Start With a $25 Permit Review

Permits trip a lot of people up — that's exactly why we do this. For a one-time $25 review, we look at your specific build and your township, then get back to you with whether it can be permitted and what it would take. Most projects can move forward, but not every lot qualifies — setbacks, zoning, easements, or HOA rules can limit or rule one out, and if that's your situation we'll tell you straight. Everything depends on what your township asks for, and we quote you those numbers up front before you spend another dollar.

Permit Review

Your first step — no guesswork

$25

applied to your purchase

We confirm whether your project even needs a permit
We get back to you with what your township needs — not a checklist to decode
We tell you the township's own permit fee
We map out the steps and what each part costs
If your township is unclear, we call them directly and pin down what they'll accept
We prepare your site plan & impervious coverage worksheet — included, no extra charge
We hand you the documents ready to submit to your township under your own name

The $25 pays for our research — we determine what your township requires, prepare the necessary documents (including your site plan), and hand everything to you to submit under your own name. Approval is never guaranteed. The $25 comes straight off your build price when you move forward.

Request Your $25 Permit Review

Zoning Permit vs. Building Permit

Not every project goes through the same permit process. The size of your structure determines how much your township needs from you.

Zoning Permit (smaller structures)

Smaller sheds — typically under 200 sq ft — usually only need a zoning permit. That's the simpler path: the township checks setbacks and lot coverage, and you're good to go. No engineering plans, no impervious coverage worksheet.

Building Permit (larger structures)

Larger structures — most things over 200 sq ft — typically require a building permit. That's where the site plan, impervious coverage worksheet, and building drawings come in. We prepare all of this as part of your $25 review.

The 200 sq ft line is a common threshold but varies by township. We confirm the exact rules for your location as part of the review.

What Your Township May Ask For

Every township is a little different. After your review, we'll tell you exactly which of these apply to you.

A site / plot plan

An overhead drawing showing where the building will sit on your property, with setback distances and impervious coverage. We prepare this for you as part of the $25 review — just tell us where on your lot you want it placed.

Drawings of your building

Plans of the exact structure you're ordering. For most of our standard designs these are already drawn and on file. A brand-new custom layout is a one-time drawing fee.

Sealed (engineered) drawings

Some townships require a licensed engineer's stamp. These are prepared by an outside engineer, cost more than the $25, and that engineering portion is non-refundable once ordered. We'll tell you up front if yours is one of them.

HOA approval, where applicable

If your neighborhood has a homeowners association, they may need to sign off too. We'll flag it during your review so it doesn't catch you by surprise later.

What White Pine charges

The $25 review covers our research, your site plan, and impervious coverage worksheet. If your township needs engineering drawings (larger builds), we quote you the exact amount after the review — never a surprise, and never a number that changes on you.

What your township charges

Its own permit fee, set by the township and paid directly to them — varies by location. We tell you the amount. You submit the application and documents to your township under your own name as the property owner.

Not sure where to start? Call us at (610) 857-3420 and we'll walk you through it.

If Your Township Is A Tough One

Don't want to deal with any of it? We can take it over.

Some townships are easy. Some aren't. Start with the $25 review — once we know exactly what yours requires, we can offer to handle the whole permit for you: the site plan, the paperwork, submitting it, and following up with the township until it's issued. All you'd do is sign two pages. We quote that after the review, because the work depends entirely on your township. The permit is still issued in your name, and the township's own permit fee is still paid directly to them.

Start With The $25 Review

Building larger or double-wide? This part matters.

For simple, smaller buildings we handle the whole permit process for you. But for larger or double-wide structures — anything 16 ft wide and up — approval takes more legwork, and the single biggest thing that gets these across the finish line is you being willing to go to the township and talk with them personally. We prepare everything and coach you on exactly what to say, but a local homeowner advocating for their own project moves the needle in a way we simply can’t do remotely.

What a township prints on its paperwork doesn’t always reflect what they’ll actually approve in person — which is exactly why your involvement makes the difference on bigger builds. Think of it as a team effort: we do the heavy lifting, and your willingness to show up is often what gets a larger structure approved.

Every permit review is a flat $25 — big build or small — and it credits straight to your build when you move forward. Two honest heads-ups on larger builds: your township charges its own permit fee on top, and if they require sealed (engineer-stamped) drawings, those are prepared by an outside engineer at an additional cost. We’ll tell you exactly what your township needs before anything is spent.

Start Your Permit Review

Sample Plan Set Preview

Below is a sample 24x24 two-story garage plan set. Watermarked previews shown — full engineering plans are provided with your order.

Page 1 of 5

Main Floor Plan

Full dimensional layout with stair details, beam locations, and code compliance information.

Page 2 of 5

Loft / Second Floor

Upper level layout showing guardrail placement, floor joist spacing, and opening locations.

Page 3 of 5

Foundation Plan

CMU block layout with frost footing details, anchor bolt spacing, and rebar specifications.

Page 4 of 5

Floor Framing Plan

Joist layout, beam sizing, and structural connection details for the subfloor system.

Page 5 of 5

Cross Section

Full building cross section showing roof framing, wall construction, Simpson Strong-Tie connections, and foundation details.

Note: These are low-resolution watermarked previews. Full-detail plans are provided with your order. Customer name shown is for sample purposes only.

Why Our Plans Matter for Your Permit

Built to Code

Every plan set references IRC 2021 residential code with site-specific loading data — snow loads, wind speeds, seismic category, and frost line depth. Your township sees exactly what they need.

Structural Connections Specified

Simpson Strong-Tie hardware is called out at every critical connection — post-to-beam, rafter-to-plate, and post-to-concrete. No guesswork for the inspector.

Foundation Details Included

Frost footing specs, CMU block layout, anchor bolt spacing, rebar requirements, and slab construction details are all drawn and dimensioned. Ready for your concrete contractor.

Prepared by a Licensed Designer

Plans are drawn by Hallowing Run Structures, a professional structural design firm. Each set is project-specific — not generic templates — customized to your exact size and configuration.

Before You Apply

Your Township Needs a Plot Plan

Most townships in Chester County and surrounding areas require a “plot plan” or “site plan” as part of your permit application. Here’s the good news: it’s simpler than you think.

What Is a Plot Plan?

A plot plan is a simple overhead drawing of your property that shows where your existing house sits, where the proposed structure (your new garage or shed) will go, and the distances to property lines (called setbacks). It helps the township verify your project meets local zoning requirements.

Important: A plot plan is NOT the same as a professional land survey. Most townships accept a hand-drawn or printed sketch — you do not need to hire a surveyor.

What Needs to Be on Your Plot Plan

Property Lines & Dimensions

Show the outline of your lot with approximate measurements. Your deed or county GIS map will have these.

Existing Structures

Mark your house, driveway, any other buildings, septic, and well locations if applicable.

Proposed Structure Location

Draw your new garage or shed in the planned position with its footprint dimensions (e.g., 24’ × 32’).

Setback Distances

Measure and label the distance from your proposed structure to each property line. Your township’s zoning ordinance specifies minimum setbacks.

Download Blank Plot Plan Template Need Help? Send Us Your Address

Send us your address and we can pull your property info from the county GIS system. We’ll help you fill it in — no charge.

Township-Ready Plans

What Every Plan Set Includes