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

Borough of Richland’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Richland Borough, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.

  • Uses and structures are subject to the regulations for the zoning district in which they are located.

  “A New Zoning Ordinance: a) dividing the Borough of Richland, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania into zoning districts with varying regulations;”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  All parcels and structures inside Richland Borough.

  • Each parcel and structure is subject to the regulations of the district in which it is located.
  • The zoning map is incorporated by reference and an official paper copy is maintained in the Zoning Officer's office.

  districts: RLD, RHD, CD, CA, LI, I

  “The Borough is divided into the following Zoning Districts, with the following abbreviations and that serve the following purposes, in addition to the overall purposes of this Ordinance: A. RLD Low Density Residential District [...] B. RHD High Density Residential District [...] C. CD Business District [...] D. CA Auto-Related Commercial District [...] E. LI Limited Industrial District [...] F. I Industrial District”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Recreational vehicles used as residences inside Richland Borough.

  • A recreational vehicle may not be used as a residence for more than five days in any 30-day period.

  maximum residential use: <= 5 days in any 30-day period

  “A recreational vehicle shall not be used as a residence for more than 5 days in any 30 day period.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  A dwelling unit or principal building proposed without feasible public sewer service inside Richland Borough.

  • Public water and public sewer service must be infeasible.
  • The lot must have a minimum area of one acre.
  • This source does not establish the separate septic-permit authority or technical approval requirements.

  minimum lot area: >= 1 acre (Public water and public sewer service are not feasible)

  “Each dwelling unit and each principal building shall be served by both public water and public sewer service, unless such service is not feasible and the lot has a minimum lot area of one acre.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Each dwelling unit and each principal building inside Richland Borough.

  • Public water and public sewer service are required unless service is not feasible and the lot has at least one acre.

  minimum lot area when public service is not feasible: >= 1 acre (Public water and public sewer service not feasible)

  “Each dwelling unit and each principal building shall be served by both public water and public sewer service, unless such service is not feasible and the lot has a minimum lot area of one acre.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Rental of a dwelling unit or part of a dwelling unit for less than 30 days inside Richland Borough.

  • Where no permanent resident is living in and overseeing the rental, total periods of rentals shorter than 30 days may not exceed 30 days per calendar year, except in the C-A district.
  • A rental shorter than 30 days is limited to one person or a single group of friends or relatives, one motor vehicle, and one rental contract.
  • Two or more short-term rentals in a calendar year require registration with the Zoning Officer.

  maximum unhosted short-term rental duration: <= 30 days per calendar year (Does not apply within a C-A zoning district within a lawful dwelling unit)

  “When at least one permanent resident is not currently living in the dwelling and overseeing the rental, then portions or all of the dwelling unit may only be rented for periods of time of less than 30 days if the total time periods of all such rentals does not exceed 30 days per calendar year.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning-permit applications inside Richland Borough.

  • A site plan typically must be submitted when a zoning permit is needed.
  • Construction-code permit applications typically occur after any needed SALDO, zoning, or similar approvals.

  “If a zoning permit is needed (such as for a new or expanded use, a new or expanded structure or a sign), a site plan typically must be submitted to the Zoning Officer under Section 1403.D.”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Richland

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

• Building heightSpecified

  Dwelling units and other uses in the RLD Low Density Residential District inside Richland Borough.

  • The maximum structure height is also subject to §502 and any more restrictive applicable provision.

  maximum structure height: <= 40 feet (RLD; three stories is also a maximum, whichever is more restrictive)

  “All uses: 40 feet or 3 stories, whichever is more restrictive”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Creation of new lots, alteration of existing lot lines, or new principal nonresidential or multifamily buildings inside Richland Borough.

  • County SALDO requirements and approval procedures apply where the stated threshold is met.
  • Required plans must be submitted to the Borough, and a County SALDO submittal may also be required.

  “UNDER COUNTY SUBDIVISION ORD. (10) [...] Richland”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Richland Borough.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Richland Borough.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Richland Borough.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Richland Borough.
• Certificate of occupancy — New, expanded, or changed-use buildings inside Richland 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.