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

Washington Township’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings inside Washington Township, one of Greene County's 26 municipalities.

  • The county plan states that all 26 Greene County municipalities opted in and use their own code enforcement.
  • The UCC excludes manufactured and industrialized housing, agricultural buildings, and certain utility and miscellaneous buildings.

  “All twenty-six of the municipalities in Greene County have opted-in on building code enforcement”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction authorized under Washington Township's residential and commercial building-permit checklist.

  • Each required inspection must be approved before construction continues.
  • Applicants must contact McMillen Engineering for required inspections.

  “For required inspections you must contact McMillen Engineering at 724-439-8110. Each Inspection must be approved before construction can continue.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Construction completed under Washington Township's residential and commercial building-permit checklist.

  • The checklist directs the applicant to contact McMillen Engineering when construction is completed for final inspection and occupancy-permit issuance.

  “When construction is completed, contact McMillen Engineering at 724-439-8110 for the Final Inspection and Occupancy Permit issuance.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Residential yards inside Washington Township, as stated on the township zoning application.

  • The form states 5 feet for side yards, 10 feet for rear yards, and 26-1/2 feet from road right-of-way for front yards.
  • The form separately lists a Waynesburg Lakes front-yard measurement.

  side yard distance from property line: 5 feet · rear yard distance from property line: 10 feet · front yard distance from road right of way: 26.5 feet (The form separately lists Waynesburg Lakes as 35 feet.)

  “Front Yard (Distance from Road Right of Way): 26-1/2 Feet”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot sewage systems for construction inside Washington Township.

  • The checklist identifies a Township Sewage Enforcement Officer for further instructions.

  “Obtain a Sewage Permit for an On-Lot Sewage System. For further instructions contact Township Sewage Enforcement Officer Tim Neal at 724-880-0914.”

• Septic permitRequired

  An on-lot sewage system proposed for residential or commercial construction inside Washington Township.

  • Further instructions are to be obtained from the Township Sewage Enforcement Officer.

  “Obtain a Sewage Permit for an On-Lot Sewage System. For further instructions contact Township Sewage Enforcement Officer Tim Neal at 724-880-0914.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Lot splits and subdivisions inside Washington Township.

  • Lot splits must follow the Township Sub-Division (SALDO) Ordinance.
  • The Washington Township Planning Commission determines approval after required documentation is submitted.

  “If the property is being sub-divided (lot split), you must first follow the necessary requirements in accordance with the Township Sub-Division (SALDO) Ordinance. Obtain proper forms from the Township Secretary, Amy Beatty at 724-627-6471. Approval of the Lot Split and/or Sub-Division is determined by the Washington Township Planning Commission after all required documentation has been submitted.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  A driveway serving residential or commercial construction inside Washington Township.

  • For state-route access, applicants must contact PennDOT.
  • For township-route access, applicants must contact the Township Secretary.

  “Obtain a Road Occupancy (Encroachment) Permit for a driveway. If driveway access is off of a State Route, contact Penn Dot at 724-627-6131; if off of a Township Route, contact the Township Secretary, Amy Beatty at 724-627-6471.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Construction in a flood plain inside Washington Township.

  • The checklist directs applicants proposing building in a flood plain to first contact the Greene County Soil Conservation District for guidance and to obtain any required permits.

  “If your plans call for: a.) dirt disturbance of more than a one acre; b.) any construction, including driveways, within fifty feet (50’) of a stream; c.) impacting a wetland; or d.) building in a flood plain; you must first contact the Greene County Soil Conservation District at (724) 852-5278 for guidance and to obtain any required permits.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Residential and commercial construction inside Washington Township.

  • Plans are reviewed for approval with an indicated seven-to-ten-day allowance.
  • Zoning permits are issued by the township and building permits by McMillen Engineering.

  plan-approval allowance: 7 to 10 days

  “All Plans will be reviewed for approval. (ALLOW 7 TO 10 DAYS FOR APPROVAL). Upon Plan Approval you will be notified of the required inspections and fees. Zoning Permits are issued by the Township. Building Permits are issued by McMillen Engineering.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Washington Township.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Washington Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Washington Township.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Washington Township.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Washington 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.