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

Miles Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Accessory structures larger than 25 square feet in Miles Township

  • Accessory structures larger than 25 square feet require a building permit and must meet required setbacks.
  • Smaller structures are not covered by this statement.

  accessory structure size threshold: > 25 square feet

  “accessory structures larger than 25 square feet require a building permit and must meet required setbacks.”

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Miles Township, Centre County, PA (township-specific; not the county's unincorporated area)

  • The township's own page states it has no zoning ordinance.
  • The same page states the township has building and setback requirements, and that it uses the Centre County SALDO requirements (see subdivision claim).
  • The same page also says a zoning permit must be obtained as part of the building permit process; this conflicts with the no-zoning statement and was not resolved on the page.

  “miles township does not have a zoning ordinance, however we have building and setback requirements.”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Zoning districts inside Miles Township (none adopted)

  • Township states it has no zoning ordinance, so no zoning district map exists.

  “miles township does not have a zoning ordinance, however we have building and setback requirements.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Setbacks for accessory structures larger than 25 square feet in Miles Township

  • Township states building and setback requirements exist; the numeric setback distances were not located on the page.
  • Applies to accessory structures larger than 25 square feet.

  “accessory structures larger than 25 square feet require a building permit and must meet required setbacks.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Sewage (septic) permitting for land inside Miles Township

  • The township names its own sewage enforcement officer (SEO).
  • The SEO handles sewage permits for new dwellings, new commercial business, and renovations that add bedrooms.

  “miles township seo justin dashem office (814) 349-8177, cell (814)-933-2108”

• Septic permitRequired

  New dwellings, new commercial businesses, and renovations or additions that add bedrooms in Miles Township

  • Permit must be obtained from the sewage enforcement officer before the building permit is issued.
  • Applies to new dwelling or commercial business construction, and to renovation or addition that adds any bedroom.
  • Before a dwelling permit can be issued, a sewage permit and a highway occupancy permit are required (township page).

  “a sewage permit must be obtained from the sewage enforcement officer, prior to issuance of a building permit, if the construction is for new dwelling, or commercial business, or if a renovation/addition adds any bedrooms.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Sign permit fee only, Miles Township; building, sewage, and zoning fees not located

  • Fee stated for sign permits only.
  • Building and sewage permit fee schedules were not located on the township page.

  sign permit fee: 35 USD (per sign)

  “the fee for a sign permit is $35 per sign.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application process in Miles Township

  • Requires a zoning permit (the township page says this despite the no-zoning statement).
  • Requires two sets of plans and a site/plot plan with distances from property lines.
  • Requires a sewage permit (new construction or bedroom additions) and a highway occupancy permit where a driveway is added or Centre County requires one.

  “building permit application process to apply for building permit in miles township, you first must obtain a zoning permit and provide two (2) sets of plans”

Rules another office applies inside Miles Township

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

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Miles Township; the rule-maker is the Centre County SALDO applied through the township

  • The township page states that it uses the Centre County SALDO requirements; the SALDO text itself was not opened.
  • The SALDO is a county-wide ordinance that the township uses, not a township ordinance.

  “additionally miles township uses the centre county saldo requirements.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway access onto township roads in Miles Township, through the Penns Valley Code Enforcement Agency

  • Required any time a driveway is added, or when required by Centre County.
  • Issued by the Penns Valley Code Enforcement Agency per the township page.

  “a highway occupancy permit -from the penns valley code enforcement agency (any time a driveway is added, or when required by centre county).”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption in Miles Township
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction in Miles Township
• Inspections — Building inspections in Miles Township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy in Miles Township
• Septic inspection — Septic system inspection in Miles 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.