Cooke Township requires “Valuation
Permits” (local Building Permits) for construction projects such as
repairs, additions, or alterations to residents and/or cabins
and other structures. Examples include work of any type on
roofs, porches, decks, or garages, please note this is not a
complete list. Some of this work may also require a (UCC) Uniformed
Construction Code Building Permit. Cooke Township ordinance 2005-01
is on our web site
www.cooketwp.org .
If you have a project, costing over
$500.00 you will need to get a Cooke Township Valuation Permit.
Please call Janet Frantz the township secretary at (717)486-8114 to
verify if you need a Permit. The owner of record is always
responsible, the owner may have their contractor check on getting a
Permit for them, but ultimately it is the owner’s responsibility
to be sure the appropriate laws are followed.
The UCC is a state-mandated Permit
process administered by local Townships. Cooke Township, along with
other local Townships, belongs to the Western Cumberland County
Council of Governments, which contracted with the Middle Department
Inspection Agency (MDIA) to perform UCC inspections. MDIA
works out of the West Pennsboro Township Building, at 2150 Newville
Road, Carlisle, PA. The West Pennsboro office is open 8 AM to
4 PM, Monday through Friday.
The Cooke Township Secretary is flexible
in making appointments to meet owners or contractors at the Cooke
Township Building, 1700 Centerville Road, Newville, PA 17241 to
secure the appropriate Permit. When calling the Secretary
about your permit, please have a detailed description of everything
you are planning to do. Depending on what you plan to
complete, she may be required to send you to the UCC for a UCC
Building Permit. A UCC inspector will review your paperwork
and return the application to the West Pennsboro Township office.
You will then receive a phone call notifying you that your Permit is
ready for pick-up. Depending on workload this process could require
anywhere from five days or as much as a three week turn-around time,
so plan ahead. Work can begin only after you have
picked up your Building Permit from the UCC office in West Pennsboro
Township. The UCC inspector will let you know about the
subsequent on-site inspection process.
The Township Secretary issues a Cooke
Township Valuation Permit with a placard. She will need the
following:
(1)
A written estimate of the materials list and
the cost of the project.
(2)
A drawing of what you plan to do.
(3)
If using a contractor, you need to show proof
of their liability insurance, which can be email, to the Cooke
Township secretary at CookeTwp@kuhncom.net.
If your project requires you to get a UCC
Permit in addition to the Cooke Township Valuation Permit, you will
be given other paper work to take to the UCC office. You will need
two copies of your building plans for them, along with the estimate
and proof of your contractor’s liability insurance.