Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Borough of Union City, Pennsylvania

Borough of Union City’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Union City Borough limits.

  • Zoning districts and use permissions apply under Chapter 500.

  “The Zoning Ordinance does have set-back requirements and/or restrictions for some projects.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Union City Borough limits.

  • District locations and boundaries are shown on the Union City Borough Zoning Map.

  zoning districts: R-1 Suburban Residential; R-2 Urban Residential; RLB Residential Limited Business; C-1 Central Business; C-2 Commercial; I-1 Industrial

  “R-1 Suburban Residential District R-2 Urban Residential District RLB Residential Limited Business District C-1 Central Business District C-2 Commercial District I-1 Industrial District”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured/mobile-home park occupancy in the R-1, R-2, and RLB districts inside Union City Borough.

  • The zoning table identifies mobile home parks as special exceptions in R-1, R-2, and RLB; all applicable Chapter 500 regulations also apply.

  “Mobile home parks (§ 500-70L) | SE | SE | SE | | |”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rentals in R-1, R-2, RLB, C-1, C-2, and I-1 zoning districts inside Union City Borough.

  • The district use table identifies short-term rentals as special exceptions in each listed district; all applicable Chapter 500 regulations also apply.

  “Short-term rentals | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning use approvals inside Union City Borough limits.

  • Uses are either permitted by right through the Zoning Administrator or by special exception through the Zoning Hearing Board; other permit processes were not established.

  “Permitted by Right [...] Permitted by Special Exception”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Union City Borough limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Union City Borough limits.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Union City Borough limits.
• Inspections — Building work inside Union City Borough limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered residential occupancy inside Union City 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 Union City 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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