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

Franklin Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Franklin township limits (Carbon County, PA): the township administers its own zoning ordinance and zoning map.

  • The township's zoning department page states its zoning officer enforces the zoning ordinance and issues zoning permits; the zoning officer is appointed annually by the Board of Supervisors.
  • The 1972 date comes from the township's own posted June 2023 zoning draft, which is unadopted and recites the 'zoning ordinance and zoning map of january 22, 1972, as amended'. The adopted ordinance text itself was not opened.
  • The ordinances page lists a Zoning Ordinance, a 2022 Zoning Map, a 2024-02 Zoning Solar Amendment and a 2023-06 Draft Zoning Ordinance; the solar amendment and draft status were not verified.
  • Zoning hearing board hears variances and special exceptions (zoning department page).

  “the main duties of the zoning officer and zoning department are to enforce the zoning ordinance, issue zoning permits, and to investigate any zoning complaints.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot (individual) septic systems on land inside Franklin township.

  • The township sewage page lists a township Sewage Enforcement Officer for on-lot septic systems and an alternate SEO through Keystone Consulting Engineers, Inc.
  • The public sewer system (about 47,300 linear feet of sanitary sewer; two pump stations) is run by the township sewage department with the Central Carbon Municipal Authority; that is a separate sewer service, not on-lot septic.
  • State Sewage Facilities Act / DEP Chapter 72 rules still apply; the exact state permit rule was not verified within budget.

  “scott bieber sewage enforcement officer on lot septic systems phone: 610-965-1167”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development of land inside Franklin township.

  • The township ordinances page lists a Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO); its text was not opened, so thresholds and procedure are unverified.
  • The unadopted 2023 draft refers to flag lots 'per provisions of the subdivision and land development ordinance'.

  “franklin township ordinances subdivsion & land development ordinance (saldo) zoning ordinance”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a homeowner building their own home inside Franklin township.
• Inspections — Inspections for new construction inside Franklin township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Franklin township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for residential construction inside Franklin township.
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot area for the residential (R) and agricultural (A) districts inside Franklin 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.