Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Mount Pleasant Township, Pennsylvania

Mount Pleasant Township’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Projects completed under a Township zoning permit inside Mount Pleasant Township.

  • The Zoning Officer issues the certificate only if the project was completed in accordance with the zoning permit's terms.

  “Following completion of the project, the applicant shall apply to the Zoning Officer for a Certificate of Occupancy. If the Zoning Officer finds that the project has been completed in accordance with the terms of the Zoning Permit, a Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued thus allowing the premises to be occupied.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Mount Pleasant Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania.

  “This Ordinance shall be known and cited as the “Mount Pleasant Township Zoning Ordinance”.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles on private parcels inside Mount Pleasant Township.

  • The vehicle may not be used for continuous occupancy as a substitute for a properly permitted dwelling; it may not create a safety or health hazard; waste disposal must comply with PA DEP rules; placement must avoid adverse effects on adjacent properties and residents; it may not be used for storage.

  “Nothing herein is intended to prohibit recreational vehicle owners from storing, parking or using their recreational vehicle on their own property so long as the following conditions are met. A. The recreational vehicle is not utilized for continuous occupancy as a substitute for a properly permitted dwelling, and”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Campgrounds inside Mount Pleasant Township.

  • A campground needs a zoning permit before site development or operation and County land-development plan approval; use is intermittent or seasonal only; it must meet PA DEP and Township SEO requirements; maximum density is 15 campsites per acre; each campsite must be at least 30 feet wide by 50 feet deep; two off-street spaces are required per campsite.

  maximum campground density: <= 15 campsites per acre · minimum campsite width: >= 30 ft · minimum campsite depth: >= 50 ft

  “Proposed campgrounds shall be required to secure a Zoning Permit prior to any site development or operation as a campground. Expansions or changes in type of preexisting campgrounds shall be required to secure a Zoning Permit prior to any site development or change in operations.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  New dwellings and occupied structures inside Mount Pleasant Township using on-lot sewage disposal.

  • The Township-certified Sewage Enforcement Officer issues the sewage permit and approves the system before occupancy.

  “As required for all new dwellings and occupied structures, a valid Sewage Permit issued by the Certified Sewage Enforcement Officer of the Township shall be presented to the Zoning Officer as evidence that the soils of the site will accommodate an on-lot sewage disposal system.”

• Septic permitRequired

  All new dwellings and occupied structures inside Mount Pleasant Township using on-lot sewage disposal.

  • The valid permit must be issued by the Township-certified Sewage Enforcement Officer and presented to the Zoning Officer as evidence that site soils will accommodate the system.

  “As required for all new dwellings and occupied structures, a valid Sewage Permit issued by the Certified Sewage Enforcement Officer of the Township shall be presented to the Zoning Officer as evidence that the soils of the site will accommodate an on-lot sewage disposal system.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  On-lot sewage systems serving new dwellings and occupied structures inside Mount Pleasant Township.

  • The Township SEO must inspect and approve the system for use before occupancy.

  “Said system shall be inspected and approved for use by the Township SEO prior to occupancy.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Township zoning permits, ordinance-amendment certificates, special exceptions, conditional uses, variances, and other zoning actions.

  • Fees are payable upon filing and are set by a fee schedule established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

  “Fees for the issuance of Permits, Certificates for Ordinance Amendments, Special Exceptions or Conditional Uses, variances and other zoning actions shall be paid to the Township upon filing of an application. Such fees shall be in accordance with the schedule of fees established by Resolution of the Board of Supervisors.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Township zoning permits for new construction, structural alterations, and changes in use of a building or lot inside Mount Pleasant Township.

  • Applicant completes the application and submits the required fee; the Zoning Officer issues, denies, or refers the application; other required permits are not excused; a certificate of occupancy application follows completion.

  “All persons desiring to undertake any new construction, structural alteration, or change in the use of a building or lot shall apply to the Zoning Officer for a Zoning Permit by completing the appropriate application form and by submitting the required fee.”

Rules another office applies inside Mount Pleasant Township

Mount Pleasant 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 permitRequired

  Construction or building work inside Mount Pleasant Township subject to the Pennsylvania UCC.

  • Emergency repairs or equipment replacements may proceed without a permit if an application is submitted to the building code official within three business days.

  “The UCC requires property owners to obtain a construction or building permit before starting any work. Inspections are also necessary in several cases, including construction or changes to commercial or residential buildings, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, and the installation of swimming pools or hot tubs.”

• InspectionsRequired

  UCC-regulated construction and listed system work inside Mount Pleasant Township.

  • Inspections are necessary in several cases, including listed construction or changes and electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing, pool, hot-tub, manufactured-housing, and industrialized-housing work.

  “The UCC requires property owners to obtain a construction or building permit before starting any work. Inspections are also necessary in several cases, including construction or changes to commercial or residential buildings, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, and the installation of swimming pools or hot tubs.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Mount Pleasant Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Mount Pleasant Township.
• Lot coverage — Single-family residential development inside Mount Pleasant Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Mount Pleasant Township.
• Well permit — Private wells inside Mount Pleasant 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.