4. A permit is required before any on-lot disposal construction starts12.
Buildings within reach of public sewer may have to connect instead: continued use of an individual system is unlawful when any part of the building is within 150 feet of an available public sewer13. Whether Ingram's own sewer chapter adds rules is unconfirmed, so ask the borough office. Contact the Health Department's Plumbing Program at 412-578-803614.
Building a home in Ingram borough: the steps, in order
- Ask the borough office whether the parcel's zoning district allows your use3.
- Check floodplain status; construction in a floodplain needs documentation sealed by a registered design professional15.
- Confirm sewer or septic with the county Health Department4.
- Apply for the building permit through the borough2.
- If the driveway meets a state highway, a PennDOT highway occupancy permit is required16.
- Pass inspections and obtain the certificate of occupancy before moving in7.
What stays with Allegheny County, and what to check before you buy in Ingram
Septic permits and plumbing permits stay with the Allegheny County Health Department4. Land outside borough limits follows other rules; see the Allegheny County page.
Allegheny County's effective property tax rate is 1.6%17, and the typical home value is about $247,00818. Private wells are not covered by a Pennsylvania construction standard, and homeowners may drill their own on their land without a driller license19; confirm with the borough office that a well is allowed on a lot with public water.
Watch-outs
- Ingram's zoning district rules, including RV, tiny-home, setback and lot-size limits, could not be confirmed; ask the borough's building/zoning office before buying3.
- Building permit fees are set by council resolution and were not confirmed, so ask the borough office for the current schedule9.
- Allegheny County's plumbing permits are a separate permit from the borough's building permit20.
Sources
- Borough of Ingram Code, Chapter 60 Building Construction (Borough of Ingram), quoted and re-checked
- Borough of Ingram Code, Chapter 60 Building Construction (Borough of Ingram), quoted and re-checked
- Borough of Ingram Code, Chapter 60 Building Construction (Borough of Ingram), quoted and re-checked
- Water Pollution Control, quoted and re-checked
- Borough of Ingram Code, Chapter 60 Building Construction (Borough of Ingram), quoted and re-checked
- Contractor Licensing (2026 county census)
- Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
- Borough of Ingram (ingramborough.org)
- Borough of Ingram Code, Chapter 60 Building Construction (Borough of Ingram), quoted and re-checked
- Allegheny County - Building Permits (2026 county census)
- Land Use Planning, quoted and re-checked
- Water Pollution Control, quoted and re-checked
- Article XIV Sewage Management, quoted and re-checked
- Allegheny County Health Department, Plumbing Program (alleghenycounty.us)
- Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
- Uniform Construction Code Chapter 403, quoted and re-checked
- Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
- Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
- Apply for a Water Well Drillers License and Rig Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Project Plans and Permitting, quoted and re-checked
Written October 14, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.