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

Hovey Township’s own rules

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Hovey township's limits: the township has no municipal zoning ordinance

  • Per the county directory the township has no zoning or planning commission, so no township zoning ordinance applies.
  • County subdivision rules (see subdivision claim) and septic, floodplain and health rules still apply.

  “the township has no zoning or planning commission”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Land inside Hovey township's limits: no zoning districts exist because the township has no zoning ordinance

  • Based on the county directory's statement that the township has no zoning or planning commission.

  “the township has no zoning or planning commission”

Rules another office applies inside Hovey Township

Hovey Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Subdivisions and land developments inside Hovey township where no officially adopted municipal zoning ordinance is in effect (Hovey has no zoning)

  • Numeric lot area and width values are in Appendix I of the county subdivision ordinance; they were not extracted in this research.
  • Applies only if Hovey township has not adopted its own subdivision ordinance or adopted the county ordinance by reference; not verified with the township.
  • Lot area applies to subdivision and land development, not to every existing parcel.

  “the minimum lot area and lot width requirements shall be determined by the applicable municipal zoning ordinance. if the municipality in which the subdivision or land development is located does not have an officially adopted zoning ordinance in effect, the provisions of this section shall prevail”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Subdivision and land development lots inside Hovey township where no municipal zoning ordinance is in effect

  • The county subdivision ordinance requires setback lines not less than the minimum it fixes; numeric setback distances were not extracted.
  • Applies only where the county ordinance governs; not verified with the township.

  “setback lines on all lots and parcels not less than the minimum fixed by the municipal zoning ordinance or this ordinance if no local ordinance is in effect”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions and land developments in Armstrong County, including inside Hovey township

  • Applies to subdivisions and land developments occurring after the ordinance's effective date.
  • Whether Hovey township has adopted its own subdivision ordinance or adopted the county ordinance by reference was not verified.
  • Where a municipal zoning ordinance exists, local zoning approval must be obtained first; Hovey has no zoning.

  “the provisions contained herein shall apply to all subdivisions and land developments, which occur after the effective date of this ordinance.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Hovey township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for construction inside Hovey township
• Building code adopted — Building code enforcement inside Hovey township
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Hovey township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Hovey 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.