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

Union Township’s own rules

• Local zoningAbsent

  All land inside Union township's limits, Centre County, Pennsylvania

  • The township's official organization page states it has no zoning ordinance, so no township zoning permit is required.
  • This is a statement that the township does not adopt zoning; it does not waive septic, building code, or other state rules that still apply.

  “union township does not have a zoning ordinance, so no zoning permit is required at the township level.”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Land inside Union township

  • The township has no zoning ordinance, so no zoning district map exists to publish.

  “union township does not have a zoning ordinance, so no zoning permit is required at the township level.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Single-family dwellings inside Union township; no township zoning districts exist to set a district minimum

  • Based on the township's no-zoning statement; no township dimensional district exists to be split by district.
  • No minimum dwelling size is set by township zoning; state UCC requirements still apply.

  “union township does not have a zoning ordinance, so no zoning permit is required at the township level.”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Residential lots inside Union township; no township zoning districts exist to set a district minimum

  • Based on the township's no-zoning statement; no township lot-size district exists.
  • Sewage (Act 537) and subdivision rules may still constrain lot use; see septic claims.

  “union township does not have a zoning ordinance, so no zoning permit is required at the township level.”

• SetbacksNone

  Structures inside Union township; no township zoning districts exist to set setbacks

  • Based on the township's no-zoning statement; no township setback district exists.
  • Setback limits from a septic or well location may still apply under state rules.

  “union township does not have a zoning ordinance, so no zoning permit is required at the township level.”

• Lot coverageNone

  Lots inside Union township; no township zoning districts exist to set lot coverage

  • Based on the township's no-zoning statement; no township lot-coverage district exists.

  “union township does not have a zoning ordinance, so no zoning permit is required at the township level.”

• Building heightNone

  Structures inside Union township; no township zoning districts exist to set a height limit

  • Based on the township's no-zoning statement; no township height district exists.
  • Building code requirements under the state UCC still apply.

  “union township does not have a zoning ordinance, so no zoning permit is required at the township level.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  New or altered on-lot sewage systems inside Union township

  • The township's organization page lists a sewage enforcement officer (Kasey Snell, Snell Septic Solutions, LLC) as the township's SEO; the SEO operates under state Act 537 rules.
  • The page does not state the SEO's permit or inspection procedure; see the unknown septic permit and inspection claims.

  “sewage enforcement officers kasey snell, seo (primary)”

Rules another office applies inside Union Township

Union 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 permitLimited

  New residential construction inside Union township

  • Residents choose the building code official; the township says residents must contact the agency to learn whether a permit is needed for a given project.
  • Permit need is not stated as a blanket rule on the page; confirm with the chosen agency.

  “residents need to contact the agency to determine if a permit is needed for their project.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Building inspections for construction inside Union township

  • Residents choose among building code officials for their projects; inspection is performed by the chosen agency, not by the township.
  • Which agency inspects a given project must be confirmed with the owner's chosen agency.

  “residents have a choice of who to pick for their building code official for their building projects.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process for projects inside Union township

  • The township publishes the list of code officials and says to contact the agency for permit determinations; no township-published permit steps, forms or fees were found.
  • Permit steps must be obtained from the chosen agency.

  “residents need to contact the agency to determine if a permit is needed for their project.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for construction inside Union township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for residential construction inside Union township
• Septic permit — New on-lot sewage system permit inside Union township
• Septic inspection — Inspection of on-lot sewage systems inside Union township
• Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid or non-sewered sanitation inside Union 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.