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

Hazle Township’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New construction and major renovation of structures inside Hazle township

  • Township amendments to the ICC codes also apply, per the building department page.

  “hazle township has adopted the uniform construction code (ucc), which is being mandated by the commonwealth of pennsylvania under act 45.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction or major renovation of any structure inside Hazle township

  • Inspections listed on the page: footer, foundation, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, ice shield, framing (rough and finished), wallboard and final inspections, plus energy code compliance and fire code inspection before occupancy on new structures.

  required inspections: 11 inspections

  “at present, 11 inspections are required during the construction or major renovation of any structure.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Hazle township limits (Luzerne County, PA). Township zoning ordinance administered by the township.

  • Source is the 2003 zoning ordinance PDF posted on hazletownship.com. The township site and search results also reference amendments dated 2014 and 2020; those were not opened and the current amended text was not verified.
  • Parcels in the township may be subject to other township ordinances (subdivision, stormwater, signs) in addition to zoning.

  “hazle township is hereby divided into zoning districts, as shown on the official zoning map, which together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be part of this ordinance”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Hazle township limits

  • Districts named in the 2003 ordinance: C-1 Conservation, R-1 Single Family Residential, R-2 Multifamily Residential, B-1 Neighborhood Commercial and Shopping Center, B-2 General Commercial, BP Business Park, I-1 and I-2 Industrial, M-1 Mining, PRD Planned Residential Development. Official zoning map not opened.

  “hazle township is hereby divided into zoning districts as designated below: c-1 r-1 r-2 b-1 b-2 bp i-1 i-2 m-1 prd”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 Single Family Residential district in Hazle township: principal building lot

  • Applies to the R-1 district only (Section 501.3).
  • On-lot sewage disposal lots: 43,560 square feet (one acre), per the same subsection.
  • Minimum lot width is 100 feet for lots served by central sewers and 150 feet for on-lot sewage disposal.
  • Ordinance text is the 2003 version; amendments not verified.

  minimum lot area, public water and public sewers: 11250 square feet (on-lot sewage disposal: 43,560 square feet)

  “eleven thousand two hundred and fifty (11,250) square feet when the lot is serviced by public water and public sewers.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 Single Family Residential district in Hazle township, principal building

  • Front, rear and side yard values are from Section 501.3(c) to (e) of the 2003 ordinance; amendments not verified.
  • Accessory structures and exceptions are governed by Article 3 and are not summarized here.

  front yard minimum: >= 35 feet · rear yard minimum: >= 30 feet · side yard minimum (each side): >= 10 feet

  “the minimum front yard shall be not less than thirty-five (35’) feet in depth as measured from the front lot line. d. rear yard: the rear yard shall be not less than thirty (30’) feet in depth as measured from the rear lot line. e. side yard: each side yard shall be not less than (10’) feet on each side.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 Single Family Residential district in Hazle township

  • Figure from Section 501.3(f) of the 2003 ordinance; amendments not verified.

  maximum lot coverage by buildings or structures: <= 35 percent of total lot area

  “not more than thirty-five (35%) percent of the total lot area shall be covered with buildings or structures.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 Single Family Residential district in Hazle township

  • Figure from Section 501.3(g) of the 2003 ordinance; Article 3 contains exceptions to height limitations, not reviewed.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (or two and one-half (2 1/2) stories, whichever the ordinance applies)

  “the maximum height of any building shall not exceed two and one-half (2 ½) stories or thirty-five (35’) feet.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured home parks in the R-2 Multifamily Residential district in Hazle township, by special exception only

  • Listed as a use permitted by special exception with zoning hearing board approval required (Section 502.2).
  • Single manufactured homes on individual lots outside a park were not addressed on the pages opened.

  “502.2 uses permitted by special exception zoning hearing board approval required boarding or rooming houses cemeteries child care center child care home community center, as defined in article 2 of this ordinance day care center day care homes funeral homes group residence home occupation manufactured home parks model homes”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Properties inside Hazle township that use on-lot sewage disposal

  • Approval is from the township sewage enforcement officer under PA DEP standards, before a zoning permit issues.
  • Section 316 also says sewage service must be consistent with the township 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

  Development proposing on-lot sewage disposal inside Hazle township

  • Approval must be secured before a zoning permit is issued; the cited text is the sewage enforcement officer approval.

  “any use or development of property which proposes to utilize on-lot sewage disposal shall secure approval from the township’s sewage enforcement officer”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built homes in Hazle township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in Hazle township
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land in Hazle township
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in Hazle township
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes in Hazle 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.