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

Borough of Girard’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Girard borough limits.

  • The adopted UCC is as amended from time to time.

  “The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the Municipal Building Code of Girard Borough.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Girard borough limits.

  • Chapter 425 was adopted by Borough Council on 3-16-1981; amendments are noted where applicable.

  “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Girard 3-16-1981 by Ord. No. 521 (Ch. XXVIII of the 1974 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Girard borough limits.

  “The minimum lot and yard requirements and other development standards for each zoning district are set forth within Subsection B of this section.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  An occupied building subsequently erected on premises in the Borough service area that are accessible to the public sanitary sewage system.

  • The owner must connect at the time of erection and at the owner's expense.
  • Accessibility means premises abutting, adjoining, or having access to a street, alley, or right-of-way in which a sewer ultimately connecting to the public system is located.

  “All persons owning any premises within the Borough's service area accessible to the public sanitary sewage system upon which an occupied building is subsequently erected shall, at the time of erection of such building, and at their own expense, make connection with the public sanitary sewage system.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Girard borough limits.

  “Chapter 370 Subdivision and Land Development (§ 370-1 – § 370-46)”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  UCC administration and enforcement services inside Girard borough limits.

  • Fees are established by the governing body by resolution from time to time.
  • An application will not be accepted unless required fees and deposits are paid.

  “Fees assessable by Girard Borough for the administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this article and the code shall be established by the governing body by resolution from time to time.”

• Permit processPartial

  Connection to Girard Borough's public sanitary sewage system.

  • The application is made to Council or a designated agency on the Council-furnished form.
  • All requested information, including the character and use of each structure, must be supplied.
  • Required tap-connection and inspection fees are due with the application.
  • Work may not commence before fee payment and issuance of the connection permit.

  “Application for connection to the public sanitary sewage system shall be made to Council or a designated agency upon the permit form to be formulated and furnished by Council.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Girard borough limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Girard borough limits.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Girard borough limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — New residential construction inside Girard borough limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Girard borough limits.

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 Girard 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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