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

White Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Buildings, structures, and swimming pools constructed or erected inside White Township.

  • Building-permit provisions also apply to remodeling, additions, porches, decks, pools, sheds, and exterior alterations.
  • Repair or replacement of roofing and painting are exempt.
  • A permit is valid for one calendar year.

  “within white Township without first fil ing an appJ-ication with and securinq a buiJding permit”

• InspectionsLimited

  Construction or development permitted under Township Ordinance No. 137.

  • The Floodplain Administrator or authorized official makes inspections during construction and upon completion as necessary.
  • This evidence does not establish a general inspection requirement for every non-flood-related building permit.

  “During the construction period. the Floodplain Administrator or other authorized official shall inspect the premises”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Land occupied or used, and buildings erected, altered, extended, used, or changed in use, inside White Township.

  • A certificate must state that the premises or proposed use complies with the zoning ordinance.
  • A nonconforming use may not be maintained, renewed, changed, or extended without a certificate.
  • An application for a certificate is required before a permit for excavation, erection, alteration, or repair is issued.

  “No land shall be occupied or used and no building hereafter erected, altered, or extended shall be used or changed in use until a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside White Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

  • Uses and structures must conform to the regulations for the district in which they are located.

  “This ordinance shall be known and may be cited as "The 2004 Zoning Ordinance of White Township"”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside White Township.

  • District boundaries are established on the Official Zoning Ordinance Map on file at the Municipal Building.

  zoning districts: R-1 Single Family Residential; R-2 General Residential; C-1 General Business; C-2 Heavy Commercial; I Light Industrial; PRD Planned Residential Development

  “is hereby divided into the following Zoning Districts. 1. "R-1" - SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL [...] 6. "PRD" - PLANNED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Use of a licensed or unlicensed house trailer, or unlicensed vehicle, as living quarters in any White Township zoning district.

  • The ordinance states that removal of wheels and provision of a foundation or utilities does not make the trailer or vehicle a permanent structure or permit occupancy.
  • The ordinance allows no exception except amendment of the ordinance.

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

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction or development anywhere within White Township under Ordinance No. 137.

  • A permit is not required for minor repairs to existing buildings or structures.
  • Before permit issuance, the Floodplain Administrator must determine that required state and federal permits have been obtained.
  • Work must begin within 180 days and be completed within 12 months unless a written extension is granted.

  start-work deadline: <= 180 days after permit issuance (Subject to written extension provisions.) · completion deadline: <= 12 months after permit issuance (Subject to written extension provisions.)

  “A Permit shall be required before any construction or development is undertaken within any area of the T'ownship of White.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Township building permits.

  • The listed fee schedule is based on project cost.
  • The ordinance also identifies a one-dollar fee for a duplicate permit where a permit is destroyed or stolen by unauthorized persons.

  “The scale of fees charged for issuance of building permits shall bre as set forth:”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications inside White Township.

  • The application requires specifications, cost estimate, general plan, materials, and a sketch or drawing.
  • An official property survey is essential for new construction and may be requested for other projects after inspection.
  • The Township zoning page directs applicants to apply at the Township Municipal Building.

  “Apply at the White Township Municipal Building for all Burning, Building, Demolition, Solar Permits. Ordinance 107.”

Rules another office applies inside White Township

White 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

  Single-family dwellings in the R-1 Single Family Residential District.

  minimum lot area: 6600 square feet · minimum lot width: 60 feet

  “Minimum Width 60' - R-1 [...] Minimum Area (sq. ft.) 6,600 - R-1”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the R-1 Single Family Residential District.

  • Corner-lot side yard is 25 feet.
  • Rear yard is expressed as a percentage of lot depth.

  front yard minimum depth: 25 feet · side yard minimum width: 10 feet (25 feet for a corner lot.) · rear yard minimum depth: 20 percent of lot depth

  “Minimum Depth 25' - R-1 [...] Minimum Width 10' & 25' corner lot - R-1, R-2 [...] Minimum Depth 20% of lot depth - R-1, R-2”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  A planned residential development inside White Township where public sewer or water availability meets the ordinance threshold.

  • When a public sanitary sewer system exists, or approved municipal sewer facilities are within 1,000 feet, the development must include a complete sanitary sewer system connected to those facilities.
  • When a public water main is within 1,000 feet, or approved installation plans exist, the developer must extend and connect the water system.
  • Where the public water main is unavailable under that standard, the developer must provide a water supply and distribution system approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

  public sewer availability distance: <= 1000 feet (Also applies where municipal installation plans have been approved.) · public water availability distance: <= 1000 feet (Also applies where municipal installation plans have been approved.)

  “Where a public water main is within 1,000 feet of the planned development [...] such facility shall be extended by the developer”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside White Township.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside White Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in the R-1 Single Family Residential District.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside White Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside White 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.