Pole barn services in Erie, PA

Erie sits on the lakeshore, and lake-effect snow drives most structural decisions here. The National Weather Service puts Erie's average winter snowfall at about 100.9 inches, and the 2017-18 season set a city record of 166.3 inches. The City of Erie's building bureau lists a 40 psf ground snow load and a 48-inch frost depth in its design criteria, both heavier requirements than the 30 psf and 42 inches the City of Cleveland lists. We size trusses, purlins and post embedment to the values your municipality publishes, and outside the city we confirm the site figures with the township's code agency before trusses are ordered. Roof layout matters too: a steel roof sheds snow in heavy slides that can bury a door or a lean-to.

Inside city limits, the City of Erie Zoning Office at City Hall (626 State Street) is the first stop. The city says every building permit requires zoning approval, and the Code Enforcement Office in Room 407 then reviews, issues and inspects the permit. Commercial plans in the city are reviewed by a third-party agency, Building Inspection Underwriters (BIU). Several neighboring townships, including Millcreek, Harborcreek and Fairview, have also used BIU to issue Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) permits while keeping zoning permits in-house, so zoning comes first there as well. Qualifying agricultural buildings fall outside the UCC under 34 Pa. Code 403.1, though local zoning can still apply. We confirm the current process with your municipality before drawings are finalized.