Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Borough of Rochester, Pennsylvania

Borough of Rochester’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, demolition or change of occupancy of buildings inside Rochester borough

  • Permits not required for ordinary residential repairs such as painting, siding, roofing, windows, doors, soffit and fascia, gutters, or re-pointing of masonry
  • Zoning permit may still be required for exempt projects

  “accordingly, a permit is required for any project that involves constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing the occupancy of a residential or commercial building.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Rochester borough; borough administers the PA Uniform Construction Code

  • Building code official services provided by Middle Department Inspection Agency (MDIA)

  “the borough of rochester has elected to administer the provisions of the commonwealth's uniform construction code.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Rochester borough

  • Zoning ordinance and zoning map are offered as downloads on the borough page; contents not reviewed

  “the borough of rochester has established zoning to encourage practical and coordinated community development that promotes public health, safety, morals, and general welfare.”

• Permit processPublished

  Building and zoning permit applications inside Rochester borough

  • Application form and instructions are downloads; their contents were not reviewed

  “building and zoning permit applications, as well as assistance guide to aid in the completing of the permit application process, are available online.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions inside Rochester borough
• Inspections — Inspections inside Rochester borough
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Rochester borough
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Rochester borough
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Rochester 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.