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

Towanda Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building permit applications for construction inside Towanda township; the township directs applicants to Code Inspections, Inc.

  • The page names the agency to contact for building permit applications; it does not list project types or exemptions, so the exact permit thresholds were not confirmed.
  • Code Inspections, Inc. (Dushore, PA) is the township's named agency; it is not itself the rule-maker.

  “the agency to contact for building permit applications, and general information is code inspections, inc.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Towanda township's limits

  • The township's code enforcement page states the township enforces the Uniform Construction Code; the township's adopting ordinance text was not read in full.

  “towanda township enforces the uniform construction code.”

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Towanda township's limits (Bradford County, PA): the township has not adopted its own zoning ordinance

  • The county page, which describes the township's own decision, states the township has opted out of zoning regulations.
  • The adopting ordinance's revision list for chapter 27 (Zoning) shows only airport zoning sections (ord. 29); no general zoning ordinance was found in the township code index.
  • Subdivision and land development are regulated by the county (see subdivision claim). Septic, floodplain, and building-code rules still apply.

  “the township has opted out of organizing a planning commission or zoning regulations.”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Land inside Towanda township's limits: no zoning districts are established

  • Follows from the township's statement that it has opted out of zoning regulations.

  “the township has opted out of organizing a planning commission or zoning regulations.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  New dwellings inside Towanda township's limits (no township zoning, so no district dimensional rules)

  • No township zoning means no minimum dwelling size in a zoning ordinance. Building-code and septic rules still apply.

  “the township has opted out of organizing a planning commission or zoning regulations.”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Lots inside Towanda township's limits (no township zoning, so no district lot-size rules)

  • Septic and well sizing rules, which are not confirmed here, may still limit lots in practice.

  “the township has opted out of organizing a planning commission or zoning regulations.”

• SetbacksNone

  Structures inside Towanda township's limits (no township zoning, so no zoning setbacks)

  • Does not exclude setback or easement rules that may appear in other township ordinances or state law; none were found in the sources read.

  “the township has opted out of organizing a planning commission or zoning regulations.”

• Lot coverageNone

  Lots inside Towanda township's limits (no township zoning, so no lot-coverage limit)

  • Stormwater or floodplain limits in other ordinances are not assessed here.

  “the township has opted out of organizing a planning commission or zoning regulations.”

• Building heightNone

  Buildings inside Towanda township's limits (no township zoning, so no zoning height limit)

  • Airport-area height limits tied to Bradford County Airport may exist under state or federal rules; not assessed here.

  “the township has opted out of organizing a planning commission or zoning regulations.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in mapped floodplains inside Towanda township (township code chapter 8)

  • The listed section requires building permits in the floodplain administration part; the full floodplain ordinance was not read, so the trigger, special-permit activities, and fees are unconfirmed.
  • Chapter 8 also includes special-permit provisions for certain activities (listed in the adopting ordinance index).

  “8, 2, §201 floodplains; administration; building permits required ord. 4/6/1981, §2.00”

Rules another office applies inside Towanda Township

Towanda 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 Towanda township (administered by the Bradford County Office of Planning and Grants, not by the township)

  • The county's standards apply because the township has no zoning or planning commission of its own, per the county page.
  • Specific county subdivision requirements were not opened.

  “all subdivisions and land developments must go through the regulations and standards set by the county office of planning and grants.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for building permits inside Towanda township
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Towanda township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new buildings inside Towanda township
• Who permits septic — On-lot sewage (septic) permitting for land inside Towanda township
• Septic permit — On-lot sewage permits for new homes inside Towanda 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.