Zoning, building permits and septic rules in South Shenango Township, Pennsylvania

South Shenango Township’s own rules

• InspectionsLimited

  Building and housing inspections in South Shenango Township

  • Page names the township building code official but does not state when inspections are required

  “inspections or information may be requested by calling john prosek, building code official, 724-927-2020 monday thru friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside South Shenango Township, Crawford County, PA

  • Ordinance dated June 23, 2017; township site lists later amendments (Ord. 1-2024, 1-2025, 1-2026) not reviewed

  “section 302 zoning districts: the township is divided into the following zoning districts as shown by the district boundaries on the zoning map.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  South Shenango Township zoning districts: Agricultural (AD), Lake Residential (LRD), Rural Opportunity (ROD)

  • Zoning map is published separately on the township zoning permits page

  “302.1 the agricultural district (ad) is intended for rural areas where agriculture is historically present, intense development is not anticipated and sewer and water facilities are not planned.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwelling in the Agricultural District (AD), South Shenango Township

  • Table 305 row for single-family dwelling with approved on-lot sewer systems
  • Pre-existing lots of record may be built on even if below minimum, but must meet yard, height and coverage standards

  minimum lot area: 5 acres · minimum lot width: 150 ft

  “agricultural district (ad) single-family dwelling* 5 acres 150 ft. 40 ft. 25 ft. 25 ft. 35 ft. 15% (with approved on lot sewer systems)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwelling in the Lakeside Residential District (LRD) / Rural Opportunity District (ROD), South Shenango Township

    “single-family 15,000 100 ft. 40 ft. 25 ft. 25 ft. 35 ft.+ 25% dwelling*(with public sq. ft. sewer) single-family dwelling* 1 acre 150 ft. 40 ft. 25 ft. 25 ft. 35 ft.+ 15% (with approved on lot sewer systems)”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Single-family dwelling in the Agricultural District (AD), South Shenango Township

  • Column order in Table 305: front, side, rear yard

  front yard: >= 40 ft · side yard: >= 25 ft · rear yard: >= 25 ft

  “agricultural district (ad) single-family dwelling* 5 acres 150 ft. 40 ft. 25 ft. 25 ft. 35 ft. 15% (with approved on lot sewer systems)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwelling in the LRD / ROD districts, South Shenango Township

    “single-family 15,000 100 ft. 40 ft. 25 ft. 25 ft. 35 ft.+ 25% dwelling*(with public sq. ft. sewer) single-family dwelling* 1 acre 150 ft. 40 ft. 25 ft. 25 ft. 35 ft.+ 15% (with approved on lot sewer systems)”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Single-family dwelling in the LRD / ROD districts, South Shenango Township

  • 25% with public sewer; 15% with approved on-lot sewer

  maximum coverage with public sewer: <= 25 percent · maximum coverage with on-lot sewer: <= 15 percent

  “single-family 15,000 100 ft. 40 ft. 25 ft. 25 ft. 35 ft.+ 25% dwelling*(with public sq. ft. sewer) single-family dwelling* 1 acre 150 ft. 40 ft. 25 ft. 25 ft. 35 ft.+ 15% (with approved on lot sewer systems)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwelling in the Agricultural District (AD), South Shenango Township

    “agricultural district (ad) single-family dwelling* 5 acres 150 ft. 40 ft. 25 ft. 25 ft. 35 ft. 15% (with approved on lot sewer systems)”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single-family dwelling in the Agricultural District (AD), South Shenango Township

  • Table 305 footnote marks on the height column were not resolved

  maximum height: <= 35 ft

  “agricultural district (ad) single-family dwelling* 5 acres 150 ft. 40 ft. 25 ft. 25 ft. 35 ft. 15% (with approved on lot sewer systems)”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Campers and RVs in South Shenango Township

  • Permit required, obtained at township building
  • Permit runs three years
  • Must be removed from empty lots Dec 16 to Mar 31 each year
  • Must be licensed and inspected for road travel
  • Must demonstrate waste is disposed of properly
  • No exemptions or grandfather clause; applies to park models and very tiny units

  permit fee: 60 USD (per three-year permit)

  “campers and rv's must be removed from empty lots between dec. 16th and march 31st every year.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Companion dwelling units on lots with a single-family dwelling, South Shenango Township

  • Occupant must be a qualified occupant under Section 308
  • District-by-district permission in Table 304a not resolved

  “companion dwelling unit an accessory dwelling unit located upon a lot occupied by a single family dwelling, provided the accessory dwelling is occupied by a qualified occupant as specific under section 308.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions in South Shenango Township

  • Township subdivision application form and SALDO (1981, with amendments) published on township site

  “subdivision and land development ordinance & amendments (pdf) download”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits in South Shenango Township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption in South Shenango Township
• Building code adopted — Building code in South Shenango Township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy in South Shenango Township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in South Shenango 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.