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

Borough of Moscow’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, repair, demolition and related work inside Moscow borough

  • List is 'not limited to' the named items

  “permits are required by the borough for, but not limited to, all construction, alteration, repairs, demolition, storage sheds, signs, fences, driveways, curb cuts, peddling and pools.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Moscow borough

  • Borough page names the 2009 International Building Code; the page does not give an adoption date; PA UCC may also apply statewide

  adopted code: 2009 International Building Code

  “to assure proper and safe buildings, the borough has adopted the 2009 international building code.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Moscow borough (Lackawanna County)

  • Ordinance #266-2021 dated December 6, 2021; administered by the borough zoning officer

  “the borough's zoning ordinance regulates the use, density, size and location of buildings and other structures, and establishes regulations for land use.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Moscow borough zoning districts R-1A, R-1B, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, S-1

  • Zoning map downloadable from the borough zoning page

  “districts regulations r-1a r-1b r-2 r-3 c-1 c-2 s-1 maximum lot coverage (a)(e)”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  All zoning districts in Moscow borough where on-lot sewage disposal is used

  • Per-district Schedule II lot areas not extracted because the table text is garbled
  • Areas in rights-of-way, riparian buffers, slopes over 25% or wetlands do not count

  minimum lot size with on-lot sewage: >= 43560 sq ft (per dwelling unit or principal structure)

  “in all zone districts where on-lot sewage disposal is utilized, the minimum lot size required per dwelling unit or principal structure shall be one (1) acre (43,560 square feet).”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal structures in Moscow borough districts R-1A, R-1B, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, S-1

  • Schedule II table extracts as a run of numbers that cannot be reliably assigned to each district; exact district values need review of the PDF
  • Specific uses in Article VII may override

  “minimum yards or building setback distances shall be in accordance with schedule ii and as specified for specific uses in article vii.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Moscow borough districts in order R-1A, R-1B, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, S-1

  • Footnotes (a), (e), (f) apply; pervious pavement standards in section 803a

  R-1A, R-1B maximum coverage: <= 25 percent · R-2 maximum coverage: <= 35 percent · R-3 maximum coverage: <= 50 percent · S-1 maximum coverage: <= 15 percent

  “maximum lot coverage (a)(e) 25% (f) 25% (f) 35% (f) 50% (f) 50% 70% 15%”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Moscow borough districts in order R-1A, R-1B, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, S-1

  • Unless otherwise specified in Articles VII and VIII

  R-1A, R-1B, R-2 maximum height: <= 35 feet (2-1/2 stories) · R-3, C-1, C-2 maximum height: <= 40 feet (3 stories) · S-1 maximum height: <= 35 feet (2-1/2 stories)

  “maximum building height (a) stories feet 2-1/2 35 2-1/2 35 2-1/2 35 3 40 3 40 3 40 2-1/2 35”

• Tiny homesLimited

  Tiny homes in the R-1B and R-3 districts of Moscow borough

  • 150-400 sq ft habitable floor area
  • Must be served by water and sewer; on-lot well if public water unavailable
  • Setbacks, density and parking per ordinance

  habitable floor area: 150-400 sq ft

  “765a tiny home (permitted use: r-1b, r-3) a. a tiny home shall have a minimum of one hundred fifty (150) square foot, and a maximum four hundred (400) square foot of habitable floor area.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes on single lots and in communities in Moscow borough

  • Must meet the cited mobile-home manufacture standard
  • Additional lot requirements in section 810(b) not fully read

  “building and zoning permits shall be required for the location or relocation of any manufactured home within moscow borough.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Tiny homes in Moscow borough R-1B and R-3 (the sewer/water rule found is in the tiny-home section only)

  • Public water/sewer connection follows the regulations of the responsible authority
  • If public water is unavailable an on-lot well is required
  • On-lot sewage changes need sewage enforcement officer review
  • General rule for other dwellings not located; short-term rentals must connect to borough central sewer

  “a tiny home must be served by water and sewer. connection to public water and/or sewer shall conform to the regulations of the authority responsible for each utility.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways and curb cuts inside Moscow borough

  • Borough permit; state roads would also need PennDOT, not researched

  “permits are required by the borough for, but not limited to, all construction, alteration, repairs, demolition, storage sheds, signs, fences, driveways, curb cuts, peddling and pools.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rental units in Moscow borough C-1 and R-3 districts

  • Special exception from the zoning hearing board
  • Must connect to borough central sewer
  • Also subject to the borough short-term rental ordinance if applicable

  “761a short-term rental unit (special exception: c-1, r-3) a. short-term rental units shall be regulated by the moscow borough short-term rental ordinance, if applicable, as well as the requirements in paragraphs b. through k. below.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Moscow borough
• Inspections — Inspections of construction inside Moscow borough
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Moscow borough
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Moscow borough
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Moscow 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.