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

Orwell Township’s own rules

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Orwell township (Bradford County, PA): whether the township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance

  • The county's Orwell Township page says the township has opted out of zoning regulations; no Orwell zoning ordinance was located.
  • Subdivision and land development approval is handled by the county (see the subdivision claim).

  “the township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, comprehensive plan, and zoning regulations.”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Zoning districts in Orwell township: none exist because the township has no zoning regulations

  • Status 'permitted' means no district rules restrict use, not that a district map exists.

  “the township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, comprehensive plan, and zoning regulations.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Minimum dwelling size inside Orwell township, which has no zoning regulations

  • Absence follows from the township having opted out of zoning regulations, per the county page.
  • Any building code size rule was not verified.

  “the township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, comprehensive plan, and zoning regulations.”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Minimum lot size for land inside Orwell township, which has no zoning regulations

  • Absence follows from the township having opted out of zoning regulations, per the county page.
  • Septic and subdivision rules still apply and were not verified.

  “the township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, comprehensive plan, and zoning regulations.”

• SetbacksNone

  Building setbacks inside Orwell township, which has no zoning regulations

  • Absence follows from the township having opted out of zoning regulations, per the county page.

  “the township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, comprehensive plan, and zoning regulations.”

• Lot coverageNone

  Lot coverage limits inside Orwell township, which has no zoning regulations

  • Absence follows from the township having opted out of zoning regulations, per the county page.

  “the township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, comprehensive plan, and zoning regulations.”

• Building heightNone

  Building height limits inside Orwell township, which has no zoning regulations

  • Absence follows from the township having opted out of zoning regulations, per the county page.

  “the township has opted out of organizing a planning commission, comprehensive plan, and zoning regulations.”

Rules another office applies inside Orwell Township

Orwell Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions and land developments inside Orwell township (unincorporated Bradford County, PA), reviewed by the county

  • All of Orwell's subdivisions and land developments must get approval from the Office of Planning and Grants for Bradford County, per the county page.
  • The township itself has not organized a planning commission, comprehensive plan or zoning, per the same page.
  • County subdivision fee schedule and procedures were not reviewed.

  “all of orwell's subdivisions and land developments must get approval from the office of planning and grants for bradford county.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permit requirement for new homes in Orwell township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for Orwell township
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for Orwell township
• Inspections — Building inspection for new construction in Orwell township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in Orwell 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.