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

Richmond Township’s own rules

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural subdivision activity inside Richmond Township that is subject to Crawford County SALDO jurisdiction.

  • The exemption applies only to subdivision by lease of land for agricultural purposes into parcels greater than ten acres.
  • It does not apply if the activity involves a new street or easement of access or any residential dwelling.
  • Crawford County SALDO jurisdiction excludes municipalities with their own effective subdivision and land-development ordinance.

  agricultural lease parcel size: > 10 acres (No new street, access easement, or residential dwelling may be involved.)

  “land for agricultural purposes into parcels of more than ten acres”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions and land developments inside Richmond Township that are within Crawford County SALDO jurisdiction.

  • Crawford County SALDO excludes a township that has enacted and has in effect its own subdivision and land-development ordinance.
  • The Township's official page links residents to the Crawford County SALDO; the county's municipal-ordinance page lists a comprehensive plan and stormwater ordinance for Richmond Township but cautions that its listings may not be current.
  • All subdivision and land-development plans under the county ordinance must be submitted to, reviewed by, and approved by the Crawford County Planning Office or Planning Commission before recording.
  • The county ordinance applies to new subdivisions and land developments beginning on its effective date and excludes subdivisions and lots officially filed and pending recording, and land developments with lawfully approved building permits, before that date.

  “Crawford County recently enacted the SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE April 23, 2025.”

• Permit processPartial

  Subdivision and land-development proposals inside Richmond Township that are within Crawford County SALDO jurisdiction.

  • This identifies only the county SALDO process, not a building-permit process.
  • Crawford County SALDO does not apply where the Township has its own enacted and effective subdivision and land-development ordinance.

  “submitted to, reviewed by, and approved by the Crawford County Planning Office or Crawford County Planning Commission”

Rules another office applies inside Richmond Township

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

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Individual and community onlot sewage systems inside Richmond Township, where an onlot system is proposed.

  • The official source requires the local agency to employ or contract with a certified sewage enforcement officer; it does not identify the particular local agency serving Richmond Township.
  • This claim does not cover large-volume systems or public-sewer facilities.

  “No local agency may issue a permit for the installation of an individual or community onlot sewage system”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Installation of an individual or community onlot sewage system inside Richmond Township.

  • The system may not be covered until final inspection and final written approval by the local agency.
  • The applicant must notify the local agency when installation is completed and ready for inspection.
  • After 72 hours, excluding Sundays and holidays, the applicant may cover the system unless final written approval to cover has been refused.

  covering interval after completion notice: >= 72 hours (Sundays and holidays are excluded; covering remains barred if final written approval has been refused.)

  “No part of an individual or community onlot sewage system may be covered until a final inspection is conducted”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Richmond Township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Richmond Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Richmond Township.
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Richmond Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered dwellings inside Richmond 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.