James Davis, PE · Licensed Structural Engineer

info@jdbuildingengineering.com (815) 277-1087 Multi-state licensed · Remote services

JD Building Engineering

Pennsylvania Engineering Permit

Pennsylvania licensed services

Permit-Ready Structural Engineering for Pennsylvania Projects

James Davis, PE provides licensed structural engineering for residential and light commercial permit sets throughout Pennsylvania. Permit-ready drawings and calculations are prepared for Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Allentown, and Erie, plus other cities and counties statewide.

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh alterations, additions, and new custom homes are core work. Older masonry and wood-frame buildings often need careful opening and load-path evaluation.

Whether you need structural calculations, permit-ready framing and foundation drawings, or plan-check responses, JD Building Engineering delivers code-compliant documents ready for Pennsylvania building-department submittal.

PA UCC

Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code — IBC

Snow & wind

ASCE 7 snow, frost, and wind; hillside and Allegheny soils around Pittsburgh

Wood, steel & concrete

NDS, AISC, ACI, and TMS design as the structure requires

Digital seal

Electronic seals where accepted by the authority having jurisdiction

Pennsylvania building codes

Building, civil, and structural code requirements

Pennsylvania jurisdictions adopt I-Codes or a state-specific code based on them. The tables below summarize the primary codes and referenced standards used for permit drawings and structural calculations. Local AHJ amendments still apply.

Building code

Pennsylvania occupancy, residential, and accessibility provisions that typically govern the permit set JD Building Engineering’s structural sheets support.

Code / Standard Application
Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code — IBC Commercial and multi-family construction under the UCC
Pennsylvania UCC — IRC One- and two-family dwellings under the UCC with local administration
International Fire Code (IFC) Fire protection systems, hazardous materials, and fire-department access where adopted
IBC Chapter 11 / ANSI A117.1 / ADA Accessibility for public accommodations and commercial buildings where they apply

Civil building code

Civil deliverables, when the project and licence allow, include site and grading coordination, drainage, and retaining structures tied to the foundation design.

Code / Standard Application
IBC Chapter 18 — Soils and foundations Site development, retaining walls, and foundation soils
PennDOT / Act 167 stormwater Driveway permits and county stormwater-management plans
Local grading ordinances County/city grading permits, erosion control, and cut/fill limits
FEMA NFIP / local floodplain Flood-zone compliance and elevation coordination where the site is mapped

Structural building code

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh alterations, additions, and new custom homes are core work. Older masonry and wood-frame buildings often need careful opening and load-path evaluation.

Code / Standard Application
IBC Chapter 16 Structural design requirements — loads, materials, and systems
ASCE 7 Minimum design loads: dead, live, wind, snow, rain, seismic, and flood
ACI 318 Structural concrete design and detailing
AISC 360 Structural steel buildings
NDS (AWC) Wood construction — sawn lumber, glulam, shear walls, and diaphragms
TMS 402/602 Masonry structures

Structural services

Structural engineering for Pennsylvania permits

James Davis personally manages the structural design, calculations, detailing, and drafting. Clients receive a coordinated permit-ready package rather than a review of drawings prepared by others.

  • Custom homes, additions, remodels, and ADUs
  • Foundations, retaining walls, decks, and accessory structures
  • Wood-frame gravity and lateral design
  • Permit-ready structural drawings and calculations
  • Plan-check responses and construction support
View structural services

Coverage

Licensed in 39 U.S. states and 5 Canadian jurisdictions. Remote structural engineering is available for qualifying projects.

Send the project address with your inquiry. JD Building Engineering will confirm sealing format and local AHJ requirements before work is scoped.

Questions

Pennsylvania licensing and permits

Yes. James Davis, PE is licensed in Pennsylvania and prepares permit-ready structural drawings and calculations for qualifying residential and light commercial projects. Sealing format (wet or digital) follows what the AHJ accepts.

Design follows Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code — IBC, together with the referenced structural standards in the tables on this page and any city or county amendments that apply to the project address. Share the jurisdiction with your inquiry so the correct edition can be confirmed.

Yes. JD Building Engineering provides remote structural engineering for qualifying Pennsylvania projects using digital plan sets, email, and phone. On-site visits are not assumed and are confirmed only when a project requires them.

Typical work includes new homes, additions, remodels, ADUs, foundations, decks, retaining walls, and accessory structures. Light commercial structural work is considered when it fits the practice. The sealed work is structural engineering, with civil support where licensing allows.

Contact

Request a Pennsylvania Engineering Permit Review

Tell us about your Pennsylvania project. JD Building Engineering will review the available information and respond regarding scope, availability, and next steps.

Phone
(815) 277-1087
Email
info@jdbuildingengineering.com
Website
jdbuildingengineering.com

Licensed coverage

Other licensed jurisdictions

James Davis, PE holds licenses across 44 jurisdictions. Open a page for local code context and engineering permit services.

United States

Canada