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

Borough of Rutledge’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection or alteration of buildings and structures inside Rutledge borough

  • Application is made to the borough code official
  • Building code §107.1.1 as amended exempts wood or vinyl siding, window replacement in existing openings, storm windows and doors, kitchen cabinet and counter replacement, and new shingles on an existing roof (no more than two layers)
  • Contractor registration is required before starting improvements
  • Construction documents must be prepared by a registered design professional

  “a permit shall be required prior to the erection or alteration of any building, structure or portion thereof, including signs;”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building construction inside Rutledge borough

  • Borough code adopts the BOCA Basic/National Building Code 1996 with local changes (Ord. 417, amended by Ord. 428)
  • Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code may also apply; not verified here

  “is hereby adopted as the building code of the borough of rutledge”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted work inside Rutledge borough

  • Permit holder must notify the code official when work is complete
  • Electrical work must be inspected and approved by an approved electrical underwriter before the certificate of use and occupancy

  “no permit shall be considered complete or permanently effective until the code official has issued a certificate of occupancy certifying that the work has been inspected and approved as being in conformity with the permits and the provisions of this chapter.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Use, lease or transfer of property inside Rutledge borough

  • Granted or refused within 15 days of notice of completion or application to occupy

  decision time: <= 15 days

  “prior to the transfer of ownership, lease or use of property, a certificate of occupancy must be obtained from the code official.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Rutledge borough, Delaware County, PA

  • Two districts: R and SR
  • Variances and special exceptions go to the zoning hearing board

  “this chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "borough of rutledge zoning ordinance of 1997."”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Rutledge borough

  • Official zoning map is kept on file with the borough secretary

  districts: R - Residential; SR - Service-High Density Residential

  “r - residential district sr - service-high density residential district”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family detached dwelling in the R Residential district, Rutledge borough

  • As amended by Ordinance 478 (posted May 25, 2017); the original 2009-era chapter text differs on coverage

  lot area: >= 10500 square feet · lot width: >= 60 feet

  “single-family detached dwelling: (1) lot area - 10,500 square feet (2) lot width - 60 feet (3) front yard - 25 feet (4) side yards - 15 feet each (5) rear yard - 40 feet (6) building coverage - 24%, maximum (7) impervious surface - 40%, maximum (8) building height - 35 feet or three stories, maximum”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Office and service uses in the SR district, Rutledge borough

    “office and service uses. (1) lot size - 5,000 square feet (2) lot width - 50 feet (3) front yard - 25 feet (4) side yards - 10 feet each (5) rear yard - 25 feet (6) building coverage - 50%, maximum (7) impervious surface - 80%, maximum (8) height - 35 feet or three stories”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Single-family detached dwelling in the R Residential district, Rutledge borough

  • Minimum yards; as amended by Ordinance 478

  front yard: >= 25 feet · side yards: >= 15 feet each · rear yard: >= 40 feet

  “single-family detached dwelling: (1) lot area - 10,500 square feet (2) lot width - 60 feet (3) front yard - 25 feet (4) side yards - 15 feet each (5) rear yard - 40 feet (6) building coverage - 24%, maximum (7) impervious surface - 40%, maximum (8) building height - 35 feet or three stories, maximum”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Office and service uses in the SR district, Rutledge borough

    “where uses permitted in this district are located adjacent to the residential district, a planted visual screen (as defined in part 2) shall be provided along the property line on the side of the use in the service-high density residential district.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Single-family detached dwelling in the R Residential district, Rutledge borough

  • As amended by Ordinance 478

  building coverage: <= 24 percent · impervious surface: <= 40 percent

  “single-family detached dwelling: (1) lot area - 10,500 square feet (2) lot width - 60 feet (3) front yard - 25 feet (4) side yards - 15 feet each (5) rear yard - 40 feet (6) building coverage - 24%, maximum (7) impervious surface - 40%, maximum (8) building height - 35 feet or three stories, maximum”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Office and service uses in the SR district, Rutledge borough

    “office and service uses. (1) lot size - 5,000 square feet (2) lot width - 50 feet (3) front yard - 25 feet (4) side yards - 10 feet each (5) rear yard - 25 feet (6) building coverage - 50%, maximum (7) impervious surface - 80%, maximum (8) height - 35 feet or three stories”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single-family detached dwelling in the R Residential district, Rutledge borough

  • 35 feet or three stories, maximum; chimneys, spires, antennas and similar projections excluded from height

  building height: <= 35 feet (or three stories)

  “single-family detached dwelling: (1) lot area - 10,500 square feet (2) lot width - 60 feet (3) front yard - 25 feet (4) side yards - 15 feet each (5) rear yard - 40 feet (6) building coverage - 24%, maximum (7) impervious surface - 40%, maximum (8) building height - 35 feet or three stories, maximum”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Office and service uses in the SR district, Rutledge borough

    “office and service uses. (1) lot size - 5,000 square feet (2) lot width - 50 feet (3) front yard - 25 feet (4) side yards - 10 feet each (5) rear yard - 25 feet (6) building coverage - 50%, maximum (7) impervious surface - 80%, maximum (8) height - 35 feet or three stories”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning and building permit applications inside Rutledge borough

  • Fees are set by council resolution and posted in the code official's office

  “application for permits shall be made to the code official on such form as may be furnished by the borough.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Rutledge borough
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Rutledge borough
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Rutledge borough
• Camping on your land — Camping inside Rutledge borough
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Rutledge 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.