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

Washington Township’s own rules

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot wastewater disposal systems within Washington Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

  • This finding concerns on-lot systems; public wastewater facilities and subdivision sewage planning are separately addressed by the SALDO.

  “Within the Township, the provisions of the Sewage Facilities Act are administered by the Township Sewage Enforcement Officer.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Wastewater disposal proposed for a subdivision in Washington Township where Township collection and treatment facilities are unavailable as defined in the SALDO.

  • The developer must present a wastewater-disposal plan for Township approval.
  • The plan may include a community system, interim treatment plant, individual on-lot septic tanks, or another satisfactory method.
  • Regardless of the method chosen, it must meet the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act and other applicable local, state, and federal regulations.

  “In cases where no Township wastewater collection and treatment facilities are available, as previously defined, a plan for wastewater disposal that best meets the needs of the proposed subdivision will be presented by the developer for Township approval. This plan is to include, but will not be limited to, community system, an interim treatment plant, individual on-lot septic tanks, or other satisfactory methods of wastewater disposal.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  A proposed subdivision inside Washington Township when public wastewater and municipal water have capacity and are within 1,000 feet, or approved plans place facilities within 1,000 feet.

  • For wastewater, the public system must have capacity and be within 1,000 feet, or approved governing-body plans must provide facilities within 1,000 feet.
  • For water, the municipal system must have capacity and be within 1,000 feet, or approved governing-body or private-water-company plans must provide facilities within 1,000 feet.
  • These requirements are stated for proposed subdivisions, not every existing or individually developed parcel.

  public wastewater availability distance: <= 1000 feet (Applies where the collection system has capacity or approved plans provide facilities within that distance.) · municipal water availability distance: <= 1000 feet (Applies where the supply system has capacity or approved plans provide facilities within that distance.)

  “Generally, where a public wastewater collection system has the capacity and is within 1,000 feet of, or where plans approved by the governing bodies provide for the installation of such public wastewater collection facilities to within 1,000 feet of the proposed subdivision, the subdivider shall provide the subdivision with a complete wastewater collection system to be connected to the existing or proposed public system.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development within the jurisdiction of Washington Township's Chapter 22.

  • Approval by the Board of Supervisors is required before proceeding with development.
  • The chapter controls subdivisions and land developments not recorded in the Cambria County Recorder of Deeds before the chapter's effective date.

  “After the effective date of this Chapter, no person, firm, or corporation proposing to make or having made a subdivision or land development, within the area of jurisdiction of this Chapter, shall proceed with any development such as grading of roads or alleys or any other action before obtaining approval of the proposed subdivision or land development by the Board of Supervisors.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Land proposed for subdivision or land development inside Washington Township.

  • Adequate street access must exist or be provided by the applicant.
  • The Township may require a traffic study conducted to Township Engineer specifications.

  “Unless adequate street access exists or will be provided by the applicant. In determining the adequacy of street access, the Township may require the applicant to provide a traffic study, conducted in accordance with the specifications of the Township Engineer, of the street affected by the proposed subdivision.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Subdivision or land development inside Washington Township affected by floodplain or floodway location.

  • The rule concerns subdivision and land development.
  • Development is barred where the Township considers land unsuitable by reason of floodplain or floodway location and appropriate mitigation measures are not possible.

  “If such land is considered by the Township as unsuitable for land use, and appropriate mitigation measures are not possible by reason of floodplain and floodway location or improper drainage, unacceptable underlying geologic structure, insufficient depth of the seasonal water table, unsuitable soil conditions, wetlands, unsuitable slope characteristics or presence of any other features harmful to the health and safety of the residents and the community as a whole.”

• Permit processPartial

  Subdivision and land-development approval inside Washington Township.

  • The stated process is for subdivision and land development; it does not establish a complete residential building-permit process.
  • A sketch plan may be submitted before official preliminary-plan submission, and it does not constitute formal filing.

  “Submission of the sketch plan will not constitute formal filing of the plan with the Township.”

Rules another office applies inside Washington Township

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Builders undertaking work inside Washington Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

  • The statewide UCC applies generally; the opened Township and Planning Commission materials did not establish whether Washington Township locally administers UCC enforcement or has opted out.

  “Pennsylvania's statewide building code, generally known as the Uniform Construction Code (UCC), has to be followed by builders in the state.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential building work inside Washington Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Washington Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
• Inspections — Residential building work inside Washington Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered residences inside Washington Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
• Septic permit — Installation or alteration of an on-lot sewage system inside Washington Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

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.