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

Franklin Township’s own rules

• Building permitNot required (with conditions)

  Building permits issued by Franklin Township for structures within the township.

  • This does not eliminate zoning permits or state-law inspection responsibilities.

  “Franklin Township has opted out of the UCC (Uniform Construction Code) which means the township does not require any building permits;”

• Building code adoptedNot adopted (with conditions)

  Township building-code enforcement within Franklin Township.

  • The township page states that inspections remain the resident's responsibility under state law.

  “Franklin Township has opted out of the UCC (Uniform Construction Code) which means the township does not require any building permits;”

• InspectionsRequired

  Structures within Franklin Township for which inspections are needed under state law.

  • The resident must obtain needed inspections from an inspector chosen by the resident; township building permits are not required.

  “It is a State Law to have the inspections done and many insurance companies will require the inspection reports.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within Franklin Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania.

  • The ordinance requires compliance and lawful issuance of required permits and certificates.

  “No structure shall be located, erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, converted, enlarged or demolished; nor shall any structure or land be used or be designed to be used, except in full compliance with all the provisions of this Ordinance and after the lawful issuance of all permits and certificates required by this Ordinance.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Franklin Township zoning districts.

  • District boundaries are shown on the Official Zoning Map.

  districts: A-1 Agriculture; A-2 Conservation; R-1 Low-Density Residential; R-2 Medium-Density Residential; B-1 General Business; SP-1 Special Overlay—Billboards; I-1-1 Industrial

  “A-1 Agriculture District A-2 Conservation District R-1 Low-Density Residential District R-2 2 Medium-Density Residential District B-1 General Business District SP-1 Special Overlay—Billboards I-1-1 Industrial District”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Individual mobile homes within Franklin Township.

  • The proposed lot must meet district area and yard requirements.
  • Installation must comply with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
  • The unit must be permanently installed on piers or a foundation in compliance with manufacturer recommendations.

  “Individual mobile homes shall be permitted on lots only if they meet the following conditions:”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land-development plans located in Franklin Township.

  • The county states municipal subdivision and land-development ordinances apply; plans also undergo county review as described by the county process.

  “Municipal subdivision and land development ordinances apply for plans located in the following municipalities: [...] Franklin Township”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways within Franklin Township.

  • State-road driveways must obtain a PennDOT highway occupancy permit and provide evidence.
  • Other than minimum-use driveways on township roads must follow PennDOT standards.
  • Minimum-use driveway location must be at least 30 feet from a road intersection and meet sight-distance standards.

  minimum distance from road intersection: >= 30 feet (Minimum-use driveway)

  “Driveways on state roads shall obtain a highway occupancy permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and provide evidence of same. Driveways other than minimum use driveways on Township roads shall follow PennDOT standards.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Township zoning permit applications.

  • The filing fee is periodically established by the township; no current dollar amount was established in the opened ordinance text.

  “Applications for a zoning permit shall be accompanied by an application provided by the Township and such other information as the Zoning Officer may require for administration of this Ordinance, together with a filing fee as periodically established by the Township.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Township zoning permits.

  • Application must be obtained at least 30 days before project start.
  • The listed triggers are development of vacant land, occupancy/use of specified structures, a use change, or a nonconforming-use change.

  application lead time: >= 30 days (Before start of project)

  “A zoning permit application shall be obtained at least thirty (30) days prior to the start of the project.”

Rules another office applies inside Franklin Township

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

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the A-1 Agricultural District in Franklin Township.

  • The table identifies gross lot area as the measure.

  minimum lot area: 87120 square feet (Single-Family Dwelling, A-1 Agricultural District)

  “Single-Family Dwelling 87,120 50 250 50 30 50 10 35”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in the R-1 Low-Density Residential District in Franklin Township.

    “Single-Family Dwelling 43,560 50 120 50 15 50 20 35”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the A-1 Agricultural District in Franklin Township.

  • Table columns are minimum front depth, minimum side yard, and minimum rear yard.

  front yard: 50 feet (A-1 single-family dwelling) · side yard: 30 feet (A-1 single-family dwelling) · rear yard: 50 feet (A-1 single-family dwelling)

  “Single-Family Dwelling 87,120 50 250 50 30 50 10 35”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in the R-1 Low-Density Residential District in Franklin Township.

    “Single-Family Dwelling 43,560 50 120 50 15 50 20 35”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the R-1 Low-Density Residential District in Franklin Township.

  • A 30-percent coverage row applies to a single-family dwelling served by a central sewage disposal system owned or operated by the municipality.

  maximum lot coverage: 20 percent (R-1 single-family dwelling)

  “Single-Family Dwelling 43,560 50 120 50 15 50 20 35”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in the A-1 Agricultural District in Franklin Township.

    “Single-Family Dwelling 87,120 50 250 50 30 50 10 35”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the A-1 Agricultural District in Franklin Township.

  maximum height: 35 feet (A-1 single-family dwelling)

  “Single-Family Dwelling 87,120 50 250 50 30 50 10 35”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in the R-1 Low-Density Residential District in Franklin Township.

    “Single-Family Dwelling 43,560 50 120 50 15 50 20 35”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Sanitary-sewage approval affecting A-2 Conservation District property used to meet yard requirements of abutting properties in Franklin Township.

  • This cited approval role is limited to the ordinance circumstance stated in §206.46.

  “Special Note: All lots using on-lot septic systems must be approved by the Erie County Department of Health.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction within Franklin Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy within Franklin Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings within Franklin Township zoning districts.
• Living in an RV — Long-term recreational-vehicle occupancy on private land within Franklin Township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land within Franklin 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.