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

Borough of Franklin’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Franklin Borough, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

  • The county planning commission's directory is organized by municipality and links to the Borough's ordinance.

  “The map below represents the land use regulations by municipality in Cambria County. [...] Franklin Borough Zoning Ordinance”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Franklin

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

• Building permitRequired

  The listed construction, alteration, repair, demolition, fencing, pool, and use/occupancy work inside Franklin Borough.

  • The agency lists Franklin Borough among municipalities it handles.
  • Other approvals may be required before a permit can be issued.

  “A PERMIT MUST BE OBTAINED BEFORE YOU START ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: NEW CONSTRUCTION, ADDITIONS, RENOVATIONS, ALTERATIONS, REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT, DEMOLITION, FENCES (Zoning) INSTALLATION OF SWIMMING POOL, CHANGE OF USE AND OCCUPANCY”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Franklin Borough administered through the Cambria-Somerset COG Regional Code Agency.

  • The source identifies Franklin Borough as a municipality handled by the agency.
  • The listed codes cover building, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical work in all structures.

  “*FRANKLIN BOROUGH [...] The participating municipalities have adopted the International Building Code Building, Mechanical, Fire, Plumbing, Energy, International Residential Code and National Electric Codes.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Franklin Borough administered by the Cambria-Somerset COG Regional Code Agency.

  • Twenty-four-hour notice is required.
  • Rough plumbing, electrical, and framing inspections must occur before structural members are covered or insulated.

  “REQUIRED INSPECTIONS AFTER PERMIT IS ISSUED - 24 Hour notice required”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Structures inside Franklin Borough where a certificate of occupancy is applicable.

  • The source expressly limits the listed pre-occupancy requirements to situations 'Where Applicable.'
  • Noncompliance can delay occupancy or lead to charges for unapproved occupancy.

  “BEFORE OCCUPANCY OF STRUCTURE: (Where Applicable) [...] Code Inspectors Final Inspection and Certificate of Occupancy Issuance”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New construction inside Franklin Borough seeking a COG building permit.

  • The approval is required only where applicable.
  • The source does not establish an availability distance or a mandatory physical connection to a particular public system.

  “WHERE APPLICABLE, APPROVAL FROM THE FOLLOWING AGENCIES IS REQUIRED BEFORE A PERMIT CAN BE ISSUED. [...] Water and Sewage Authorities (For New Construction)”

• Driveway accessLimited

  New construction inside Franklin Borough applying for a COG permit where PennDOT or municipal road access applies.

  • The listed approval is required only where applicable.
  • The source distinguishes PennDOT road access from municipal road access.

  “WHERE APPLICABLE, APPROVAL FROM THE FOLLOWING AGENCIES IS REQUIRED BEFORE A PERMIT CAN BE ISSUED. [...] Penn DOT Road Access 5. Municipal Road Access”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  New construction and additions inside Franklin Borough subject to the COG permit process.

  • The source lists FEMA flood-plain construction compliance among pre-permit requirements for new construction and additions.
  • The material does not establish a separate Franklin Borough floodplain permit or map applicability for every parcel.

  “REQUIREMENTS BEFORE PERMIT ISSUANCE FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND ADDITIONS [...] Compliance in construction of F.E.M.A. Flood Plain construction.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits administered for Franklin Borough by the Cambria-Somerset COG Regional Code Agency.

  • The published schedule identifies itself as the 2018 permit fee schedule.
  • The municipal fee is assessed for every building permit issued.
  • For new structures the stated formula uses the greater of declared cost or construction value.

  municipal fee: 5 USD (assessed for every building permit issued) · minimum permit fee for additions, alterations, renovations, or listed existing-structure work: 75 USD (includes stated House Bill and municipal fees)

  “2018 PERMIT FEE SCHEDULE [...] A Municipal fee of $5.00 will be assessed for every building permit issued.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications for work inside Franklin Borough.

  • Applicants must complete the application, remit appropriate fees, and submit it to the Agency or their municipal building.
  • The agency reserves up to 15 days for residential and 30 days for commercial review before permit issuance.
  • Listed approvals are required before issuance where applicable.

  residential review period: <= 15 days (agency reserves the right to review applications before issuance) · commercial review period: <= 30 days (agency reserves the right to review applications before issuance)

  “WHILE MOST PERMITS CAN BE ISSUED WITHIN DAYS, THE CODE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REVIEW APPLICATIONS FOR UP TO (FIFTEEN) 15 DAYS FOR RESIDENTIAL AND (THIRTY) 30 DAYS FOR COMMERCIAL BEFORE ISSUANCE OF A PERMIT”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Franklin Borough.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts inside Franklin Borough.
• Minimum lot size — Residential districts inside Franklin Borough.
• Setbacks — Residential districts inside Franklin Borough.
• Lot coverage — Residential districts inside Franklin 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.