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

Rules another office applies inside Wells Township

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

• SetbacksSpecified

  Subdivisions and land developments inside Wells township where no zoning ordinance sets setbacks

  • Applies only where no zoning ordinance exists. Where a zoning ordinance applies, its setbacks control.
  • Setback is measured from the street right-of-way line, with a maximum of 40 feet.

  building setback from street right-of-way: one-half of the street right-of-way, maximum 40 feet feet (applies only where no zoning ordinance exists)

  “where no such ordinance exists, the minimum setback from the right-of-way line shall be as follows”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  On-lot sewage testing for land subdivided inside Wells township

  • Applies to subdivision and land development plans. Testing is set by DEP and the Bradford County Sanitation Committee, so authority is shared between the state and the county committee.
  • Individual on-lot permit authority for a single home was not confirmed.

  “the applicant shall arrange for the required test to be made on the tract as prescribed by the department of environmental protection and bradford county sanitation committee”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions and land developments inside Wells township, reviewed by the Bradford County planning office

  • Applies to subdivisions and land developments; a single home on an existing lot is not shown to need subdivision approval.

  “the county office of planning and grants handles all subdivisions and land developments that occur within the township.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Lots created by subdivision inside Wells township

  • Subdivision lot access rule only. No separate driveway permit was found.

  “every lot shall abut a street. lot frontage or access shall be physically accessible by standard vehicle in existing condition”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New home construction inside Wells township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a home inside Wells township
• Building code adopted — Building code for new homes inside Wells township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes inside Wells township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Wells 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.