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

Borough of Ebensburg’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Nearly all construction-related work inside Ebensburg borough.

  • The Borough directs questions about whether a permit is necessary for a particular job to Laurel Municipal Inspection Agency.

  “To assure such compliance, a building permit is required for nearly all construction-related work.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction and renovation inside Ebensburg borough.

  • Work must be in accordance with state regulations.

  “Ebensburg Borough has adopted and strictly enforces the state wide building code.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All uses and occupancies of property inside Ebensburg borough, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

  • Uses and occupancies must comply with the Ebensburg Zoning Ordinance.

  “All uses and occupancies of properties in Ebensburg Borough must comply with the Ebensburg Zoning Ordinance.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Ebensburg borough.

  • District boundaries are shown on the Borough of Ebensburg Zoning Map incorporated by reference into the ordinance.

  zoning districts: Six districts

  “For the purpose of this Ordinance, the Borough is hereby divided into six (6) Zoning Districts”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Use of habitable vehicles as temporary or permanent dwellings in any Ebensburg borough zoning district.

  • Existing trailer homes at the ordinance's inception are pre-existing non-conforming buildings governed by Article III.

  “No habitable vehicles or trailer homes shall be used in any district as a temporary or permanent dwelling or for any trade or occupation, whether its wheels have been removed or it has been placed on a foundation.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision or redivision of lots, tracts, or parcels inside Ebensburg borough.

  • Resulting parcels must meet all ordinance requirements.
  • Applicant must use the Borough Council form and provide a survey plat prepared by a registered professional land surveyor or engineer.

  “Any parcel or parcels of real estate situated within the Borough of Ebensburg, in whole or in part, may be subdivided provided that the parcel or parcels resulting from said subdivision shall meet all other requirements of this Ordinance.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways and off-street parking spaces created, expanded, or improved inside Ebensburg borough.

  • The impervious surface requirement applies for at least 20 feet from the driveway or parking space intersection with a borough street.

  required impervious-surface distance: >= 20 feet (From intersection with any borough street.)

  “All driveways and off-street parking spaces created, expanded, or otherwise improved after the date of this Ordinance shall be finished with a concrete, asphalt, brick, or other impervious surface a minimum distance of twenty (20') feet from its intersection with any borough street”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Building and uses on parcels in Ebensburg borough zoning districts identified as in a FEMA Floodplain Area.

  • Zoning ordinance requirements remain in effect where more restrictive than Borough floodplain regulations.

  “the Floodplain Regulations of the Borough of Ebensburg shall also govern as regards to building and uses for any said parcel.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permits for development activity inside Ebensburg borough.

  • Application is not officially filed until all required information is submitted.
  • The proposed development must comply with the ordinance and meet interdepartmental approvals.
  • A zoning permit expires after six months if all required permits are not approved, unless an extension is requested through the Zoning Hearing Board.

  zoning officer decision period: <= 30 days (After all approvals are received from the interdepartmental review process; otherwise the permit is deemed issued.)

  “If the Zoning Officer does not act within 30 days after all approvals are received from the interdepartmental review process, then the permit shall be deemed to be issued.”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Ebensburg

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

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Each dwelling unit in a Planned Residential Development permitted in the R-MH Residential District inside Ebensburg borough.

  • Planned Residential Development may be permitted in the R-MH Residential District subject to the ordinance and Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code requirements.

  minimum floor area: >= 800 square feet (Each dwelling unit in a Planned Residential Development.)

  “Each dwelling unit in a Planned Residential Development shall have a minimum floor area of not less than eight hundred (800) square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Planned Residential Development in the R-MH Residential District inside Ebensburg borough.

  • Planned Residential Development may be permitted by the Borough in a R-MH Residential District subject to ordinance and Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code requirements.

  minimum overall lot size: >= 20 acres (Any planned residential development.)

  “The minimum overall lot size for any planned residential development shall be twenty (20) acres.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Buildings in a Planned Residential Development in the R-MH Residential District inside Ebensburg borough.

  • No main or accessory building may be erected within the 70-foot perimeter setback area; recreation facilities and parking lots may be constructed there if at least 40 feet from perimeter lot lines.

  perimeter setback: >= 70 feet (Around the entire perimeter of a Planned Residential Development tract or lot.) · front yard setback: >= 35 feet (Buildings adjacent to streets within a Planned Residential Development.)

  “Minimum setback of seventy (70) feet shall be observed around the entire perimeter [...] A front yard setback of thirty-five (35) feet shall be observed for all buildings erected adjacent to streets within the Planned Residential Development.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Multi-story apartments in a Planned Residential Development in the R-MH Residential District inside Ebensburg borough.

  • The Planned Residential Development is permitted in the R-MH Residential District subject to the ordinance and Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code requirements.

  maximum height: <= 60 feet (Multi-story apartments in a Planned Residential Development.)

  “Multi-story apartments not to exceed sixty (60) feet above ground in height.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Ebensburg borough.
• Inspections — Building work inside Ebensburg borough.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Ebensburg borough.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Ebensburg borough.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Ebensburg 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.