Bolthole Index

Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Dallas Township, Pennsylvania

Dallas Township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania has its own zoning ordinance, so zoning questions go to the township, not the county planning office1. The township has adopted the state Uniform Construction Code as its building code2. On-lot septic needs approval from the township's sewage enforcement officer before a zoning permit is issued3.

At a glance

Zoning
Township zoning ordinance, enacted 2008 and amended through 20181
Building code
Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code adopted by the township2
Septic approval
Township sewage enforcement officer, before the zoning permit4
Zoning districts
C-1, A-1, A-2, R-1, R-2, R-MHP, S-1, B-1, B-2, IN-1 and I-15
Subdivision
Regulated by the township's subdivision and land development ordinance6

Who to call

Building permits

Dallas Township Municipal Office

Township administration, zoning and code enforcement, and the contact point for township permits

(570) 674-2000

[email protected]

105 Lt. Michael Cleary Drive Dallas, PA 18612

Zoning

Dallas Township Zoning & Code Enforcement Officer

Zoning and code enforcement; contractors working in the township register here

(570) 674-2000

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 14, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Dallas Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Dallas Township, PA have zoning?

Yes. Dallas Township has its own zoning ordinance, enacted in 2008 and amended since, and it administers that ordinance itself1. The township is divided into districts: C-1, A-1, A-2, R-1, R-2, R-MHP, S-1, B-1, B-2, IN-1 and I-15. Lot size, setbacks, lot coverage and height are set district by district, so the answer for a parcel depends on which district it sits in78. Most of the districts shown allow buildings up to 35 feet or 2.5 stories9. Ask the Zoning & Code Enforcement Officer for the district of any parcel before you buy10.

Do you need a building permit in Dallas Township, and who issues it?

Building work in the township falls under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, which the township adopted as its municipal building code2. The state code requires a permit before construction starts11. The township may run administration through its own employee, a third-party agency or an intermunicipal agreement2. We could not confirm which of those the township uses day to day, or its permit fees, so call the township office at (570) 674-200012. Zoning approval is separate and comes from the township, not the Luzerne County planning office1.

How do septic permits work in Dallas Township?

Any use or development that relies on on-lot sewage disposal must get approval from the township's sewage enforcement officer, following Pennsylvania DEP standards, before the township issues a zoning permit3. Sewage service must also be consistent with the township's Act 537 sewage facility plan4. Soils matter here: only 2.4% of Luzerne County soils are rated not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system13. No part of an on-site sewage system may sit in an identified floodplain except in strict compliance with state and local rules14.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Dallas Township?

We could not confirm the township's rule on living in an RV, camping or tiny homes. The zoning ordinance has a section on campgrounds and RV parks, but its occupancy rules were not confirmed. Do not assume that county rules apply: Luzerne County's own zoning covers only 19 of its 76 municipalities15. Ask the township Zoning & Code Enforcement Officer in writing before you park or occupy any RV or place a tiny home10.

Building a home in Dallas Township: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district and its lot size, setback and coverage limits with the township zoning officer510.
  2. Get on-lot sewage approval from the township sewage enforcement officer before the zoning permit3.
  3. If the lot is being divided, check the township subdivision and land development ordinance first6.
  4. Obtain the zoning permit and the Uniform Construction Code building permit before work begins211.
  5. Have the work inspected, and do not occupy a residential building without a certificate of occupancy16.
  6. Register any contractors with the township zoning officer10.

What stays with Luzerne County, and what to check before you buy?

Land outside Dallas Township is a different question; see the Luzerne County page for the county's rules. Luzerne County's effective property tax rate is 1.5%, with a median bill of $2,506 per year1718. These figures are county-level. Check the floodplain status of the parcel, since floodplain rules limit where sewage systems can go14. Driveways, wells and mandatory sewer or water connections were not confirmed for the township; ask the township office12.

Watch-outs

  • The zoning text posted on the township site runs through the December 2018 amendment and may be older than the version on eCode360, so confirm the current ordinance with the township1.
  • Per-district lot sizes and setbacks vary, and we could not confirm each district's numbers; get them from the zoning officer for your parcel7.
  • Fees, inspections, owner-builder rules, wells and driveway permits were not confirmed for Dallas Township; call the township office before you budget12.

Sources

  1. Dallas Township Zoning Ordinance (text through Dec. 4, 2018 amendments) (Dallas Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Dallas Township Chapter 45 Construction Codes, Uniform (Dallas Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Dallas Township Zoning Ordinance (text through Dec. 4, 2018 amendments) (Dallas Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Dallas Township Zoning Ordinance (text through Dec. 4, 2018 amendments) (Dallas Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. Dallas Township Zoning Ordinance (text through Dec. 4, 2018 amendments) (Dallas Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Dallas Township Zoning Ordinance (text through Dec. 4, 2018 amendments) (Dallas Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Dallas Township Zoning Ordinance (text through Dec. 4, 2018 amendments) (Dallas Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Dallas Township Zoning Ordinance (text through Dec. 4, 2018 amendments) (Dallas Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Dallas Township Zoning Ordinance (text through Dec. 4, 2018 amendments) (Dallas Township), quoted and re-checked
  10. Dallas Township Zoning & Code Enforcement Officer (dallastwp.org)
  11. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  12. Dallas Township Municipal Office (dallastwp.org)
  13. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  14. Dallas Township Zoning Ordinance (text through Dec. 4, 2018 amendments) (Dallas Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. Zoning | Luzerne County, PA, quoted and re-checked
  16. Uniform Construction Code Chapter 403, quoted and re-checked
  17. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 14, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Dallas Township

Dallas Township’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Dallas Township

    • Administration may be by municipal employee, third-party agency or intermunicipal agreement as set by resolution (§ 45-3).
    “the uniform construction code, contained in 34 pa code, chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of dallas township.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Dallas Township

    • Text posted on the township site is the version through the December 4, 2018 amendment; eCode360 Chapter 95 may be newer.
    “dallas township luzerne county zoning ordinance enacted june 17, 2008 dates of amendments: october 24, 2011 december 4, 2018”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Dallas Township

    • Districts: C-1, A-1, A-2, R-1, R-2, R-MHP, S-1, B-1, B-2, IN-1, I-1.
    “502 – a-1 agricultural district 503 – a-2 ruralagricultural district 504 – r-1 single family residential district 505 – r-2 multifamily residential district”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Lots in Dallas Township zoning districts (C-1, A-1, A-2, R-1, R-2, S-1 and others); limits set per district in Section 512

    • The PDF table text is garbled; per-district values must be confirmed against the eCode360 Chapter 95 table.
    “zoning district lot size acres width feet c-1 a-1 a-2 s-1 2 acres 200 1 acre 150 50 1 acre 150”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Front, side and rear yard setbacks by district under Section 512 in Dallas Township

    • Table text garbled; confirm per-district values in eCode360 Chapter 95.
    “maximum side yard setback2 feet per side lot coverage bldg. height3 30 20% 35 ft. or 21/2 stories 50 25 20% 35 ft. or 21/2 stories”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Maximum lot coverage by district under Section 512 in Dallas Township

    • Table shows 20% for several districts and 25% for at least one; confirm district mapping in eCode360.

    lot coverage (several districts): <= 20 percent (25% shown for at least one district)

    “maximum side yard setback2 feet per side lot coverage bldg. height3 30 20% 35 ft. or 21/2 stories 50 25 20% 35 ft. or 21/2 stories”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Building height by district under Section 512 in Dallas Township

    • Section 309 contains exceptions to height limitations; not read.

    building height (most districts shown): <= 35 feet or 2.5 stories

    “maximum side yard setback2 feet per side lot coverage bldg. height3 30 20% 35 ft. or 21/2 stories 50 25 20% 35 ft. or 21/2 stories”
  • Who permits septicLocal

    On-lot sewage disposal for development inside Dallas Township

    • Approval follows Pennsylvania DEP governing standards.
    • Sewage service must be consistent with the township's Act 537 sewage facility plan.
    “any use or development of property which proposes to utilize on-lot sewage disposal shall secure approval from the township's sewage enforcement officer in accordance with the applicable governing standards of the pennsylvania department of environmental protection prior to the issuance of a zoning permit.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New on-lot sewage disposal inside Dallas Township

    • Approval from the sewage enforcement officer is required before a zoning permit is issued.
    “any use or development of property which proposes to utilize on-lot sewage disposal shall secure approval from the township's sewage enforcement officer in accordance with the applicable governing standards of the pennsylvania department of environmental protection prior to the issuance of a zoning permit.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land development inside Dallas Township

    • Governed by the township subdivision and land development ordinance (eCode360 Chapter 77).
    “shall also be subject to the governing regulations and provisions of the dallas township subdivision and land development ordinance.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    On-site sewage systems in identified floodplain areas inside Dallas Township

    • Full floodplain article (approx. Section 12xx) was not read; broader floodplain permit rules likely exist.
    “no part of any on-site sewage system shall be located within any identified floodplain area except in strict compliance with all state and local regulations for such systems.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permits inside Dallas Township
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Dallas Township
  • Inspections — Inspections inside Dallas Township
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Dallas Township
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Dallas Township
13 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Dallas Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Luzerne County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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