Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Borough of Harmony, Pennsylvania

Borough of Harmony’s own rules

• InspectionsLimited

  Multiple dwellings, leased dwellings, rooming houses, and dormitories seeking a Harmony borough rental-unit license.

  • The rule applies to issuance of a rental-unit license.
  • The dwelling must meet the article's requirements, Attachment A safety standards, and applicable rules and regulations after inspection.

  “are found, after inspection, to meet all requirements”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Harmony borough, Butler County, Pennsylvania.

  • Zoning classifications are determined by the Official Zoning Map located in the Borough Office.

  “The Borough is hereby divided into zones, or districts, as shown on the Official Zoning Map which, together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this Ordinance.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Harmony borough.

  • The Official Zoning Map is the final authority for the current zoning status of land, buildings, and structures in the Borough.

  “The Borough is hereby divided into zones, or districts, as shown on the Official Zoning Map which, together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this Ordinance.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  On-lot sewage disposal for properties developed inside Harmony borough.

  • The property must be at least one acre.
  • Access to public utilities must not be feasible in the Borough Engineer's opinion.

  minimum property area: >= 43560 square feet (Only where access to public utilities is not feasible in the Borough Engineer's opinion.)

  “on-lot sewage disposal systems shall be permitted”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Properties developed inside Harmony borough.

  • An exception for well water or on-lot sewage requires at least one acre and the Borough Engineer's opinion that access to public utilities is not feasible.

  minimum property area for utility-feasibility exception: >= 43560 square feet (Access to public utilities is not feasible in the Borough Engineer's opinion.)

  “access to [...] public sewer and water services”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Harmony borough rental-unit licenses for multiple dwellings, leased dwellings, rooming houses, and dormitories.

  • The Borough Council sets the fee by resolution when it enacts its annual budget ordinance.
  • If Council does not set a fee, the previous year's unchanged fee remains in effect.

  rental-unit-license fee: set annually by Borough Council resolution (If no fee is set at annual budget adoption, the preceding year's unchanged fee remains effective.)

  “Council shall set the fees for the rental unit license”

• Permit processPartial

  Harmony borough rental-unit licenses for multiple dwellings, leased dwellings, rooming houses, and dormitories.

  • The applicant must use the Borough Manager's or designated agent's form.
  • The applicant must agree to inspection requested by the Borough Secretary or designated agent.
  • The applicant must pay the license fee.

  “application form provided by the Borough Manager”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Harmony borough.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Harmony borough.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Harmony borough.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Harmony borough.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Harmony borough.

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.