READYDOCSCOMPLIANCESTATESPENNSYLVANIALACKAWANNA COUNTY
FILE 42069 · COUNTY OF LACKAWANNASEAT · SCRANTONPOPULATION · 215KVERIFIED · 05 / 2026
Public Compliance Directory · County Hub

Lackawanna.

Lackawanna County in Pennsylvania. This is where the state file translates into the local offices that actually issue the permit, schedule the inspection, and sign the filing. Start with the state baseline, then drill into the right city.

Cities on file
1
Trades indexed
12
County seat
Scranton
Last verified
05 / 2026
FAST FACTS

Lackawanna County at a glance

Quick-reference card
County seatScranton
Population (est.)215K
FIPS42069
Building departmentCity-by-city; Scranton and other municipalities run independent permit portals
Permit portalCity-by-city; no centralized county-wide permit portal exists
Fire marshalLackawanna County Fire Marshal
County of
Lackawanna
· ACTIVE FILE ·
ARTICLE I · COUNTY BASELINE
CODES & LOCAL AUTHORITY
FIPS 42069
Article I · County Baseline

The county inherits from the state. And adds local rules.

Most municipalities have adopted the 2015 or 2018 International Building Code (IBC) with local amendments.

Permitting is highly decentralized, with individual boroughs and townships managing their own building codes and zoning enforcement. The county planning department primarily handles subdivision and land development reviews, while local municipal offices retain jurisdiction over building permits and inspections.

The county enforces specific stormwater management requirements under the Lackawanna River Watershed Act that may require additional permits for land disturbance activities.

How this fits with the state

The state authority here is Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; local building departments. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.

Source · City-by-city; Scranton and other municipalities run independent permit portalsLast verified · 05 / 2026
ARTICLE II · PERMIT OFFICES
WHERE THE PERMIT IS FILED
OPERATING PATH
Article II · Local Offices

Who issues, who inspects, who signs off.

Contractors must register with the Pennsylvania Attorney General under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, and some individual municipalities require additional local contractor registration or licensing.

Building

City-by-city; Scranton and other municipalities run independent permit portals

Permits, plans, inspections

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources
Permit portal

City-by-city; no centralized county-wide permit portal exists

Apply, track, pay

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources
Planning / zoning

Lackawanna County Department of Planning and Economic Development

Land use, plan review

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources
Fire marshal

Lackawanna County Fire Marshal

Prevention, alarms, sprinklers

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources
ARTICLE III · INSURANCE & BONDS
COUNTY OVERLAY ON STATE BASELINE
VERIFY BEFORE BIDDING
Article III · County Overlay

What Lackawanna County usually adds.

The state sets the floor. The county and city can require additional certificates, local bonds, or pre-permit registration.

CoverageRequired?MinimumIssued by
Workers' CompensationState rule with county add-ons
Verify
Verify employer status and local filing requirements
State authority
General LiabilityOften required by permit type
Conditional
Permit-based
City-by-city; Scranton and other municipalities run independent permit portals
Surety BondTied to state license or county permit
Conditional
No broad state GC bond; local bonds vary
State or county
County overlayContractors must typically provide proof of general liability and Pennsylvania workers' compensation insurance as required by the specific municipality where work is performed.
Verify
Varies
City-by-city; Scranton and other municipalities run independent permit portals
Source · City-by-city; Scranton and other municipalities run independent permit portalsVerify before filing
ARTICLE IV · INDEXED CITIES
CITIES IN LACKAWANNA COUNTY
1 CITY
Article IV · Browse by City

Indexed cities in Lackawanna County.

Pick a city to open its trade list. The trade page covers licensing, permits, insurance, and typical costs for that work in that city.

ARTICLE V · TRADES
TRADES IN LACKAWANNA COUNTY
12 TRADES
ARTICLE VI · SOURCES
LOCAL SOURCE REGISTER
VERIFY LOCALLY
Article VI · Sources & Citations

Every filing needs a source trail.

This template keeps the county page honest: local context here, filing decisions made with the issuing office.

State

Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; local building departments

Statewide licensing, reciprocity, and renewal rules.

/contractors/pennsylvania
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
County

City-by-city; Scranton and other municipalities run independent permit portals

Department that issues permits and schedules inspections for unincorporated areas.

City-by-city; no centralized county-wide permit portal exists
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Planning

Lackawanna County Department of Planning and Economic Development

Land use, zoning review, and plan approvals.

Local planning office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Fire

Lackawanna County Fire Marshal

Prevention, protection systems, and code approvals.

Fire marshal's office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Frequently Asked

Questions contractors ask before filing.

Q01Do I need a state license to work in Lackawanna County?+
Usually yes — the baseline is the state license through Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; local building departments. Lackawanna County and its cities may add local registration before you pull a permit.Source · Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; local building departments
Q02Does the county or the city issue the permit?+
It depends on where the work is. Unincorporated areas usually route through the county (City-by-city; Scranton and other municipalities run independent permit portals). Work inside an incorporated city normally files with that city's department.Source · City-by-city; Scranton and other municipalities run independent permit portals
Q03What changes between county and state?+
The county adds the actual permit office, local zoning overlays, plan-review timelines, inspections, and local fees. The state license defines who can contract; the county defines how the job gets filed.Source · County and municipal departments

Open the county file. Then pick the city.

Lackawanna County now inherits from the state template and adds its own local detail. The next layer is the city and trade pages.