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

Greene Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection, addition to, or structural alteration of buildings or structures, including mobile homes, inside Greene Township.

  • Minor repairs or maintenance, specified nonstructural remodeling, and residential accessory structures of 150 square feet or less are exempt from the zoning-permit requirement.
  • A permit expires after 12 months unless the stated project-size or act-of-nature exception applies and the applicant advises the Zoning Officer.

  accessory-structure floor area exemption threshold: <= 150 square feet (Residential accessory structure; subject to the stated placement rule.) · zoning permit duration: 12 months (Exceptions described in § 153.261(D).)

  “No building or structure, including mobile homes, shall be erected, added to, or structurally altered until a permit therefor has been issued by the Zoning Officer.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction subject to the municipal building code in Greene Township.

  • The incorporated Uniform Construction Code is amended from time to time.

  “The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code Chs. 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of the township.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Premises seeking a township occupancy permit after authorized construction, alteration, remodeling, or change of use.

  • Inspection is by the Zoning Officer or delegate and must result in a compliance determination before an occupancy permit is issued.

  “No occupancy permit shall be issued until such time as the applicant has applied for the same, paid the application fee which shall be included as part of the zoning permit fee, and the premises have been inspected by the Zoning Officer or his or her delegate and, thereafter, a determination has been made that the premises are in compliance with this chapter.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New construction, alteration, remodeling, or change of use authorized under a zoning permit inside Greene Township.

  • The proposed use must conform with Chapter 153 and other effective applicable ordinances.
  • The Zoning Officer processes a written request within one week where the proposed use conforms.
  • Interim occupancy requires a separate application, compliance with applicable rules, inspection, and a fee equal to the original permit cost.

  processing period: <= 1 week (Where the proposed use conforms with Chapter 153 and other effective and applicable ordinances.)

  “Upon completion of the authorized new construction, alteration, remodeling, change of use of building or land under the provisions of a zoning permit, such building or land shall not be occupied until an occupancy permit has been issued by the Zoning Officer.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Greene Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

  • The adopted township code divides the township into zoning districts.

  “For the purpose of applying the provisions of this chapter, the township is hereby classified and divided into the following zoning districts:”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Township zoning, occupancy, and specified home-business permits.

  • The occupancy application fee is included in the zoning permit fee.
  • No-impact home-business permit fees are established from time to time by Board resolution.
  • An interim occupancy permit costs the original permit amount.

  “No occupancy permit shall be issued until such time as the applicant has applied for the same, paid the application fee which shall be included as part of the zoning permit fee, and the premises have been inspected by the Zoning Officer or his or her delegate and, thereafter, a determination has been made that the premises are in compliance with this chapter.”

• Permit processPartial

  Township zoning and occupancy permits.

  • A zoning-permit application requires two scaled layout or plot plans with the stated site information.
  • The permit must be posted during work.
  • An occupancy request is processed within one week only if the proposed use conforms.

  plot-plan copies: 2 copies (Required with all zoning-permit applications.)

  “There shall be submitted with all applications for zoning permits, two copies of a layout or plot plan drawn to scale showing the actual dimensions of the lot to be built upon, the exact size, location and height of the building on the lot and accessory buildings to be erected, and other such information as may be deemed necessary by the Zoning Officer to determine and provide for the enforcement of this chapter.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Greene Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings in Greene Township zoning districts.
• Setbacks — Structures in Greene Township zoning districts.
• Lot coverage — Lots in Greene Township zoning districts.
• Building height — Buildings in Greene Township zoning districts.

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.

Off-grid gear

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

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.