Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Plain Grove Township, Pennsylvania

Plain Grove Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Plain Grove township, Lawrence County, PA

  • Zoning permit from the zoning officer required before construction or change of use

  “plain grove township does have zoning, so please be sure that the intended use of your property falls within these regulations.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Plain Grove township zoning districts

  • Four districts: agricultural, conservation, residential, business/industrial
  • Official zoning map kept at township secretary's office and on township website

  “the township is hereby divided into four (4) zoning classifications as shown on the zoning map.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Plain Grove township; Table 2 minimum lot size by district (agricultural, residential 40,000 sf; conservation 80,000 sf; business/industrial 40,000 sf)

  • Undersized lots of record may be developed with any needed variances and sewage enforcement officer certification (Sec. 401.1)

  agricultural district minimum lot size: >= 40000 sq ft · residential district minimum lot size: >= 40000 sq ft · conservation district minimum lot size: >= 80000 sq ft

  “ag 40,000 sf 125 ft con 80,000 sf 125 ft res 40,000 sf 125 ft bus 40,000 sf 150 ft”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot sewage systems inside Plain Grove township, handled through the township's listed sewage enforcement officer

  • Township page lists a sewage enforcement officer; DEP approves sewage planning module

  “sewage enforcement will examine and approve the septic system”

• Septic permitRequired

  New home construction inside Plain Grove township

  • Percolation test and soil profile first
  • Sewage permit precedes zoning permit

  “once you have obtained sewage permit, you can now get a zoning permit.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New home driveways/access inside Plain Grove township

  • Applies to township roads; state roads may need PennDOT permit (not researched)

  “obtain a driveway / access permit from the township.”

• Permit processPublished

  Building steps inside Plain Grove township

  • Sequence: sewage permit, then zoning permit, then building inspector for building permits

  “after you get the zoning permit, then you contact the building inspector for your building permits”

Rules another office applies inside Plain Grove Township

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

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Plain Grove township, approved by the Lawrence County Planning Commission

  • Township has no subdivision and land development ordinance of its own

  “any subdivision of land within the township must be approved by the county planning commission as the township does not have a subdivision and land development ordinance.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Plain Grove township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Plain Grove township
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Plain Grove township
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Plain Grove township
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy permits inside Plain Grove 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.