Pa. Legislature Extends Permit Extension Act Another Three Years

The Pennsylvania Legislature recently enacted a key amendment to the Permit Extension Act of 2010 that will extend the life of certain development-related permits and approvals to July 2016.

Enacted on June 30, 2012, Act 87 of 2012 (S.B. 1263) was signed into law by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett on July 2, 2012. Embedded in this finance bill was an amendment to Act 46 of 2010, which included the Pennsylvania Permit Extension Act.

The Permit Extension Act originally provided that certain real estate development-related permits and approvals, including building and other construction permits, that were valid at any time beginning on January 1, 2009, would remain valid until July 1, 2013. The new law extends permits at least an additional three years. Given, however, that the Permit Extension Act has been held to toll the remaining life of an approval or permit during the extension period, the Act may in effect extend such approvals or permits beyond July 2, 2016.