Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Borough of Lansdowne, Pennsylvania

Borough of Lansdowne’s own rules

• InspectionsLimited

  Property subject to a Lansdowne certificate-of-occupancy application, including a new building, enlargement, change of use, transfer, or use of vacant ground inside the borough.

  • The owner or possessor authorizes inspection by filing the certificate-of-occupancy application.
  • The application must be submitted at least 30 days before the stated transfer, change of use, or occupancy event.

  application lead time: >= 30 days (Prior to deed, conveyance, transfer of title, change of use, or occupancy.)

  “The written application for the certificate of occupancy shall be submitted to the Borough Manager of the Borough of Lansdowne at least 30 days prior to the date of deed, conveyance or transfer of title or change of use or occupancy of the real property, buildings or structures involved. By filing the application with the Borough of Lansdowne, the owner or possessor of the real property, structures or buildings involved, shall authorize inspection of the real property, buildings and structures involved by the Borough Manager, Building Inspector or other appropriate officer or officers of the Borough of Lansdowne.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Transfers, changes of use, use or occupancy of enlargements or newly erected buildings or structures, and use or occupancy of vacant ground inside Lansdowne borough.

  • The provision begins, “Except as provided herein.”
  • The owner or possessor must apply for and be issued the certificate before the enumerated event.

  “Except as provided herein, no owner or possessor of any real property, land, buildings or structures within the Borough of Lansdowne shall deed, convey or transfer title to such real property, land, buildings or structures within the Borough of Lansdowne; change any existing use of any real property, building or structures within the Borough of Lansdowne; occupy or use any enlargement of any structure or building or occupy or use any newly erected building or structure within the Borough of Lansdowne; or occupy or use any vacant ground in the Borough of Lansdowne unless and until such owner or possessor shall have applied for and been issued a certificate of occupancy by the Borough of Lansdowne.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land and buildings inside Lansdowne borough.

  • The certificate of occupancy provision requires the existing and proposed use to comply with the Borough Zoning Ordinance, a valid variance or special exception, or a valid preexisting nonconforming use.

  “A certificate of occupancy shall be issued by the Borough of Lansdowne only if the written application has been completed, signed and filed with the Borough of Lansdowne as provided in this chapter and only if the existing use and the proposed use of the real property, buildings or structures intended to be deeded, conveyed or transferred fully complies with the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance of the Borough of Lansdowne or any valid variance or special exception applicable to the property or valid nonconforming use predating the chapter as applicable to the property.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Certificate-of-occupancy applicants inside Lansdowne borough.

  • The fee is set from time to time by Borough Council resolution.
  • The fee is per dwelling unit, subject to a maximum per building, and is due upon filing the application.

  “A fee as set forth from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council per dwelling unit with a maximum fee as set forth from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council per building will be charged to the applicant by the Borough of Lansdowne and shall be due and payable upon the filing of the application for the certificate of occupancy.”

• Permit processPartial

  Certificate-of-occupancy applications for property inside Lansdowne borough.

  • Application is on a form provided by the Borough Manager upon request.
  • The completed and signed application must be delivered by the owner or possessor to the Borough Manager.
  • The application must identify the owner and possessor, present and proposed uses, property description, applicable variances or special exceptions, and any preexisting nonconforming use.
  • The Borough may require other information.

  “Application for such certificate of occupancy shall be in writing on a form provided by the Borough Manager of the Borough of Lansdowne upon request. The application shall be completed, signed and delivered by the owner or possessor to the Borough Manager of the Borough of Lansdowne. The application shall state:”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Borough of Lansdowne or Delaware County directly.

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Lansdowne borough.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Lansdowne borough.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Lansdowne borough.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Lansdowne borough.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential districts inside Lansdowne borough.

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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Borough of Lansdowne means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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