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

Main Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  A person undertaking the listed construction, alteration, repair, occupancy, or UCC-system work inside Main Township.

  • Emergency repair or replacement may be made before applying, but an application must be submitted to the building code official within three business days.

  “A Building Permit is required for any individual who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of any building”

• InspectionsRequired

  Projects completed under a Main Township zoning permit.

  • The instruction is for completion of the project and calls for a zoning-officer inspection.

  “On completion of your project, you are required to obtain a Certificate of Compliance signed by the Zoning Officer.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Township zoning, driveway, and well permit fees inside Main Township.

  • The published schedule is labeled 2026 Fees.

  zoning permit first construction cost tier: 50 USD (first $10,000 cost of construction) · zoning permit incremental fee: per 5 USD per $1,000 (cost over $10,000) · driveway permit: 125 USD · well permit: 75 USD

  “$50.00 for the first $10,000 cost of construction, then $5.00 per each $1,000 over”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Main Township zoning-permit applicants.

  • A sketch or plans must be submitted; other local, state, or federal permits may also be required; work authorized by the zoning permit must be completed within 12 months.

  zoning-permit completion period: 12 months (from date of permit issuance)

  “Work authorized by this Zoning Permit must be completed within 12 months of the date of permit issuance.”

Rules another office applies inside Main Township

Main 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)

  Buildings in Main Township subject to Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code.

  • The UCC applies subject to its statutory and regulatory scope and exemptions.

  “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 Main Township or Columbia County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Main Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Main Township.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Main Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Main Township.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Main 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.