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

Borough of Clymer’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Clymer borough, Indiana County, PA

  • Ordinance enacted under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code
  • Copy hosted by the Indiana County Office of Planning & Development (ICOPD); not yet confirmed on the borough's own site

  “this ordinance is known as the "zoning ordinance of clymer borough," and the zoning map is designated as the "official zoning map of clymer borough."”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Clymer borough zones: Rail-Trail, Downtown, Neighborhood A, Neighborhood B, Slopes

  • Zone boundaries are on Map 1, the Official Zoning Map

  “table 1a identifies which land uses are permissible in each of the borough's zones.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Neighborhood Zone A (main residential zone) inside Clymer borough

  • Neighborhood Zone B is also 7,500 sf and Slopes Zone is 5,000 sf per §211 and §209
  • Minimum lot width 50 ft

  minimum lot size: >= 7500 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 50 ft

  “lot size (minimum) 7,500 sf a lot width (minimum) 50' b setbacks front (borough preferred minimum) average dimension of adjacent existing front setbacks (permissible minimum) 10-20' front (maximum) n/a side (minimum) 6' side (maximum) n/a rear 3'”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Neighborhood Zone A inside Clymer borough

  • Front: borough-preferred minimum is the average of adjacent existing front setbacks; permissible minimum 10-20 ft; no maximum
  • Outbuildings: 40 ft minimum from lot line or 3 ft behind front building facade if attached
  • Other zones have their own setbacks

  side setback: >= 6 ft · rear setback: >= 3 ft

  “setbacks front (borough preferred minimum) average dimension of adjacent existing front setbacks (permissible minimum) 10-20' front (maximum) n/a side (minimum) 6' side (maximum) n/a rear 3' f g 40' min. from lot line or 3' behind front building facade if outbuilding attached to primary structure”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Neighborhood Zone B (same standards as Zone A) inside Clymer borough

  • Coverage varies by building type: 40% for types b5, b7, b8, b9; 50% for type b6
  • Other zones differ

  building coverage, types b5/b7/b8/b9: <= 40 percent · building coverage, type b6: <= 50 percent

  “building coverage 40% building type b5, b7, b8, b9 50% building type b6”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in all Clymer borough zones under Table 2

  • Borough council may approve a greater height
  • Residential and 1-story non-residential buildings must have peaked roofs unless council approves otherwise

  maximum building height: <= 45 ft (unless otherwise approved by borough council)

  “building heights shall not exceed forty-five (45) feet unless otherwise approved by borough council.”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Clymer

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

• Permit processPartial

  Uniform Construction Code building permit applications inside Clymer borough, handled by Indiana County Office of Planning & Development

  • Pennsylvania requires a notarized workers' compensation insurance form for owner-builders and contractors without coverage
  • Commercial projects may need subdivision and land development review
  • Zoning ordinance §901-902 also send building and occupancy permit information to the county office

  “all applications must be submitted by mail or in-person at the office of planning & development with the application fee and drawings.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Clymer borough
• Owner-builder exemption — Clymer borough
• Building code adopted — Clymer borough
• Inspections — Clymer borough
• Certificate of occupancy — Clymer borough

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.