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

Jefferson Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction and alterations inside Jefferson township, Lackawanna County, PA.

  • Zoning permit and UCC building permit are both on the same township form; the form has a building permit number field.
  • The excerpt lists electrical work among items that need UCC building permit applications; the rest of that list is truncated in the source extract.

  “ucc building permit applications are also necessary for: for all electrical, plumbing, structural work, modifications of framing, beams, sheathing, etc. and any structure 1,000sq/ft or more in aggregate,”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New construction inside Jefferson township, Lackawanna County, PA: the township's permit form requires Uniform Construction Code building permits.

  • The UCC is the Pennsylvania state building code; the township's form shows the township processes UCC building permit applications. The township's opt-in status on the state municipal list was not checked.

  “ucc building permit applications are also necessary for: for all electrical, plumbing, structural work, modifications of framing, beams, sheathing, etc. and any structure 1,000sq/ft or more in aggregate,”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Any new structure, use or improvement inside Jefferson township, Lackawanna County, PA.

  • The statement is printed on the township zoning permit form; issuance is by the zoning officer.

  “a certificate of occupancy / use must be issued prior to the occupancy or use of improvement”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Jefferson township limits, Lackawanna County, PA: permits are issued under the township's own zoning ordinance.

  • The township's permit form states the application is made under the Jefferson Township Zoning Ordinance 2021, amended.
  • The ordinances page lists a Zoning Ordinance amendment, Ordinance No. 4 of 2024. The 2021 ordinance text and its amendments were not opened in this research, so district rules are not confirmed here.

  “applcation is hereby made for a permit in conformity with the requirement of the jefferson township zoning ordinance 2021 amended.”

• Who permits septicLocal

  Homes inside Jefferson township, Lackawanna County, PA that are not connected to the municipal sewer system (on-lot septic).

  • The township's sewage enforcement officer, not the sewer authority, handles on-lot septic questions.

  “if you are a township resident and are not hooked up to the municipal sewer system, problems or questions about your on-lot septic system should be directed to jefferson township sewer enforcement officer gary enslin at (570) 241-8743, not jefferson township sewer authority.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New construction inside Jefferson township that needs an on-lot sewage disposal system.

  • The township checklist asks for a sewer hook-up permit or a sewage planning module and SEO permit; the township checklist does not state which applies to a given lot.
  • Permit fees and SEO procedure were not found on township pages.

  “permit or sewage planning module & seo permit”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and land developments inside Jefferson township, Lackawanna County, PA.

  • The township lists a subdivision and land development ordinance (SALDO); its text was not opened, so review thresholds are not stated here.

  “saldo (subdivision & land development ordinance)”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveway access inside Jefferson township, Lackawanna County, PA: township roads need a township driveway permit; state roads need a PennDOT permit.

  • Driveway permit is a township permit for township roads; a state highway occupancy permit applies to state roads.
  • The township also lists a road cut/driveway ordinance; its text was not opened.

  “driveway permit (township roads), highway occupancy permit (state roads)”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Short-term rental permit application inside Jefferson township, Lackawanna County, PA. Only this one fee is verified; the general schedule of fees was not opened.

  • A schedule of fees link exists on the township site but was not opened.

  short-term rental permit fee: 175 USD

  “permit fee: $175.00 all checks made pa able to”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning and building permits inside Jefferson township, Lackawanna County, PA.

  • Process is shown on the township application and checklist: copies of plans, a site diagram, driveway or sewer permits, and insurance proof, filed at the township office.
  • Permit expiry: the permit lapses if work does not start within six months or is not complete within two years.

  “this permit becomes null and void if construction is not started within six months and not completed by 2 years of date issue.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Jefferson township, Lackawanna County, PA.
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and list for Jefferson township, Lackawanna County, PA.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Jefferson township, Lackawanna County, PA, by district.
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Jefferson township, Lackawanna County, PA, by zoning district (main single-family district and any agricultural or rural-residential district).
• Setbacks — Setbacks inside Jefferson township, Lackawanna County, PA, by zoning district.

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.