Bolthole Index

Butler County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Butler, Pennsylvania

The City of Butler, Pennsylvania has its own zoning code, adopted by City Council1, and enforces the Uniform Construction Code through its own building permit office2. Inside city limits, septic tanks are not allowed where a public sewer is accessible3. For land outside the city in Butler County, use the county page.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the City of Butler under the Uniform Construction Code24
Zoning
Yes, the City of Butler has its own zoning chapter1
Septic
Not allowed where a public sewer is accessible; the Board of Health decides accessibility3
Sewer connection
Required for improved property next to a street or alley with a public sewer5
R-1 minimum lot
6,500 square feet, one dwelling per lot6
R-1 height limit
30 feet for a one-family dwelling7
Floodplain
A permit is required before any construction or development in the city8

Who to call

Building permits

City of Butler Building & Zoning (Building Permit Office)

Zoning approval, residential and commercial building permits, and plan review and inspections inside the City of Butler

(724) 285-4124

[email protected]

140 West North Street, Butler, PA 16001

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Butler means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Butler, PA have zoning?

Yes. The City of Butler adopted its zoning chapter, Chapter 260, in 1987, and amendments are noted in the code1. The City of Butler's zoning rules apply to land inside the city, not to the rest of Butler County, where each township and borough sets its own rules9.

The rules vary by district. In the R-1 Low-Density Residential District, a lot needs at least 6,500 square feet and may hold one dwelling unit unless it is a planned residential development6. Buildings may cover no more than 35% of the lot, and an accessory structure over 144 square feet counts toward that limit while sheds do not10. A one-family dwelling in R-1 may be up to 30 feet tall7.

Setbacks in R-1 are 25 feet in front and 25 feet at the rear for the principal building, with accessory buildings allowed within 5 feet of the rear line11.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Butler, PA?

We could not confirm a rule for long-term RV living, temporary camping, tiny homes or accessory dwelling units in the City of Butler's zoning code. Do not assume any of these is allowed or banned. Ask the City of Butler zoning officer at the Building & Zoning office before you buy or park anything12.

One fixed point: a dwelling in the city has to meet the Uniform Construction Code the city adopted, and the city adopted the International Residential Code as part of it2. That makes a permitted, code-built home the safe path.

Do you need a building permit in Butler, PA, and who issues it?

Yes. Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code applies to buildings statewide4, and the City of Butler has adopted it as its Municipal Building Code2. The City of Butler's Building & Zoning office issues the permits12.

Residential reviews and inspections are done in-house, except electrical inspections; commercial field inspections go through a third-party agency13. For commercial projects and changes of use, zoning approval comes first, then a sewage approval document, then the building permit14. Separately, a permit is required before any construction or development in the city, and the Floodplain Administrator checks other required permits first8.

We could not find an owner-builder rule specific to the city. Pennsylvania lets an owner be the named permit applicant15, but ask the permit office what it requires. Reach the office at (724) 285-412412.

How do septic permits work in Butler, PA?

Inside the City of Butler, the starting point is the sewer. Every improved property next to a street or alley with a public sewer, or otherwise able to reach one, must connect when the city orders5. A septic tank, cesspool or privy vault is not allowed where a sewer is accessible, and the Board of Health decides what counts as accessible3.

We could not confirm who issues permits for any on-lot system that remains inside the city. Pennsylvania's rule is that local agencies issue on-lot sewage permits, and the agency varies by municipality16. Ask the City of Butler's Building & Zoning office which agency serves your address12. County soil data adds a caution: only 1.1% of Butler County soils are rated not limited for a conventional drain field, so a site outside a sewer area usually needs a site evaluation17.

Building a home in Butler, PA: the steps, in order

  1. Call the City of Butler Building & Zoning office at (724) 285-4124 and confirm the zoning district, setbacks and whether a public sewer is accessible12.
  2. Confirm sewer connection requirements, since septic is limited where a sewer is accessible3.
  3. Check flood status; a permit is required before any construction or development in the city8.
  4. Apply for the building permit; residential plan reviews are done in-house13.
  5. A driveway onto a state highway needs a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit18.
  6. Pass inspections. A certificate of occupancy is issued if the city's code enforcement office requires it19.

What stays with Butler County, and what to check before you buy

Subdivision and land development plans are reviewed under the Butler County ordinance in municipalities that fall under it, while some municipalities have their own ordinance20. For land outside the city, see the Butler County page.

Taxes are county-level figures: Butler County's effective property tax rate is 1.1% and the median property tax bill is $2,950 a year2122. The typical home value is about $337,00023.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm the city's rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes, accessory dwellings or short-term rentals; ask the Building & Zoning office at (724) 285-412412.
  • The agency that permits any remaining on-lot septic system inside the city was not confirmed; the Board of Health decides sewer accessibility3.
  • A driveway onto a state road needs a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit, and permit costs vary18.

Sources

  1. Chapter 260: Zoning - City of Butler, PA (Butler), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 119: Construction Codes, Uniform - City of Butler, PA (Butler), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter 217: Sewers - City of Butler, PA (Butler), quoted and re-checked
  4. PA Dept. of Labor & Industry — Uniform Construction Code (2026 county census)
  5. Chapter 217: Sewers - City of Butler, PA (Butler), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article V: R-1 Low-Density Residential District - City of Butler, PA (Butler), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article V: R-1 Low-Density Residential District - City of Butler, PA (Butler), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 144 Floodplain Management, Article III Administration - City of Butler, PA (Butler), quoted and re-checked
  9. 2017 Awarded Comprehensive Plan, quoted and re-checked
  10. Article V: R-1 Low-Density Residential District - City of Butler, PA (Butler), quoted and re-checked
  11. Article V: R-1 Low-Density Residential District - City of Butler, PA (Butler), quoted and re-checked
  12. City of Butler Building & Zoning (Building Permit Office) (cityofbutler.org)
  13. Building & Zoning – City of Butler (Butler), quoted and re-checked
  14. City of Butler Commercial Flow Chart (Butler), quoted and re-checked
  15. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, quoted and re-checked
  16. Municipal On-Lot Sewage Service Areas, quoted and re-checked
  17. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Apply for a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit, quoted and re-checked
  19. Building Code Enforcement Office – City of Butler (Butler), quoted and re-checked
  20. Municipal Ordinances, quoted and re-checked
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Butler

Butler’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction inside Butler city.

    • The incorporated UCC regulations and listed codes apply as amended from time to time.
    “The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, including: International Building Code; International Residential Code; International Mechanical Code; International Electrical Code; International Plumbing Code; International Fuel Gas Code; International Fire Code; International Existing Building Code; International Energy Conservation Code; International Urban Wildland Interface Code; and all other national codes and regulations referenced in said international codes are hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the Municipal Building Code of the City of Butler.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted commercial and residential construction in Butler city.

    • Commercial field inspections are through a third-party agency; residential reviews and inspections are in-house except electrical inspections.
    “The division also provides field inspections through a third party agency, on all permits issued to verify compliance with these codes, and insure that new construction in Butler is constructed in accordance with the highest standards of safety. Please see Commercial Building Division at Commercial Building Division. The Residential Building Division performs a similar function but with all reviews and inspections done in-house with the exception of electrical inspections.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    A dwelling subject to City Code Enforcement before reoccupation inside Butler city.

    • The certificate is required only if the City Code Enforcement Office requires it, and it is issued before reoccupation after inspection.
    “Re-inspection: When the work has been completed an inspection is conducted to determine that the violations have been abated. If required by this office, a certificate of occupancy will be issued prior to the dwelling being reoccupied.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside the City of Butler, Pennsylvania.

    • Chapter 260 was adopted by City Council and has amendments noted in the code.
    “Chapter 260 Zoning [HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Butler 2-19-1987 as Part 13 of the 1987 Codified Ordinances. Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Privy vaults, cesspools, and septic tanks for sewage inside Butler city.

    • The restriction applies where a sewer is accessible; the Board of Health determines accessibility and may provide at least three months to discontinue, clean, and fill the system.
    “No privy vault, cesspool or septic tank for sewage shall hereafter be constructed or be allowed to continue in any part of the city where a sewer is at all accessible, such accessibility to be determined by the Board of Health. No connection for any privy vault, cesspool or septic tank shall be made with any sewer and no water closet or house drain shall empty into such privy vault, cesspool or septic tank.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Improved property inside Butler city adjoining or abutting a street or alley with a public sewer, or otherwise accessible to a public sewer.

    • Connection is required in the manner and within the time City orders. Sewer accessibility for prohibition of a septic tank, cesspool, or privy vault is determined by the Board of Health.
    “Every improved property in the city adjoining or abutting upon any street or alley in which a public sewer is now or shall hereafter be located and/or which is accessible to a public sewer shall be connected with such sewer in such manner and within such time as the city may order for the purpose of the discharge of sewage from such premises.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Any construction or development inside Butler city, including identified floodplain areas.

    • The Floodplain Administrator may issue the permit only after determining conformance with applicable codes and ordinances, and must verify other necessary government permits before issuance.
    “A permit shall be required before any construction or development is undertaken within any area of the City of Butler.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Commercial projects and changes of use inside Butler city.

    • Zoning approval comes first; a BASA permit or letter is necessary before building-permit issuance; City and code-review approvals are required before final permit issuance.
    “COMMERCIAL PROJECTS & CHANGE OF USE; Procedure for building permit issuance: ** OBTAIN ZONING APPROVAL FIRST**”

Rules another office applies inside Butler

Butler 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

    R-1 Low-Density Residential District inside Butler city.

    • No more than one dwelling unit is permitted on a lot or property except under planned residential development requirements.

    minimum lot area: 6500 square feet

    “No more than one dwelling unit shall be permitted on any lot or property in the R-1 District except under the planned residential development requirements. Minimum lot area shall be 6,500 square feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 Low-Density Residential District inside Butler city.

    • Sheds may be placed within applicable setbacks subject to maintaining safe pedestrian and vehicular sight distances.

    front-yard setback: 25 feet · principal-building rear-yard setback: 25 feet · accessory-building rear-yard setback: 5 feet · interior side-yard setback, one side: 7.5 feet

    “Minimum yard setbacks shall be: Front yard: 25 feet. Rear yard. Principal building: 25 feet. Accessory building: five feet. Side yard, interior lot: both sides, 22 1/2 feet, one side, 7 1/2 feet. Side yard, corner lot: yard butting a street, 15 feet and opposite side yard, 7 1/2 feet.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 Low-Density Residential District inside Butler city.

    • Sheds are excluded; accessory structures over 144 square feet count toward coverage.

    maximum building coverage: <= 35 percent of lot area (Sheds do not count; accessory structures exceeding 144 square feet do count.)

    “The area occupied by buildings shall not exceed 35% of the lot area. Sheds shall not be counted when determining building area coverage. All accessory structures having floor space in excess of 144 square feet in area shall be counted when determining the building area coverage.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 Low-Density Residential District inside Butler city.

    • The 30-foot limit applies to one-family dwellings; other main structures have a separate limit.

    one-family dwelling maximum height: <= 30 feet · other main structures maximum height: <= 45 feet

    “The maximum building height of structures shall be: One-family dwelling: 30 feet. For other main structures: 45 feet.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Butler city.
  • Minimum dwelling size — One-family dwellings in the R-1 Low-Density Residential District inside Butler city.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term recreational-vehicle occupancy on private land inside Butler city.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Butler city.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Butler city.
7 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Butler publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Butler County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Butler County: county rules, score and offices