Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Gilpin Township, Pennsylvania

Gilpin Township’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building code enforcement for construction inside Gilpin township

  • Township ratified entry into an Armstrong County UCC group agreement and a UCC program participation agreement (2024 ordinance and agreements list).
  • The edition of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code the township enforces was not verified.
  • Gilpin also partially adopted the International Property Maintenance Code (2021 ordinance list); that is not the building code.

  “ordinance: 1. amending pension and sarpd charter 2. flood plain ordinance 3. ratifying entry into armstrong county ucc group agreements: 1. armstrong demolition grant 2. ucc program participation agreement”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Gilpin township limits; the township administers its own zoning ordinance

  • Ordinance is titled Gilpin Township Zoning Ordinance of 2023 and is dated enacted November 21, 2023.
  • Zoning permits and conditional-use approvals are administered by the township zoning officer, planning commission and board of supervisors under the ordinance.

  “gilpin township is hereby divided into seven (7) classes of zoning districts as shown on the official zoning map.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts inside Gilpin township limits

  • Seven district classes are named in the ordinance: Rec-1, Rec-2, Agricultural (AG), Residential R-1, Residential R-2, Business (BUS) and Industrial (I).
  • The district boundaries are shown on the official zoning map, which was not opened, so boundaries are not verified.

  “gilpin township is hereby divided into seven (7) classes of zoning districts as shown on the official zoning map.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  New lots and buildings in the Agricultural (AG) district inside Gilpin township

  • District described as underlain by prime agricultural soil, used extensively for agriculture, mostly large and remote from Route 66 (§ 108.3).
  • Same table-alignment caveat as the R-1 claim.

  minimum lot area: >= 1 acre (Read from column 3 of the § 204.1 table) · minimum lot width at building line: >= 175 ft (Read from column 3 of the § 204.1 table)

  “rec-1 rec-2 ag r-1 r-2 bus i 0.25 acres (10,892sqft) 0.25 acres (10,892qft) 1 acre (43,570sqft) 15,000 sqft 0.5 acre (21,785sqft) 15,000 sqft 0.5 acre (21,785sqft)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — New lots and buildings in the R-1 Residential district (single-family homes) inside Gilpin township

    “rec-1 rec-2 ag r-1 r-2 bus i 0.25 acres (10,892sqft) 0.25 acres (10,892qft) 1 acre (43,570sqft) 15,000 sqft 0.5 acre (21,785sqft) 15,000 sqft 0.5 acre (21,785sqft)”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile or manufactured homes placed on an individual lot inside Gilpin township; mobile home parks are a separate use

  • A mobile home on its own lot must meet all single-family home requirements of the ordinance (§ 404.23(a)).
  • Must be supported on at least two masonry piers extending three feet below grade and skirted, placed on foundation and skirted within 30 days of arrival (§ 404.23(b)-(c)).
  • Mobile home parks require a minimum 5-acre site, density up to six homes per acre, and public sewers (§ 404.22).

  “§ 404.23. mobile home on its own lot. a. such mobile homes shall meet all the requirements of this ordinance for single family homes.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot sewage disposal for buildings inside Gilpin township

  • The township building permit form requires a certificate from the township sewage enforcement officer for on-lot systems.
  • The township ordinances page lists an SEO agreement (2023 agreements list). Whether the SEO is township staff or contracted through another body was not verified.

  “if the building is to be served by an on-lot septic system, a certificate from the township sewage enforcement officer shall be presented approving the property for on-lot disposal, considering the number of dwelling or other units to be constructed, and indicating the type of sewage disposal system approved.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New buildings served by an on-lot septic system inside Gilpin township

  • Requires a township SEO certificate approving the property for on-lot disposal, before the building permit is issued.
  • The SEO certificate states the type of sewage system approved; the sewage system permit process itself was not opened.

  “if the building is to be served by an on-lot septic system, a certificate from the township sewage enforcement officer shall be presented approving the property for on-lot disposal, considering the number of dwelling or other units to be constructed, and indicating the type of sewage disposal system approved.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit application process inside Gilpin township

  • Application goes to the township zoning officer with payment and attachments; the form lists a site plan with setbacks, public utilities and height, and septic certificate where applicable.
  • Commercial, industrial, multi-family or public-use buildings also need a Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry approval and, when necessary, board of supervisors approval under §§ 302-303.

  “please complete this application and its required attachments and return to the gilpin township zoning officer with payment.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside Gilpin township
• Inspections — Inspections of new construction inside Gilpin township
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy certificates for new homes inside Gilpin township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area of a dwelling inside Gilpin township
• Setbacks — Front, side and rear yard setbacks for R-1 and AG districts inside Gilpin township

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.