Frequently Asked Questions

In accordance with the Uniform Construction Code, anyone who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the use of a building, or to erect, install enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, shall obtain the required permits. Any facade work or signage may also require a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic District Commission. Contact Code Office for more information or by downloading from our Forms and Documents Section. If you have questions or need guidance call 610-250-6724.

Permit applications can be obtained from the Department of Code Enforcement
Second Floor
123 S 3rd Street
Easton, PA

The Department of Code Enforcement enforces the City of Easton Property Maintenance Code, Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code and other ordinances adopted by the City to ensure our citizens and visitors have access to affordable, safe and sanitary homes, apartments and commercial structures to live, work and play. If you suspect that a building is unsafe or is in need of repairs or maintenance, please contact Code Enforcement at 610-250-6724.

ES-301.6 High weeds are a nuisance. They are considered injurious to the health, cleanliness, comfort, and safety of residents. Call Codes at 250-6724. 

907.05 The property owner is responsible for pruning street trees so they do not obstruct or shade street lights, obstruct pedestrians' passage, or view of traffic signs or of intersections. Call the City Forester at 250-6680.

Nuisance houses can be eliminated in a number of ways, and for a number of reasons, some already noted under other headings. Other examples include: Too many persons living in one unit: a group of not more than three unrelated persons living together as a single housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit and Occupancy Limitations Certificate gives notice of the maximum occupancy per dwelling unit. Dirty Conditions: waste and other materials and objects may not accumulate in stairways, passageways, or other means of egress. Call Codes at 250-6724 or the Bureau of Health at 250-6729.

When any building, lot or premises is subject to infestation by rodents, insects or other vermin, the person in charge must repeat eradication measures until the infestation is eliminated. Call the Bureau of Health at 610-250-6729.

BOCA Fire Codes and NFPA Codes adopted by the City, state that all must have some form of smoke detectors. Report any violation at once, by calling the City Fire Inspector at 610-250-6745

Fire Safety Inspections are available, free of charge. If you believe that your building is not appropriately equipped with fire safety equipment, call the Fire Inspector at 610-250-6745 for a free inspection.

All buildings, lots, or premises must be kept free from any condition conducive to rodents, insects and other vermin. No person shall allow the accumulation of water, garbage, building material, brush, or other material that may attract rodents, insects, or other vermin. Call Codes at 610-250-6724 or the Bureau of Health at 610-250-6729. The City further monitors habitation of properties through the following: Moving Permit which must be secured from the Finance Department and Rental Property Tenant Form which must be provided and updated by the owner for use by the Rental Licensing Officer. Every owner who rents to any other person or entity must file each name and address with the Rental Licensing Officer at 610-250-2060. Call the Finance Department at 610-250-6614.

Audible alarms must have timers that disengage the alarm ten minutes. All alarms must be registered with the Code Office. No more than three false alarms in a twelve-month period are permitted under Section 751 1 (c) of the PA. Crimes Code. Call the police at 610-330-2200.

Open burning is not allowed in the City except for food preparation and for certain controlled business operations. Call the Fire Department at 610-250-6771.

Prior to the scheduled day of collection, refuse containers must be obscured from view from the street. Refuse containers are to be placed at curbside no earlier than 6 pm the evening before any day of collection. Call Public Works at 610-250-6680 or Code Enforcement at 610-250-6724.

It is illegal to discard, place, sweep, or throw paper, debris, garbage, or other litter into gutters, streets, highways, sidewalks, yards, porches, or buildings. Call the police at 610-330-2200.

Garbage cans must be watertight and must have tight-fitting covers. Unreasonable accumulation of refuse on any property is a nuisance and a violation; Garbage should be stored in such a manner as not to attract rodents, insects, or other vermin; No person shall cause, allow, or permit the emission of noxious or offensive odor. Call Codes at 610-250-6724, or the Health Bureau at 610-250-6729.

Owners are responsible for cleaning fecal matter left by their animals on any public or private property. Call the police at 610-330-2200, Health at 610-250-6729, or Codes at 610-250-6724.

The Department of Planning and Codes is happy to help you! You can call the Planning Bureau at 610-250-6721 or use our contact form. Also, if you want to know what other permits or regulatory processes you may need please call or email us and we will be happy to either discuss with you and/or schedule a "One-Stop Shop" Technical Review Committee Meeting to assist you.

Six sets of plans, drawn to scale and prepared by a Pennsylvania licensed design professional are required. The submitted plans will need to contain information as required in Chapter 520, Article IV, §:520-36 and §:520-37 of the current "City Subdivision and Land Development Code".

Depending on the complexity and size of the project under consideration, the application review process takes from 21 days to 90 days. Applications will be reviewed and placed on the next available Planning Commission agenda. In general, applicants are before the Planning Commission within 21 calendar days. The majority of applications are processed at one meeting however, land development plans may be required by the Planning Commission to submit a final, amended set of plans for approval.

You will need to submit both a subdivision/land development application form and a requisite number of plans to the Bureau of Planning and Development located on the Third Floor, City Hall, 123 South Third Street, Easton, PA. Download the Subdivision/Land Development Application.

1. Whenever lot lines are being added, changed, or omitted from a property.
2. Whenever a property is proposed for the development of 2 or more residential or nonresidential buildings.
3. Whenever a property is proposed for the development of a single nonresidential or mixed-use building, including the substantial rehabilitation of existing buildings.
4. The division of allocation of land or space, whether initially or cumulatively, between or among two or more existing or prospective occupants by means of or for the purpose of streets, common areas, leaseholds, condominiums, building groups, or other features.
5. Whenever the proposed use for the property is considered a Special Exception Use by the Zoning Administrator.

Yes. Any sign installation must be reviewed by the Zoning Office. If your property is in the Historic District you must also submit an application to the Historic District Commission.

View or download an informational Zoning Brochure (PDF). Contact the Zoning Office at 610-250-6724

View our Zoning District Map (PDF).

Yes, any accessory structure/use must be reviewed by the Zoning Office. Visit our Forms & Documents section for applicable forms.

Yes. You must also contact the Bureau of Engineering as you may need sidewalk or curb cut approvals.

Most zoning districts allow a no-impact home-based business (no customers, no signs, no inventory). Please contact the Zoning Office for further information.

Thank you for your inquiry to operate a Food/Eating and Drinking Establishment in the City of Easton. Enclosed you will find an application for a Food Service Facility Plan Review to be filled out and brought back to me. To process your paperwork any further you must first obtain your zoning approval from the Zoning Office located on the 3rd floor of City Hall or by calling them at 610-250-6724. Once you have been approved please complete the following information to proceed with your application process of your facility.

• You will need proof that you registered your "trade name" with the Pennsylvania Department of State, Harrisburg, PA.
  • Register online
• You will need a Pennsylvania Revenue Sales Tax ID Number.
• You will need to have a City of Easton Business License, which can be obtained by stopping by City Hall on the 2nd floor to see Mr. Michael Joseph 610-250-6755
• As part of the State of Pennsylvania's requirements for compliance with the PA Food Employee Certification, please notice the enclosed letter regarding this requirement.
• Please see the enclosed "Consumer Advisory" for important menu requirements

Once the above has been completed you will be eligible to make an application for your City of Easton Health License. During this time frame, a series of preliminary inspections can and will be conducted.

If you have any questions or need clarification on any of the above-mentioned, please feel free to contact the Health Bureau at 610-250-6608.

Food Employee Certification Training Agencies (PDF)

Regulations for Recreational Outdoor Fires (PDF)

911 is the telephone number you should dial for Fire, Police, and EMS emergencies in the City of Easton.

610-759-2200 will connect you to the Northampton County 911 center. This is for non-emergency calls for Fire, Police, and EMS in the City of Easton.

You can call 610-250-6672 ask for the duty officer and schedule your event at your location or at any of our three fire stations.

Yes, we can provide fire extinguisher training for any group that requests. You can call 610-250-6672 ask for the duty officer and schedule your training at your location or at our Central Fire Station.

Yes, we can provide smoke detectors for City residents in single-family occupancies. We will even install the smoke detectors for you. You can call 610-250-6672 ask for the duty officer and schedule your installation.

Be advised that quantities are limited and this is a first come, first serve program.

An AED is a small basic life-saving device that is used to "Jump Start" your heart. This piece of equipment is carried on all front-line fire apparatus.

Yes. Call 610-759-2200.

No.

No. Open burning is not allowed in the City except for food preparation and for certain controlled business operations. Call the Fire Department at 610-250-6771.

No repair work may be performed on vehicles on any street or sidewalk, except emergency repairs. No repair or vehicle testing is allowed that causes noise disturbance across residential property lines. Call the police at 610-759-2200.

Not more than one currently unregistered and/or uninspected motor vehicle may be parked on any property in a residential district, and it may not at any time be in a state of disassembly, disrepair or in the process of being stripped or dismantled. A vehicle of any type shall not at any time undergo major overhaul, including body work in a residential district. Call Codes at 610-250-6724.

No vehicle may be "stored" on any street. "Stored" vehicles are those parked in the same spot for over 72 hours. A vehicle parked on a street be operable and have current registration and inspection. No tractors, tractor trailers, dump trucks, garbage trucks, or other vehicles over 20 feet long (except passenger automobiles), may be parked on any street between 9 pm and 6 am. Call the police at 610-759-2200.

It is illegal to disturb the peace of the city or any of its citizens by noise, drunkenness, fighting, using profane, obscene or indecent language on streets or any public place or building of the city. Call the police at 610-759-2200.

Loitering, accompanied by activity or circumstances that offer probable cause for alarm or concern for the safety and well-being of people or the security of property is prohibited Call the police at 610-759-2200.

It is a violation to operate or play radios, stereos, musical instruments and other equipment that amplifies sound any time of the day such that it creates a noise disturbance across property boundaries. The ordinance further states that it is a violation to create a noise disturbance when in a vehicle on a public area, street or sidewalk. Call the police at 610-759-2200.

It is a violation for animals and birds to make noise continuously for ten minutes, or intermittently for one-half hour or more, that disturbs others any time of the day or night.

No owner of any dog shall allow it to run at large. Every dog shall have a securely neck collar and a proper license tag for the current year. When off the owner's premises, the dog shall be properly leashed. Call the police at 610-759-2200.

All city parks and playgrounds are closed to the public between dusk and dawn, unless specific hours are posted, or a permit has been issued for a use. Call police at 610-759-2200; Parks Recreation at 610-250-6710.

Drug Dealing is illegal. Drug dealing and use are often the source of a multitude of neighborhood problems, which include noise, disorderly conduct, and lack of pride in property. They are also a source of more violent crimes including theft and assault. Often other vice activities including prostitution are drug-related problems. Report all such activity.

Your call will be kept confidential. A report will be forwarded to, and followed up by the Vice Division of the Easton Police Department.

If you observe suspicious behavior that may indicate drug dealing and/or use or other vice offenses, call the CID/Vice Officer at 250-6658 or the Police Desk at 610-759-2200.

Yes. All volunteers taking on a leadership role within a recreational sport (coach, assistant coach, team mom/dad, scorekeeper, etc.) will undergo a 50-state criminal and sex offender background check. The Recreation Bureau pays for the background check. There are a number of disqualifiers for a volunteer. The City of Easton follows the disqualification guidelines set by the National Alliance for Youth Sports.

After the registration deadline ends, depending on age and sport there may be a coaches' draft or skill evaluation. If there are not enough participants registered, staff may extend the registration deadline or open up a registration waitlist for participants. Please be patient. You will be contacted either by athletic staff or by a coach during the week leading up to the published date of the first practice. If you are not contacted within the week, please call 610-250-6711.

If you missed the registration deadline, go to the Parks and Recreation webpage and look for an announcement that the deadline has been extended or a waitlist has been created. If openings become available, waitlist participants will be contacted by the athletic staff in the order that they registered on the waitlist.

Yes, If they are in the same league and age group and meet all criteria, athletic staff will try to accommodate requests.

Players will not be placed on teams or switched to another team for carpool, transportation, or other reasons.

The registration fee typically includes a portion of the cost of entry fees, league fees, referee fees, and equipment. The City also provides uniforms and essential equipment required to play. Additional equipment may be recommended for players to wear or bring on their own. More detailed information will be provided by the sport commissioner or coach. At the conclusion of each sport season parents are responsible for returning all loaned equipment/uniforms. It should be laundered and in good condition upon return. If equipment is not returned and in acceptable condition, the parent will be billed (credit card charged).

No. All participants must meet the specific age criteria listed for each sport. A birth certificate or legal proof of age must be presented at registration if requested by league officials.

The registration fee refund policy is as follows: A parent must request a refund by contacting the Recreation Office at 610-250-6711 prior to the first practice. No refunds will be made after that date for each sport. Refunds may be partially approved due to special circumstances of injury, illness, or family relocation. Refunds will be processed if there is no team or league due to insufficient registrations. Refunds may take 1 to 2 weeks to process after the request.

All coaches will initially be required to submit to fingerprinting and complete the necessary materials for a background check.

The Recreation Bureau is located at 123 South 3rd Street, Easton, PA 18042. We are on the 3rd floor of City Hall.

You can contact the Assistant Recreation Program Coordinator at 610-250-6711 or send an email with any questions or concerns.

Currently, the Easton Recreation Bureau offers 6 sports.

In the fall, we offer football and cheerleading, fall basketball and soccer for children.

In the spring, we offer baseball, softball and soccer.

Each registrant must pay $45 per sport.

All registration is done online.

All home games are played at various parks within the city limits. All of the leagues we participate in require some travel. None of the participants are asked to travel extensively.

The two swimming pools in the city are Heil Pool and Eddyside Pool. Heil Pool is located at 900 Packer Avenue and Eddyside Pool is located on Route 611 North. The pools are seasonal and provide swimming throughout the summer months.

Pool memberships can be purchased through the Greater Valley YMCA by calling 610-258-6158, or via an online membership form.

Snow emergencies will be declared when snow accumulations result in road conditions becoming hazardous. Tune into your local television and radio stations for information or call the Public Works Department at 610-250-6680. You can also check the landing page of this site, the City's social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram), or sign up for Easton Alert to get information on snow emergencies.

All trees located along public streets in the public right-of-way are the responsibility of the property owner and are regulated by the City's Shade Tree Ordinance. Any maintenance, removal, or replacement will require a tree permit. Please call the City Forester at 610-250-6734 or view the Shade Trees page for information.

You may contact the City of Easton Public Works Department at 610-250-6680 or email us and we will file a report with Met Ed on your behalf. You may also contact Met Ed directly at 1-888-LIGHTSS 888-544-4877 or visit the FirstEnergy Corp. website. Please have the address and/or intersection of the pole and the pole number (example: 70000-00000). Please note that repair/maintenance of a Met-Ed Street Light may take several weeks to be completed.

Contact Whitetail Disposal at 610-936-9967 or email easton@whitetaildisposal.com. If no response from Whitetail Please call this number 610-250-6680; choose option 2.

The City's blue 20-gallon recycling cans may be purchased from the Finance Department on the 2nd floor of City Hall for the price of $10.

Curbside recycling services for residential customers under the city's contract are provided by Whitetail Disposal. All mixed-use, commercial, institutional, and residential properties with 7 or more apartments on a single lot are required to have private haulers or use the City's Recycling Drop-off Center. View the Curbside Recycling page for more information.

Properties under the city's contract may place the equivalent volume of four 32-gallon cans each week for pickup. Excess trash will be refused unless prior payment arrangements are made with Whitetail Disposal. In addition, one bulk item per week may be left curbside. Call 610-936-9967 or email easton@whitetaildisposal.com. 

Trash hauling services are provided once per week by Whitetail Disposal for residential pickup only with 6 or fewer apartments on a single lot. All mixed-use, commercial, institutional, and residential properties with 7 or more apartments on a single lot are required to have private haulers. Please view the Trash & Recycling page for more information.

You may obtain a list of eligible recycling materials that are acceptable at both the recycling center and curbside by viewing the Curbside Recycling page.

The City's recycling drop-off center is located in the Public Works Complex at 500 Bushkill Drive. Vehicles should proceed slowly at 10mph through the complex and follow the white-painted recycling lane. Watch out for city vehicles. The recycling center is open Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm.

Ceramics, dishes, coffee cups, drinking glasses, window glass, mirrors, light bulbs, Pyrex, Vision Ware, plastic bags, styrofoam, bound books, paper cartons for milk or juice, tissues, paper towels, coat hangers, food waste and containers of hazardous or toxic materials. View the Curbside Recycling page for more information.

Potholes or other roadway issues should be reported to the Public Works Department at 610-250-6680.

Although sinkholes on private property are the responsibility of the property owner to repair, residents should notify the Public Works Department at 610-250-6680 to inspect for utility or other underground problems.

Residents will need to contact Utility Billing at 610-250-6689.

Property owners and/or occupants are responsible for snow removal from sidewalks, curbs, and gutter areas within 8 hours of the end of a winter storm. This includes snow that is pushed into this area by city snow plows.

Once paint is in non-liquid form you may dispose of it with your regular garbage. Place the lid in a garbage bag and leave the empty out next to your garbage so it can be inspected by the hauler. If paint is not dry you can add kitty litter, vermiculite, or sawdust to absorb the oil so there is no freestanding liquid.

Propane tanks may be taken to authorized dealers in the area for filling, exchange, or disposal.

All FREON needs to be removed out of each item and have a certificate affixed stating it is free of HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons) and CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons). This can be done at any refrigeration repair shop. Refrigerators must have all doors removed. Once completed you may put your one bulk item out for garbage on your normal pick-up day.

You may drop them off at our Recycling Center or at any office supply store. We checked with Cartridge World Phillipsburg at 201 Strykers Road, Suite 16, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865-5400 and they will take them as will any Staples Store.

You must take your tires to an automobile tire center. There may be a charge of approximately $3 per tire. 10th Street Tire located at 25 N 10th Street will accept used tires.

Used oil must be recycled or disposed of properly by local waste management authorities or at an automotive repair shop.

During Business Hours (Monday to Friday 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM) call 610-250-6692. After Business Hours call 610-250-6693.

Vacant positions, both full and part-time, are listed on our website. See our Employment Section for more information.

Vacant positions, both full and part-time, are listed on our website. See our Employment Section for more information.

Applications are only available when a vacancy exists and will be specific to the vacant position. The position and current job description will be listed.

Applications are kept on file for six months.

BID loans through GEDP are available for commercial buildings and businesses in the Downtown. Contact the City of Easton Economic Development Department at 610-250-6719 for more information.

Lehigh Northampton Revolving Loan Fund - Contact Christine Cleaver.

Rising Tide Community Loan Fund

Information on other loan programs for businesses can be accessed with Leigh Valley.

Facade Grants are available for signage in the Downtown. For more information go to the Easton Main Street Initiative.

Information on other loan programs for businesses can be accessed with Leigh Valley.

The City of Easton effectively supports Fair Housing through a direct partnership with North Penn Legal Services. If you believe that you have been the victim of housing discrimination, please contact North Penn Legal Services at 610-317-8757.

There is a 10-year tax deferral program that is available called the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance or LERTA program. The first program that ran from 2007 to 2017 has been sunsetted. The new program is still in the process of being adopted by the three taxing bodies (the City of Easton, Easton Area School District, and Northampton County.)

The program is applied for at the time a permit is requested through the codes department. Until this program is in effect, all requests for inclusion in the program will not be approved.

We expect final acceptance and adoption by early Spring 2018. For questions or concerns, please call Dawn Hart at 610-250-6719.

Coming soon!

Interested in opening a business in Easton? Fantastic! This Guide will help to walk you through the procedures (such as zoning, licensing, inspections, etc.) required by the City before your grand opening. As you go through each of these steps, you'll have a clearer indication of your progress, and know what remaining actions you'll need to take to transform your Easton business from a dream into a reality. Let's get started!