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

Madison Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, altering or converting any structure in Madison township, or changing land use there, requires a township zoning compliance permit. This is the township zoning permit; UCC building permits are a separate step.

  • Zoning permit is a prerequisite for erection, alteration or conversion of any structure or building, or part thereof, or change of use of land.
  • Application is filed with the Township zoning officer (Mary Liz Donato, (570) 840-8715 per the zoning page).

  “a completed zoning permit application must be submitted to the zoning officer for zoning compliance prior to the erection, alteration, or conversion of any structure or building, or part thereof, or the alteration of the use of any land.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Madison township's limits (Lackawanna County, PA). Madison township administers its own zoning ordinance adopted in 2009; district-level standards were not extracted.

  • The zoning ordinance text itself was not opened; only the township's zoning page and township information page were read.
  • Zoning amendments listed on the zoning page include 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2022 (short-term rentals) and 2024 (agriculture, large-scale solar).

  “in 2009, the madison township board of supervisors adopted a zoning ordinance.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic systems inside Madison township are handled by the township Sewage Enforcement Officer, per the township sewage enforcement page.

  • The township page names a Sewage Enforcement Officer for sewer permits; the page does not state the PA DEP or county health department role.

  “please contact gary enslin, sewage enforcement officer, for further information regarding sewer permits.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction of, repairs to, or alterations of septic systems in Madison township

  • Permit is issued through the township Sewage Enforcement Officer.
  • Construction may proceed after the sewage permit is obtained.

  “construction of, or repairs/alterations to septic systems require a permit.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Madison township's limits

  • Subdivision and land development approval goes through the Board of Supervisors under the township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
  • Ordinance text, procedures and fees are in the subdivision page document center and were not opened.

  “the madison township board of supervisors adopted a subdivision and land development ordinance in 2006, with an amendment following in 2009.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning compliance permit process for structures and land-use changes in Madison township

  • Only the zoning permit step is described on the pages read; UCC building permit and sewage steps are described only as pointers.

  “a completed zoning permit application must be submitted to the zoning officer for zoning compliance prior to the erection, alteration, or conversion of any structure or building, or part thereof, or the alteration of the use of any land.”

Rules another office applies inside Madison Township

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building permits in Madison township are processed under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) requirements.

  • The page does not state which body inspects; it names Building Inspection Underwriters (www.biupa.com) as the inspection resource but that text was not opened as evidence.
  • The UCC is a state code; the township page states only that permits are based on UCC requirements.

  “building permits are based on ucc requirements.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permitting in Madison township
• Inspections — New construction inside Madison township
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new buildings inside Madison township
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for Madison township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the main single-family residential district of Madison 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.