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

Smithfield Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building or remodeling work inside Smithfield township, including pools and ground-mounted solar.

  • A township assessment permit is required for building or remodeling, including pools and ground-mounted solar.
  • Additional building permits from code inspections may also be necessary.
  • Permit detail (fees, scope thresholds) was not published on the cited pages.

  “if you are planning on building or remodeling, a township assessment permit is required.. this also include installation of pools an ground mounted solar.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Some building work inside Smithfield township; the inspection agency named on the township's Forms page is Code Inspections Inc.

  • The township page says additional building permits from code inspections may also be necessary, so inspection scope is not fully stated.
  • Whether every project requires inspection was not stated.

  “additional building permits from code inspections may also be necessary.”

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Smithfield township (Bradford County, PA). The township's own official site states it has not adopted zoning regulations.

  • The township's official site states it has opted out of a comprehensive plan, planning commission, and zoning regulations.
  • Zoning-only topics for this township are answered from the no-zoning statement; subdivision and land development are handled by the Bradford County Office of Planning and Grants, per the township's page.
  • Subdivision, septic, and building-code rules still apply and are recorded separately.

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

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Zoning districts inside Smithfield township; the township has no zoning, so no districts are published.

  • Subdivision is handled by the county office, per the township page.

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

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Minimum dwelling size inside Smithfield township; no township zoning, so no district dimension applies.

  • Building-code requirements still apply.

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

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Minimum lot size inside Smithfield township; no township zoning, so no district dimension applies.

  • Septic and sewage rules may still limit lot use for on-lot systems.

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

• SetbacksNone

  Setbacks inside Smithfield township; no township zoning, so no setback districts apply.

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

• Lot coverageNone

  Lot coverage inside Smithfield township; no township zoning, so no coverage limit applies.

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

• Building heightNone

  Building height inside Smithfield township; no township zoning, so no height limit applies.

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

• Living in an RVUnrestricted

  Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Smithfield township: no township land-use rule restricts it because the township has no zoning.

  • Sewage and septic rules still apply to any occupied unit.
  • Subdivision and building-code rules still apply.

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

• Camping on your landUnrestricted

  Temporary camping on private land inside Smithfield township: no township land-use rule restricts it because the township has no zoning.

  • Sewage and sanitation rules still apply.

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

• Tiny homesUnrestricted

  Tiny home occupancy inside Smithfield township: no township land-use rule restricts it because the township has no zoning.

  • Building-code, septic and subdivision rules still apply.

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

• Manufactured homesUnrestricted

  Manufactured home occupancy inside Smithfield township: no township land-use rule restricts it because the township has no zoning.

  • Building-code, septic and subdivision rules still apply.

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

• Accessory dwellingsUnrestricted

  Accessory dwellings inside Smithfield township: no township land-use rule restricts them because the township has no zoning.

  • Septic, building-code and subdivision rules still apply.

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

• Permit processPartial

  Township assessment permit process for building or remodeling inside Smithfield township

  • The township publishes an Assessment Permit Application form on its Forms page.
  • Review steps, timelines and fees are not stated on the opened pages.

  “if you are planning on building or remodeling, a township assessment permit is required.. this also include installation of pools an ground mounted solar.”

Rules another office applies inside Smithfield Township

Smithfield 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 Smithfield township are handled by the Bradford County Office of Planning and Grants, per the township's own page.

  • The township's own page states the county office handles all subdivisions and land developments in the township.
  • Subdivision approval terms and fees were not opened.

  “the office of planning and grants for bradford county handle all subdivisions and land developments occurring within the township.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homes inside Smithfield township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Smithfield township
• Septic permit — Permit for an on-lot septic system inside Smithfield township
• Septic inspection — Septic inspection inside Smithfield township
• Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid or non-connected sanitation inside Smithfield 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.