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

Worth Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, development, or demolition anywhere within Worth Township.

  • Repairs under $1,500 are excluded.
  • Remodeling or structural improvement that does not alter the basic structure, create additional lot coverage, or change parcel/building use is exempt.
  • Emergency work may proceed without a permit if an application is filed within 24 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and the work is not in the floodplain.

  repair-cost exemption threshold: < 1500 USD (Repairs under this amount do not require a building permit.)

  “It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, business or corporation to undertake or cause to be undertaken, any construction or development or demolition anywhere within the Township unless a permit has been obtained from a Building Permit Officer.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Buildings over 1,000 square feet within Worth Township.

  • Worth Township uses MDIA of Wexford for the inspections.
  • MDIA fees are separate from Township fees.

  building area threshold: > 1000 square feet (Township page states buildings over this size require inspections.)

  “Any building over 1,000 square feet require building inspections.”

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land within Worth Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania.

  • Worth Township instead has a Subdivision/Land Development Ordinance.

  “Worth Township, Butler County does not have any zoning ordinances in place.”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Township zoning districts within Worth Township.

  • Worth Township has a Subdivision/Land Development Ordinance, but no zoning ordinances.

  “Worth Township, Butler County does not have any zoning ordinances in place.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Zoning minimum dwelling size within Worth Township.

  • This finding is limited to zoning because the Township has no zoning ordinance; other building requirements may apply.

  “Worth Township, Butler County does not have any zoning ordinances in place.”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Zoning minimum lot size within Worth Township.

  • This finding is limited to zoning because the Township has no zoning ordinance; subdivision, sewage, and other requirements may apply.

  “Worth Township, Butler County does not have any zoning ordinances in place.”

• SetbacksNone

  Zoning setbacks within Worth Township.

  • This finding is limited to zoning because the Township has no zoning ordinance; floodplain and other applicable standards may apply.

  “Worth Township, Butler County does not have any zoning ordinances in place.”

• Lot coverageNone

  Zoning lot-coverage limits within Worth Township.

  • This finding is limited to zoning because the Township has no zoning ordinance; building-permit exemptions refer to additional lot coverage and other rules may apply.

  “Worth Township, Butler County does not have any zoning ordinances in place.”

• Building heightNone

  Zoning building-height limits within Worth Township.

  • This finding is limited to zoning because the Township has no zoning ordinance; floodplain and other applicable standards may apply.

  “Worth Township, Butler County does not have any zoning ordinances in place.”

• Living in an RVUnrestricted

  RV occupancy as a zoning-regulated land use within Worth Township.

  • This finding concerns the absence of a Township zoning ordinance; building, sewage, subdivision/land-development, and other applicable laws may still regulate a particular proposal.

  “Worth Township, Butler County does not have any zoning ordinances in place.”

• Camping on your landUnrestricted

  Temporary camping as a zoning-regulated land use within Worth Township.

  • This finding concerns the absence of a Township zoning ordinance; other applicable laws may still regulate a particular proposal.

  “Worth Township, Butler County does not have any zoning ordinances in place.”

• Tiny homesUnrestricted

  Tiny-home occupancy as a zoning-regulated land use within Worth Township.

  • This finding concerns the absence of a Township zoning ordinance; building, sewage, and other applicable laws may still regulate a particular proposal.

  “Worth Township, Butler County does not have any zoning ordinances in place.”

• Manufactured homesUnrestricted

  Manufactured-home occupancy as a zoning-regulated land use within Worth Township.

  • This finding concerns the absence of a Township zoning ordinance; the Township subdivision and land-development ordinance includes mobilehome parks and other applicable laws may regulate a particular proposal.

  “Worth Township, Butler County does not have any zoning ordinances in place.”

• Accessory dwellingsUnrestricted

  Accessory dwellings as a zoning-regulated land use within Worth Township.

  • This finding concerns the absence of a Township zoning ordinance; building, sewage, subdivision/land-development, and other applicable laws may still regulate a particular proposal.

  “Worth Township, Butler County does not have any zoning ordinances in place.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Individual sewage-system compliance associated with construction in Worth Township.

  • The building-permit ordinance requires proof of an individual-sewage-system permit, if applicable, from the municipal sewage enforcement officer, or proof of eligibility to connect to a community or public sewage system.
  • The Township ordinance page describes cooperation with other Butler County municipalities through the Butler County Sewage Association to perform and enforce Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act requirements.

  “TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN THE BUTLER COUNTY SEWAGE ASSOCIATION TO PERFORM AND ENFORCE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA SEWAGE FACILITIES ACT.”

• Septic permitLimited

  A proposed building or structure requiring an individual sewage system in Worth Township.

  • Applies where an individual sewage system is applicable.
  • The applicant may instead furnish proof that the applicant may connect to a community or public sewage system.

  “The applicant must furnish proof to the Worth Township Supervisors, or their designee, that he has obtained a permit for the installation of an individual sewage system (septic tank), if applicable, from municipal sewage enforcement officer in compliance with the provisions of Act 537, Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, or proof that he may connect to a community or public sewage system.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Individual sewage systems associated with a proposed building or structure in Worth Township.

  • An individual sewage-system permit must be obtained if applicable.
  • The applicant may instead establish eligibility to connect to community or public sewage.

  “The applicant must furnish proof to the Worth Township Supervisors, or their designee, that he has obtained a permit for the installation of an individual sewage system (septic tank), if applicable, from municipal sewage enforcement officer in compliance with the provisions of Act 537, Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, or proof that he may connect to a community or public sewage system.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development in Worth Township.

  • The ordinance establishes procedures for minor and major subdivisions, mobilehome parks, and major and minor land developments.
  • It requires preliminary, final, and as-built plans and certain improvements or guarantees.

  “AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WORTH, COUNTY OF BUTLER, DEFINING AND REGULATING THE SUBDIVISION OF LAND AND ITS DEVELOPMENT; ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF MINOR AND MAJOR SUBDIVISIONS, MOBILEHOME PARKS AND MAJOR AND MINOR LAND DEVELOPMENTS”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Installation of a driveway onto a Worth Township roadway.

  • The Township fee schedule lists a $50 driveway permit fee plus any additional engineering fees at actual cost per hour.

  driveway permit fee: 50 USD (Additional engineering fees are at actual cost per hour.)

  “PROHIBITING THE INSTALLATION OF DRIVEWAYS ONTO TOWNSHIP ROADWAYS WITHOUT FIRST SECURING A PERMIT FROM WORTH TOWNSHIP”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction or development in identified floodplain areas within Worth Township.

  • A building permit is required for construction or development anywhere in the Township.
  • Floodplain applicants must provide information sufficient for the Building Permit Officer to determine compliance with applicable codes and ordinances.
  • No new construction or development may be located within 50 feet landward from the top-of-bank of any watercourse in an identified floodplain.

  watercourse setback in identified floodplain: >= 50 feet (Measured landward from the top-of-bank.)

  “Within any identified floodplain area, no new construction or development shall be located within the area measured fifty (50) feet landward from the top-of-bank of any watercourse.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications within Worth Township.

  • Plans must be submitted through the Township office.
  • Applications are only available at the office, and no online plan or application submission is available.
  • The building-permit ordinance requires a written application on Township forms and identifies required application information if applicable.

  “Building plans must be submitted through the Township office. Building permit applications are only available at the office. At this time there is no online option to submit plans or application.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders within Worth Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for land within Worth Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings within Worth Township.
• Septic inspection — Individual sewage systems in Worth Township.
• Well permit — Private wells within Worth 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.