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

Borough of Blakely’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction inside Blakely borough; borough permit plus third-party NEIC permit applications for larger residential work, new construction and additions

  • Sketch plan needed
  • Certificate of insurance or waiver needed
  • Commercial properties will likely require NEIC applications
  • Borough 'non-inspection permit' rate schedule applies to small jobs

  “residential projects that require the moving of walls, plumbing, mechanical or electrical will require neic permit applications. all new construction or additions will require them as well.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Certain work inside Blakely borough (decks over 30 inches, pools, attached structures)

  • Inspections apply to listed work; third-party inspector NEIC handles commercial and larger residential work

  deck/porch floor height triggering inspection: > 30 inches

  “any deck/porch installation with a floor height over 30" requires an inspection with a building subcode filled.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Occupancy permit for new businesses inside Blakely borough; residential CO rules not located (Ordinance 6 of 2026 certificate of occupancy not opened)

  • Contact zoning office when opening a new business

  occupancy permit fee: 75 USD (one time)

  “please contact the blakely borough zoning office if you are opening a new business within the borough of blakely. there is a one time $75 fee for an occupancy permit.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Blakely borough (Lackawanna County, Peckville), administered by the borough zoning officer and zoning hearing board

  • Borough site lists the adopted zoning ordinance with amendments dated September 2026, and an adopted zoning map dated Nov. 2025
  • Ordinance text itself was not opened

  “adopted & signed blakely borough zoning ordinance with amendments september 2026.pdf”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Blakely borough

  • Borough subdivision & land development ordinance dated 2002 is listed; text not opened

  “blakely borough zoning and land development and subdivision ordinances”

• Permit feesPublished

  Borough non-inspection permit fees inside Blakely borough

  • Over $40,001: $80 plus $4 per thousand
  • Zoning variance $750; occupancy certificate $75
  • Credit card payment adds 2% fee
  • Schedule not dated on page

  permit fee, $0-$500 job: 30 USD

  “blakely borough non-inspection permit rate $0-$500 ---------------------------------$30.00”

• Permit processPartial

  Land development and subdivision plan review inside Blakely borough

  • Contact zoning officer at least one week before the monthly planning commission meeting with surveys and site plans
  • Permit page lists sketch plan and insurance requirements

  “need to contact christopher paone at least one week prior to that month's planning commission meeting with all applicable surveys and site plans”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Blakely borough
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Blakely borough
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Blakely borough
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Blakely borough
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Blakely 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.