Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Elk Creek Township, Pennsylvania

Elk Creek Township’s own rules

• Building permitLimited

  Construction projects inside Elk Creek Township

  • The township issues a 'building permit exemption', fee $40, usually paired with a stormwater application.
  • The page does not say whether a state UCC building permit is also required.

  building permit exemption application fee: 40 USD

  “any time you have a construction project on your property in elk creek township, you must obtain a building permit exemption from the township office.”

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Elk Creek Township, Erie County, PA

  • Erie County lists 35 of 38 municipalities as having their own zoning; Elk Creek is not on that list.

  “elk creek township was incorporated in may of 1800 and is 31.96 square miles. there is no zoning.”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Zoning districts inside Elk Creek Township; none because there is no zoning

  “elk creek township was incorporated in may of 1800 and is 31.96 square miles. there is no zoning.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Building setbacks inside Elk Creek Township, listed on the township page with its building permit exemption process

  • Separate setbacks are listed for Grandview Avenue and Winchester Drive.
  • The page does not cite the ordinance that sets these setbacks.

  front setback: 40 feet (Grandview Avenue 25 ft; Winchester Drive 40 ft) · rear setback: 50 feet (Grandview Avenue 30 ft; Winchester Drive 50 ft) · side setback: 15 feet (Grandview Avenue 10 ft; Winchester Drive 20 ft)

  “setbacks for building: front: 40' rear: 50' sides: 15' grandview avenue setbacks: front: 25' rear: 30' sides: 10' winchester drive setbacks: front: 40' rear: 50' sides: 20'”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New or replacement driveways and sluice pipes on township roads in Elk Creek Township

  • Permits are issued only on properties with septic approval from the ECDH.
  • A stormwater application is also required.
  • The township foreman decides whether a sluice pipe is needed.
  • State roads fall under PennDOT, not this permit.

  driveway permit fee: 100 USD (1 load of gravel including permit $500; 2 loads $900)

  “if you need to install/replace a new driveway and/or sluice pipe and live on a township road, you will need to obtain a permit.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Township permit fees in Elk Creek Township

  • Stormwater fees: $0 under 1,000 sq ft; $100 for 1,000-4,999 sq ft; larger projects incur engineer fees plus $100.
  • Driveway permit $100.

  building permit exemption application: 40 USD

  “projects under 1,000 sq ft $0 projects 1,000-4,999 sq ft $100 projects larger than 5k sq ft can incur engineer fees + $100 app fee.”

• Permit processPartial

  Township building permit exemption and stormwater applications

  • Application forms are linked from the township page; detailed review steps are not described.

  “if you cover the earth and create an impervious surface, you need to submit a stormwater application”

Rules another office applies inside Elk Creek Township

Elk Creek 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 septicCounty

  Septic issues and installations inside Elk Creek Township; the township page sends residents to the Erie County Department of Health

  “the erie county department of health (ecdh) is to be contacted for any septic issues or installs.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Properties needing a new address inside Elk Creek Township

  • Septic approval is a precondition to address assignment and to driveway permits.
  • The page does not cite the underlying state or county sewage rule.

  “septic approval is needed before an address can be assigned.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Elk Creek Township, which has no municipal subdivision regulations, so the Erie County SALDO applies

  • Plans go to the township board of supervisors and Erie County Planning for approval, then the Recorder of Deeds within 90 days.
  • Sewage planning determination by the Erie County Department of Health is needed before signature.
  • Fees: replot $50; minor subdivision $50 plus $10 per lot; major subdivision preliminary $150; final $150 plus $10 per lot; land development $150; $500 escrow.

  minor subdivision fee: 50 USD (plus $10 per lot)

  “the erie county saldo applies only to boroughs and townships within the county that have no municipal subdivision and land development regulations in effect. this includes the following municipalities: amity township concord township conneaut township cranesville borough mill village borough wayne township elgin borough elk creek township”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Elk Creek Township
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Elk Creek Township
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Elk Creek Township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Elk Creek Township
• Septic inspection — Septic inspections inside Elk Creek 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.