Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Borough of Patterson Heights, Pennsylvania

Borough of Patterson Heights’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, adding to or structurally altering any building or structure inside Patterson Heights borough

  • Permit is issued by the zoning officer.
  • No permit issues for work that would violate the zoning chapter or other borough ordinances, unless the board of zoning adjustment orders otherwise.
  • Homepage says a separate zoning permit is required before applying for a building permit.

  “no building or structure shall be erected, added to or structurally altered until a permit therefor has been issued by the zoning officer.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Patterson Heights borough

  • Borough elects to administer and enforce the PA Construction Code Act.
  • Administration may be by a borough employee, third-party agency, intermunicipal agreement, contract with another municipality, or L&I for non one/two-family structures, as set by council resolution.
  • International Property Maintenance Code, 2006 edition, also adopted (sec. 150.01) with local amendments.

  “the uniform construction code, contained in 34 pa. code chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of the borough.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Patterson Heights borough (Beaver County area, 15010)

  • Zoning is Chapter 154 of the borough code, originally Ord. 146 (1961), amended by Ord. 209 (1993).

  “a zoning officer shall administer and enforce this chapter, including the receiving of applications, the inspection of premises and the issuing of zoning permits.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Patterson Heights borough

  • Districts: R-Residential, AP park, AI industrial, MDO multiple dwelling overlay (sec. 154.015).
  • Official zoning map is on file with the zoning officer; no online map found.

  “for the purpose of applying the provisions of this chapter, the borough is hereby divided into the following zoning districts: 79 zoning (a) r-residential; (b) ap@ park; (c) ai@ industrial; and (d) mdo multiple dwelling overlay district.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the R-Residential district, Patterson Heights borough

  • MDO overlay district: duplex and townhouse minimum 1,250 sq ft per dwelling unit (sec. 154.064).

  two-story dwelling: >= 1800 sq ft · single-story dwelling: >= 1500 sq ft · split-entry dwelling: >= 1500 sq ft

  “(f) minimum gross floor area. (1) two-story residential dwelling: 1,800 square feet; (2) single-story residential dwelling: 1,500 square feet; and (3) split entry residential dwelling: 1,500 square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the R-Residential district, Patterson Heights borough

  • Board of zoning adjustment may allow a dwelling on an undersized lot of record (sec. 154.107).
  • MDO overlay: duplex 7,000 sq ft per structure; townhouse 2,000 sq ft per unit.

  minimum lot area: >= 7000 sq ft · minimum lot width at building line: >= 50 ft

  “(a) minimum lot area. single-family residential dwelling: 7,000 square feet. (b) minimum lot width. single-family residential dwelling: 50 feet at building line.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the R-Residential district, Patterson Heights borough

  • Front yard is the average depth of structures within 300 lineal feet of both side lot lines.
  • On undersized lots no structure may be within 5 ft of a lot line in any residential district (sec. 154.107).
  • MDO townhouses: 15 ft side yards.

  side yard each side: >= 10 ft · rear yard: >= 20 ft

  “(c) minimum yards. (1) front yard. average depth from right-of-way line of structures within 300 lineal feet of both side lot lines. (2) side yards. ten feet on each side. (3) rear yards. twenty feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Single-family detached dwellings in the R-Residential district, Patterson Heights borough

  • MDO overlay: duplex 35%, townhouse 60% maximum.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 35 percent

  “(d) lot coverage (bulk). single-family detached residential dwelling: 35% maximum.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the R-Residential district, Patterson Heights borough

  • Roof pitch not less than 6 in 12.
  • Accessory garages: maximum 14 ft to eaves and 20 ft to roof peak.
  • MDO overlay: 3 stories or 35 ft maximum.

  maximum dwelling height: <= 35 ft (measured from average grade to highest point, excluding chimney)

  “(1) height of residential dwelling. thirty-five feet maximum from average grade to highest point of structure excluding chimney.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Living in house trailers or unlicensed vehicles in any zoning district inside Patterson Heights borough

  • Removing wheels or adding foundations or utilities does not make the unit a permanent structure or permit occupancy.
  • No exceptions except by amendment of the chapter.
  • Sec. 154.108 separately bans trailer camps in the borough.

  “no licensed or unlicensed house trailer and no unlicensed vehicle of any type may hereafter be used for living quarters in any district.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building code administration fees inside Patterson Heights borough

  • The amounts were not located; fee resolution not found.

  “fees assessable by the borough for the administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this section and the code shall be established by the governing body by resolution from time to time.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning and building permits inside Patterson Heights borough

  • Zoning permit first, then building permit application.
  • Detailed application requirements are in sec. 154.151, not fully read.

  “in patterson heights a separate zoning permit is required prior to application for a building permit.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Borough of Patterson Heights or Beaver County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions inside Patterson Heights borough
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Patterson Heights borough
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy permits inside Patterson Heights borough
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Patterson Heights borough
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Patterson Heights borough

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.