With the Certificate of Compliance, the applicant grants the City the right to enter onto their property for the purpose of making the necessary inspection required when the person intends to transfer any interest in any occupied real property within the City. This includes the physical inspection of both sanitary sewer and on-lot septic systems.

FEES:

Sanitary Sewer - $30.00 - residential uses plus $25.00 per hour over one hour of time.  $50.00 - commercial and industrial uses up to 5,000 square feet plus $20.00 for each additional 5,000 square feet of building.

Septic System - $85.00 - residential, commercial and industrial uses.

A permit must be obtained to construct or repair the pipe that lies underneath a driveway or private street that enters onto the right-of-way of any City street. A permit is also required to place drainage pipes in a City drainage ditch, connect drainage pipes to a City storm sewer system or place pipe within a municipal tail ditch. If a City drainage ditch is improved with buried drainage pipes, the property owner is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the drainage pipes; NOT the City. If the street is owned by the State, the resident must obtain a Highway Occupancy Permit from PennDOT. To improve a driveway with paving or concrete, please submit a Zoning Permit Application.

FEES:

$20.00 for installation of less than 24' of drainage pipe.

$35.00 for installation of over 24' of drainage pipe.

$0.00 for replacement of existing driveway sewer. (Permit still required)

$50.00 for curb cuts plus $30.00 per l.f. deposit.

Excess maintenance agreements are required for trucks that are over the posted weight limit for the road. Forms are to be filled out and submitted to the Permit Office at City Hall. The street superintendent first inspects the road for any current damage to the road, and then again after the hauling operation is complete to check for any possible damage that may have been done by the truck drivers.

FEES:

$50.00 for the first mile of road; $25.00 per mile thereafter

$25.00 for annual permit for road.

Fireworks permits are required for public and private displays of fireworks for any occasion within the City of St. Marys. An approved permit may be requested by a fireworks' retailer before items can be purchased. The application requires site information, dates of displays, rain dates for displays, admission fees and the posting of at least a $500.00 Bond with the City. The permits must be approved by the City Manager and the Fire Chief, so please apply for the permit well in advance of the anticipated display date.

FEES:

$10.00 Application Fee

$500.00 Bond.

The improvement of two or more contiguous residential lots or one non-residential lot (commercial or industrial) constitutes a land development. The Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance regulates land developments. Applications for land development must be approved prior to a building permit being issued. In addition to zoning regulations, the City must ensure that these developments meet all other codes and regulations. Plans must be reviewed by City staff and the fire department for conformance with building and fire codes. Soil erosion and sedimentation permits must also be obtained from the Elk Conservation District in many cases.

FEES:

$25.00 - Land Development Application

A Permit is required when a new business starts up in an existing building or for a business operated out of the home, or changing the use of a building or a section of a building to a different one. The Zoning Permit must be applied for and issued prior to the business opening, and confirms that the use of the land and/or building is in compliance with the City's Zoning Ordinance.

FEES:  $30.00 - Zoning Permit for Change in Use or New Use

Property owners may petition the City to rezone their property. Applications shall be filed with the Zoning Officer, upon which they shall pay an advertising fee and filing fee in accordance with the fee schedule affixed by the City. Applications will be reviewed by the Zoning Officer, Planning Commission, and City Council.

FEES:

$500.00 Fee

$3.75 per page - stenographic services (if required)

All properties that are accessible to and within 150' of the sanitary sewer line must connect to the sewer. A sewer tap permit must be obtained from the City Permit Office. All connections must be performed in accordance with established rules and regulations in the City ordinances. In addition to the connection, customers must also pay a tapping fee. The tapping fee pays a portion of the cost and maintenance of the wastewater treatment plant. Each fee is set per equivalent dwelling unit. Each EDU amounts to 400 gallons of flow per day and is equal to one single family residence.

FEES:

$1,050.00 - tapping fee per EDU (plus costs) 1 - 3 EDU's

$500.00 tapping fee per EDU (plus costs) - 4+ EDU's

$11,650.00 - maximum fee

$25.00 - inspection fee

Septic systems are required on property where sanitary sewer is not available. The permitting process includes a soil probe and a perc test of the property to determine the type and size of the septic system. These tests can only be done during the warmer months of the year (April to October, weather permitting) so that accurate readings can be obtained. Testing schedules are to be set up with the Sewage Enforcement Officer (SEO) during the week so that he can work closely with the applicant during this process. The City utilizes a third-party SEO for its on-lot sewage facilities testing and permitting. Application forms are only available by visiting City Hall, and the fee must be paid before the permit can be issued.

FEES:

$675.00 - probe, perc tests, design, inspection and permit.

$350.00 - repair/modification permit that do not require soils testing or alterations to absorption area.

$145.00 - investigate complaints and malfunctions.

$100.00 - return per extra visit to a site not properly prepared by the applicant.

$100.00 - re-issue expired permit.

$75.00 per hour - miscellaneous work.

 Subdivision Work:

$175.00 - preliminary site suitability testing for DEP Planning module.

$20.00 - for each additional soil probe for above.

$350.00 - complete site suitability testing for DEP Planning module

$250.00 - replacement area testing for DEP Planning module

$50.00 - review of pending DEP Planning module

$75.00 - residual tract inspection of existing on-lot system for non-building waivers and DEP Planning Modules

 Permits are required for many types of signage in the City of Saint Marys. Zoning Permit applications for signs are available in the Permit Office at City Hall and through the link below. The Zoning Ordinance is used as a guideline to determine if the sign meets regulations including size, location, and type of sign. Refer to Saint Marys City Code Book Chapter 27, Section 315 to review the regulations.

The City of St. Marys also regulates the placement of signs in the Boulevard area on S Saint Marys Street. Placement of signs in this area is limited to non-profit or community organizations, and a permit application is required. The permit application can be downloaded through the link below called "Boulevard Sign Permit" and there is no fee for the application.

  FEES:

$30.00 - Zoning Permit for Sign

$0.00 - Boulevard Sign Permit

A Soliciting Permit (which includes Transient Retail) is required when a person engages in the peddling, soliciting, or selling either by sample or otherwise of any type of goods, wares, or merchandise anywhere within the City of Saint Marys whether it be by telephone, door-to-door or by standing at local businesses asking for donations, etc on a temporary basis.

FEES:

$50.00 per week

No fee for non-profit organizations

The adoption of the Elk County Stormwater Management Plan in 2010 required the City of St. Marys to revise its Stormwater Management Ordinance to regulate all construction of impervious surfaces. Luckily, the City was able to exempt most common Residential improvements from the Stormwater Engineering requirements, however, the improvements must still be documented. Most impervious surface improvements can be documented though the Small Project Stormwater Management Application, which is part of the Zoning Permit Application. Almost all impervious improvements require the issuance of a Zoning Permit before construction begins. The Non-residential aspect of Stormwater Management is essentially the same as the prior Stormwater Management Ordinance, unless the development requires the issuance of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Permit (NPES). 

FEES:

$0.00 - Small Project Stormwater Management Application (Included as part of the Zoning Permit Review).

$50.00 - Stormwater Management Permit (less than 20,000 square feet).

$100.00 - Stormwater Management Permit (more than 20,000 square feet).

+$100.00 - Engineer/Legal fees incurred by City to review application and plans.

Whenever a road or street right-of-way is dug up by a resident, utility, or any other agency, a street excavation permit is required. City inspectors will inspect the repair work to the road for compliance to City ordinances.

FEES:

$11.00 per square foot - improved streets and berms

$7.00 per square foot - unimproved streets and berms

$50.00 - untraveled portion of the right-of-way

$50.00 - curb breaks (plus $30.00 per foot refundable deposit)

If you want to divide a larger parcel of land into one or more parcels, whether to sell or build on, subdivision approval is required by the City. A subdivision application, along with a layout of the property and other pertinent information, is to be submitted to the Permit Office for review by City Zoning Officers. From there it is reviewed by the City Planning Commission and then City Council. Depending on the nature of the subdivision, minor or major, approval could take a few months. Contact a City Zoning Officer who will guide you through the process.

FEES:

$25.00 per lot - minor and major subdivisions

$10.00 - Elk County review fee

$250.00 - legal fees (if required)

$10.00 - clerical fees (if required)

In the past, both building and zoning were incorporated in one permit. Since the State-wide building code (UCC 45) has been implemented, it was best that we separate the two permits. Some construction that takes place such as accessory structures less than 1,000 square feet may be exempted from the building code and building permits, but proper set back distances, height, use, and other zoning issues must still be complied with. Whether the construction that takes place requires a building permit or not, it may still require a zoning permit.

The City Zoning Officer will review the application for compliance with the applicable regulations of the Zoning Ordinance. Part of the application incorporates a site plan that shows the location of the proposed construction, including the setback distances from each property line. The City Zoning Ordinance contains requirements for front, rear and side yard setback distances, lot size, height, use, and other matters, and this information can be found in Chapter 27 of the City Code Book. Normally, zoning permit applications are reviewed within seven days and approved if everything is in compliance with the Zoning Ordinance; however, the Zoning Officer has up to ninety (90) days to approve or deny an application.

 FEES:

$30.00 Zoning Permit

This application is required to schedule a hearing with the St. Marys Zoning Hearing Board. In most circumstances, a zoning permit application is also required. Please contact the City Zoning Officer at mpfeufer@stmaryspa.gov or (814) 781-1718 x227 with any questions.

 FEES:

$300.00 Zoning Hearing Board Application