Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Spring Brook Township, Pennsylvania

Spring Brook Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Spring Brook township's limits. The township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Ordinance 2012-3).

  • The ordinance text opened lists amendments by Ordinance 2018-7 (wind energy overlay) and Ordinance 2020-6; amended text was not opened in full.
  • The county profile lists a township zoning officer.
  • The township zoning page says some posted documents lack official enacted dates or signatures; an official copy must be requested from the township office at (570) 842-7028.

  “spring brook township zoning ordinance – ordinance 2012-3 – adopted february 9, 2012”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Dwelling units designed for permanent occupancy, detached single-unit structures, in Spring Brook township (mobile homes excluded)

  • Minimum floor space for human habitation is stated for single dwelling unit structures; a separate multi-unit schedule by bedroom count is in the same section and was not extracted.
  • The rule is in the ordinance's Article VIII section 810a, titled size of dwelling units (excluding mobile homes).

  minimum floor space for human habitation, detached single dwelling unit: >= 800 square feet (excludes mobile homes)

  “810a size of dwelling units (excluding mobile homes) in order to promote the public health, safety and welfare of occupants residing in residential dwelling structures, the following minimum floor areas for human habitation shall be required in all dwelling units designed for permanent occupancy. a. single dwelling unit structures minimum floor space for human habitation in a detached structure containing only one dwelling unit shall be eight hundred (800) square feet.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles on private land in Spring Brook township

  • One uninhabited recreational vehicle in transportable condition may be stored or parked outside an enclosed structure, subject to the listed conditions.
  • A recreational vehicle may not be considered a dwelling under the ordinance definition, so it may not serve as a dwelling unit.
  • The recreational vehicle must be owned by an occupant of the property or an authorized visitor, and may not be stored in a yard abutting a street where it would obstruct the clear-sight triangle.

  maximum recreational vehicles stored or parked outside enclosed structure: <= 1 vehicles

  “1007 recreational vehicle parking 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:”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Campgrounds (tent and RV camping sites) in Spring Brook township; the ordinance does not state a separate rule for camping on private land outside a campground

  • A campground is a conditional use in the C-N and R-1 districts.
  • Minimum campground lot area is 20 acres.
  • No campsite may be occupied for more than 30 consecutive days, and no campsite may be the primary or principal residence of the owner or occupant.
  • The management must keep occupancy records that the township may inspect.

  minimum campground lot area: >= 20 acres · maximum consecutive occupancy per campsite: <= 30 days

  “715 campground (conditional use: c-n, r-1) a. a minimum lot area of twenty (20) acres shall be required for a campground. b. no campsite shall be occupied for more than thirty (30) consecutive days, and no campsite shall be the primary or principal residence of the owner or occupant.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Assisted-care apartment units only (a relative-care dwelling unit) in Spring Brook township; not a general septic rule for all new homes

  • Applies only to assisted-care apartment units under the zoning ordinance's specific-use provisions.
  • Sewage flows from an assisted-care apartment unit may not exceed 400 gallons per day.
  • Permits are required whether the unit connects to public sewer or uses an existing or additional on-lot system.

  sewage flow limit, assisted-care apartment unit: <= 400 gallons per day

  “e. sewage flows from an assisted-care apartment unit shall not exceed 400 gallons per day. all applicable permits and approvals for connection to the public sewer system or an existing onlot sewage disposal system or modification or installation of any additional on-lot sewage disposal systems shall be required.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land subdivision and land development in Spring Brook township is governed by the township subdivision and land development ordinance

  • Assisted-care apartment units do not require land development approval under that ordinance.
  • The subdivision ordinance text itself was not opened; its thresholds are unknown.

  “f. assisted-care apartment units shall not require approval as a “land development” under the spring brook township subdivision and land development ordinance.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for construction in Spring Brook township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits in Spring Brook township
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption in Spring Brook township
• Inspections — Building inspection for construction in Spring Brook township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new dwellings in Spring Brook 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.