Bolthole Index

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in South Fayette Township, PA

South Fayette Township, Pennsylvania issues its own building permits through its Building & Code department1 and adopts and administers its own zoning chapter2. Septic permits for on-lot systems are not a township function: the Allegheny County Health Department issues them3. Allegheny County itself has no countywide zoning to apply here4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the township's Building & Code department15
Zoning
Township zoning chapter with named districts such as R-1 Rural Residential2
R-1 single-family lot
At least 43,560 sq ft without public sewers, 22,000 sq ft with6
R-1 front and rear yards
40 ft front, 50 ft rear for principal structures7
Certificate of occupancy
Required; issued by the township zoning officer8
Septic
Allegheny County Health Department permit before on-lot construction39
Owner-builder
No statewide contractor license; township rules unconfirmed10

Who to call

Building permits

South Fayette Township Building & Code Department

Code enforcement, building permits and inspections for residential and commercial buildings and accessory structures inside the township

412-221-8700

100 Township Drive South Fayette, PA 15017

Septic permits

Allegheny County Health Department, Plumbing Program

Plumbing permits and the county contact point for on-lot sewage permitting, which Sewage Enforcement Officers carry out

412-578-8036

2121 Noblestown Road, Suite 207, Pittsburgh, PA 15205

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 14, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in South Fayette Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does South Fayette Township, PA have zoning?

Yes. South Fayette Township adopts and administers its own zoning chapter, with named districts such as R-1 Rural Residential2. The R-1 district exists to protect agricultural uses and natural features while encouraging low-density single-family homes11. We confirmed only the R-1 district11; ask the township which district a specific parcel is in before you buy.

In R-1, a single-family lot needs at least 43,560 square feet without public sewers and 22,000 square feet with them6. Principal structures need a 40-foot front yard and a 50-foot rear yard7, buildings may cover no more than 15% of the lot12, and principal structures are capped at 2 1/2 stories and 35 feet, with accessory structures limited to one story and 20 feet13.

Inside South Fayette, the township sets zoning, not Allegheny County4. We could not confirm the township's rules on RVs, tiny homes, manufactured homes or accessory dwellings; ask the township's Building & Code department before relying on any of them.

Do you need a building permit in South Fayette Township, and who issues it?

Yes. Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code requires a building permit before construction starts14, and in South Fayette Township the Building & Code department issues permits for residential and commercial buildings and for accessory structures such as decks, fences and swimming pools1. Pennsylvania directs permit questions to the township, borough or city where the work will happen15.

A certificate of occupancy comes from the township zoning officer before a newly built dwelling is occupied8, and the township may inspect the premises first16. The occupancy permit fee is set by the board of commissioners, so ask the township for the current amount17. We could not confirm the township's building permit fee schedule or its full building code chapter.

How do septic permits work in South Fayette Township?

Septic permits for every address in South Fayette Township come from the Allegheny County Health Department, not from the township. The department's Sewage Enforcement Officers carry out permitting under Pennsylvania's Sewage Facilities Act3, and a permit is required before any on-lot construction begins9.

Before planning an on-lot system, check whether public sewer is available. Allegheny County rules make continued use of an individual system unlawful when part of a building lies within 150 feet of an available public sewer18. The township's own sewer connection rules were not confirmed, so ask the Building & Code department who handles sewer service at your address.

Allegheny County's soils are demanding: about 11.6% of its soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field19, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system. Contact the Health Department's Plumbing Program20.

Building a home in South Fayette Township: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district and its lot, yard and height standards with the township2.
  2. Find out whether public sewer is available; if not, apply to the Allegheny County Health Department for a septic permit9.
  3. Apply for a building permit from the township Building & Code department1.
  4. If the driveway meets a state road, obtain a PennDOT highway occupancy permit before access is permitted21.
  5. Keep work accessible for the required inspections, including foundations, plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems, framing and wallboard22.
  6. Obtain the certificate of occupancy from the township zoning officer before moving in8.

What stays with Allegheny County, and what to check before you buy

Septic permits, plumbing permits and county subdivision review sit with Allegheny County, not the township3. For land outside the township, see the Allegheny County page. Inside South Fayette, ask the township about floodplain rules: Pennsylvania municipalities must issue a floodplain development permit before development in a mapped flood hazard area23.

Pennsylvania has no statewide license requirement for most construction contractors, though municipalities may add their own10; we could not confirm whether South Fayette does. Allegheny County's effective property tax rate is 1.6%24. Ask the township which subdivision approvals apply if you plan to split a lot25.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm South Fayette Township's building construction chapter, owner-builder rules or building permit fees; call the Building & Code department at 412-221-8700 before you budget1.
  • Mailing addresses in the area say Bridgeville, Oakdale or McDonald, so confirm a parcel is actually inside South Fayette Township before applying for a township permit1.
  • The township's occupancy permit fee is set by resolution and can change17.

Sources

  1. South Fayette Township Building & Code Department (southfayettepa.com)
  2. Article IV: R-1 Rural Residential District - Township of South Fayette, PA (Ch. 240 Zoning) (South Fayette Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Water Pollution Control, quoted and re-checked
  4. Land Use Planning, quoted and re-checked
  5. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article IV: R-1 Rural Residential District - Township of South Fayette, PA (Ch. 240 Zoning) (South Fayette Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article IV: R-1 Rural Residential District - Township of South Fayette, PA (Ch. 240 Zoning) (South Fayette Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 177: Occupancy Permits - Township of South Fayette, PA (South Fayette Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Water Pollution Control, quoted and re-checked
  10. Contractor Licensing (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Article IV: R-1 Rural Residential District - Township of South Fayette, PA (Ch. 240 Zoning) (South Fayette Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. Article IV: R-1 Rural Residential District - Township of South Fayette, PA (Ch. 240 Zoning) (South Fayette Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Article IV: R-1 Rural Residential District - Township of South Fayette, PA (Ch. 240 Zoning) (South Fayette Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  15. Local Registrations, Permits, Zoning (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Chapter 177: Occupancy Permits - Township of South Fayette, PA (South Fayette Township), quoted and re-checked
  17. Chapter 177: Occupancy Permits - Township of South Fayette, PA (South Fayette Township), quoted and re-checked
  18. Article XIV Sewage Management, quoted and re-checked
  19. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Allegheny County Health Department, Plumbing Program (alleghenycounty.us)
  21. Apply for a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. PennsylvaniA Floodplain Development Guide (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 14, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for South Fayette Township

South Fayette Township’s own rules

  • InspectionsLimited

    Pre-occupancy inspection inside South Fayette township under Ch. 177; Chapter 125 construction inspection not opened

    • Inspection by such township officials as the board of commissioners may require.
    “no permit shall be issued for occupancy unless the premises shall be in livable and habitable condition and after having been inspected by such township officials as the board of commissioners may require from time to time.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Newly constructed or previously vacated dwellings and other places of occupancy in South Fayette township

    • Issued by the township zoning officer.
    • Temporary permit up to six months during alterations (§ 177-4).
    • Fee set by resolution of the board of commissioners (§ 177-5).
    • Fine up to $1,000 plus costs for violations (§ 177-6).
    “unless the owner or landlord of said property shall first apply for an occupancy permit, to be issued by the zoning officer of the township of south fayette.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside South Fayette township; township adopts and administers Chapter 240 Zoning with named districts such as R-1 Rural Residential

    • Excerpt is from the R-1 district article; the full district list was not opened.
    “in the r-1 rural residential district, all uses shall be subject to the following regulations”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Zoning districts in South Fayette township; only R-1 Rural Residential article opened

    • Other districts (R-2, R-3, R-4 etc.) not verified on official page in this run.
    “the purpose of this district is to protect agricultural uses and preserve natural features and resources while encouraging low-density single-family residential development”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family dwelling in the R-1 Rural Residential District, South Fayette township

    • Subject to open space design option (Art. XIV) and conditional use/special exception standards (Art. XV).
    • Other principal uses: two acres; agriculture: 10 acres.

    min lot area without public sewers: >= 43560 sq ft · min lot area with public sewers: >= 22000 sq ft · min lot width without public sewers: >= 150 ft · min lot width with public sewers: >= 110 ft

    “(4) single-family dwelling. (a) without public sewers: 43,560 square feet. (b) with public sewers: 22,000 square feet.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Principal structures in the R-1 Rural Residential District, South Fayette township

    • Accessory structures: see § 240-99c.
    • Special yards § 240-99 and projections § 240-100 apply.
    • Other principal structures: 30 feet each side.

    front yard: >= 40 ft · rear yard principal: >= 50 ft · side yard single-family without public sewers: >= 20 ft each side · side yard single-family with public sewers: >= 40 ft total, 10 ft min one side

    “minimum front yard. (1) principal and accessory structures: 40 feet. e. minimum rear yard: (1) principal structures: 50 feet.”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-1 Rural Residential District, South Fayette township

    • Open space design option may modify.

    max lot coverage: <= 15 percent

    “c. maximum lot coverage: 15%. d. minimum front yard.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-1 Rural Residential District, South Fayette township

    • Height exceptions: see § 240-101.

    principal structure height: <= 35 ft (max 2 1/2 stories) · accessory structure height: <= 20 ft (one story)

    “(1) all principal structures: 2 1/2 stories but no more than 35 feet. (2) all accessory structures: one story but no more than 20 feet.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Occupancy permit fee in South Fayette township

    • Amount is set by resolution, not in the code; building permit fees not located.
    “the fee for any occupancy permit shall be as adopted by resolution from time to time by the board of commissioners and on file in the township offices.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask South Fayette Township or Allegheny County directly.

  • Building permit — Building permits in South Fayette township
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption in South Fayette township
  • Building code adopted — Building code in South Fayette township
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in South Fayette township
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy in South Fayette township
16 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit process

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that South Fayette Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Allegheny County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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