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

Ransom Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, structurally altering, converting, or changing the use of any structure or land inside Ransom township (zoning permit, separate from the building permit)

  • Zoning permit is issued by the zoning officer after an application with a site plan and required fee.
  • Construction may proceed only after the zoning permit is issued.

  “no person shall erect, structurally alter, or convert any structure, building or part thereof, nor alter the use of any land, subsequent to the adoption of this ordinance, until a zoning permit has been issued by the zoning officer.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Ransom township limits: the township's own Zoning Ordinance (final January 2, 2018) governs use, density and dimensional rules in the township's zone districts

  • Ordinance is the 2018 text posted on the township site; a draft zoning amendment dated 12-3-25 is also posted (ransomtownshippa.gov/data-center-documents) and its adoption status was not confirmed.
  • Zoning map is posted separately as a PDF; its contents were not opened.
  • Adoption date on the cover is 'final January 2, 2018'; no separate effective date was confirmed, so effective_at is left null.

  “ransom township lackawanna county, pa zoning ordinance final january 2, 2018”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Ransom township limits

  • Ordinance Article IV lists seven zone districts (A-1, R-1, R-2, C-1, M-1, M-2, O-1) and two overlay districts (flood plain and airport hazard). District-by-district dimensional text was not extracted; see unknown dimensional claims.

  “the township of ransom is divided into seven (7) zone districts and two (2) overlay districts”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles on private lots inside Ransom township; RVs may not be used as a dwelling

  • A recreational vehicle is not a dwelling under the ordinance definition.
  • Only one uninhabited RV in transportable condition may be stored or parked outside an enclosed structure, and it must be owned by the occupants or their authorized visitors.
  • An RV may not be stored in a yard abutting a street where it would obstruct the clear-sight triangle or vehicle sight line.

  uninhabited recreational vehicles stored or parked outside enclosed structure per lot: <= 1 vehicle (owned by occupants or authorized visitors; not in a yard abutting a street where it obstructs clear sight)

  “a maximum of one (1) uninhabited recreational vehicle in transportable condition may be stored or parked on a lot outside of an enclosed structure provided that the following are met:”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdividing or land development inside Ransom township limits

  • Township lists a Subdivision and Land Development ordinance, subdivision application, and subdivision fee schedule on its ordinances page; these PDFs were not opened.

  “subdivision and land development subdivision application subdivision fee schedule”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Residential driveways and sidewalk openings inside Ransom township

  • Width limits apply at the street lot line; this is a width rule only, not a permit or approval requirement.
  • Driveway permit and sight-distance rules in the subdivision ordinance were not opened.

  maximum driveway width at street lot line: <= 30 feet · minimum driveway width at street lot line: >= 10 feet

  “the maximum width of driveways and sidewalk openings measured at the street lot line shall be thirty feet (30'); the minimum width shall be ten feet (10').”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permit applications for land and structures inside Ransom township

  • Covers zoning permits only; the ordinance excerpt reviewed states no fee amount.
  • Building permit process is run by NEIC per the township ordinances page.

  “all applications for zoning permits shall be in writing and on forms furnished by the zoning officer and shall be accompanied by a site plan and required fee.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits for owner-occupied construction inside Ransom township
• Building code adopted — Building code applied to construction inside Ransom township
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Ransom township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Ransom township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for a dwelling unit inside Ransom 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.