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

Chippewa Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Development proposed through Chippewa Township's construction/zoning permit process.

  • Additional permits may be needed depending on the premises' location, including on-lot sewage, public sewer connection, water connection, or land-development approval.

  “In addition to a construction/zoning permit”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction requested under a Chippewa Township zoning/building permit application.

  • The applicant authorizes Township representatives to make the required inspections to verify compliance with the zoning ordinance or other applicable codes.

  “I/We hereby authorize representatives of the township to make the required inspections upon the property to verify that the construction requested under this applications complies with the Chippewa township Zoning Ordinance or other applicable codes.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Proposed structures or buildings constructed under the Township application process.

  • The occupancy permit must be procured following construction and before placing the proposed structure or building into use.

  “Further, following construction and prior to your placing into use the proposed structure/building, you will need to procure an Occupancy Permit.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Chippewa Township.

  • District boundaries are shown on the official zoning map, which is incorporated by reference into Chapter 27.

  zoning districts: AR-1 Agricultural Residential; ART Agricultural Residential Transition; R-2 Rural Residential; R-3 Suburban Residential; C-1 Neighborhood Commercial; PC Planned Commerce; SG Special Growth; IC Industrial Corridor; PRO Planned Residential; AO Airport Surface Overlay; RCO Residential Collector Overlay

  “zoning districts are hereby established in the Township of Chippewa”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family detached dwellings regulated by Chapter 27 inside Chippewa Township.

  • The dwelling must be permanently constructed or affixed to a foundation; the 900-square-foot minimum excludes storage and utility areas.

  minimum habitable area: >= 900 square feet (Exclusive of storage and utility areas.)

  “minimum of nine hundred (900) square feet of habitable area”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Development proposed through the Township construction/zoning permit process.

  • Depending on the location of the premises, an applicant may need a public sewer connection permit and/or water connection permit before commencing construction.

  “NOTICE: In addition to a construction/zoning permit, you may need to make other applications and obtain other permits for the development you propose, including but not limited to, depending on location of your premises, for an on-lot sewage permit and/or connection to a public sewer connection permit, water connection permit, and/or Land Development approval, prior to being able to commence construction.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land-development applications inside Chippewa Township.

  • The posted 2025 schedule distinguishes applications of three lots or fewer from applications of four lots or more.

  subdivision application fee: 300 USD (Three lots or fewer.) · additional lot fee: per 50 USD (Each additional lot over three lots for applications of four lots or more.)

  “Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance SALDO Part 1 SALDO Part 2 SALDO Part 3 SALDO Part 4 Fee Schedule/General Application”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New or improved driveway access to a public road or street under Chippewa Township jurisdiction.

  • For Commonwealth roads or streets, applicants must obtain a Highway Occupancy Permit from PennDOT instead.
  • The rule applies in addition to the construction/zoning permit.

  Township driveway permit fee: 20 USD (Published 2025 fee schedule.)

  “must apply for and obtain a Driveway Permit”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building and development projects within Chippewa Township.

  • The Township directs applicants to complete forms online and email them to the zoning secretary, or print, complete, mail, or drop off the application at 2811 Darlington Road, Beaver Falls, PA 15010.

  “Please complete the form online and email to Eileen@chippewa-twp.org”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built dwellings inside Chippewa Township.
• Building code adopted — Buildings inside Chippewa Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Chippewa Township.
• Setbacks — Structures inside Chippewa Township.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Chippewa 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.