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

Rules another office applies inside Fairmount Township

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

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Fairmount township (Luzerne County, PA) that is under Luzerne County planning and zoning jurisdiction. Zoning here is administered by the county under the 2021 Luzerne County Zoning Ordinance, not by a township ordinance. Recorded with the county as rule-maker because the county page lists Fairmount township under county jurisdiction.

  • The county page lists Fairmount township under 'Luzerne County planning and zoning jurisdiction' (as of April 22, 2026).
  • The county page says the department handles the 'general administration and enforcement of all zoning issues relating to permitting of uses and new development'.
  • To verify the zoning of a specific parcel, the county page directs inquirers to call the department at 570.825.1567 or 570.825.1589.
  • District-by-district dimensional limits were not retrieved from the 2021 ordinance text; see followups.
  • Scope uses geography district-specific because the county schema has no township-specific option for county authority; the scope is limited to Fairmount township.

  “municipalities under luzerne county planning and zoning jurisdiction* avoca borough laflin borough conyngham township lake township courtdale borough new columbus borough dupont borough pringle borough duryea borough ross township fairmount township union township”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Floodplain development on land inside Fairmount township under county zoning jurisdiction

  • The county page states floodplain management is administered through the county zoning ordinance; the specific floodplain permit trigger and standards were not retrieved.
  • The county page directs floodplain questions to 570.825.1560 and says floodplain maps may be viewed by appointment.
  • Floodplain standards apply only where the county zoning program covers the parcel.

  “the department administers floodplain management through the county zoning ordinance”

• Permit feesPublished

  County zoning permit fees for land inside Fairmount township under county zoning jurisdiction

  • The county page links a '2021 Luzerne County Zoning Schedule of Fees' as part of the zoning program.
  • The individual fee amounts were not opened within budget; see followups.
  • Schedule stated as currently in effect since March 24, 2021 on the county zoning page.

  “the 2023 zoning map corresponds to the luzerne county zoning ordinance and schedule of fees currently in effect since march 24, 2021”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permit requirement for new homes inside Fairmount township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for Fairmount township
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for construction inside Fairmount township
• Inspections — Building inspection requirement for construction inside Fairmount township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Fairmount 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.