Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Cogan House Township, Pennsylvania

Cogan House Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction in Cogan House township that needs a zoning permit first; the township page says building permits are obtained after zoning approval

  • Building permit applications are obtained from Codes Inspection, Inc. (Montgomery, PA) when not received with the zoning permit; the township page says all zoning applications are sent to that company.
  • Starting construction without a building permit results in a fine, according to the page.

  “after getting your zoning permit approved, you must get a building permit.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction in Cogan House township that the township page lists as requiring inspection

  • Inspections are listed for: any out building over 1000 square feet; any out building under 1000 square feet with electric; any deck 30 inches off the ground; any deck or porch with a roof; farm buildings with electricity or any processing plant; all commercial buildings; and all new construction of homes.
  • Agricultural buildings meeting the page's definition are exempt, per the same page.

  “you will need inspections for the following: any out building over 1000 square feet.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Sewage (septic) permits for homes and cabins inside Cogan House township

  • The township's sewage enforcement officer is named on the page; the officer's office is outside the township (Osceola, PA).

  “terry meyers is the township’s sewage enforcement officer.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New homes and cabins built inside Cogan House township

  • For additions to an existing home, the page says the owner must contact the sewage enforcement officer to confirm the existing septic system is adequate.

  “anyone building a new home or cabin must apply for a sewage permit.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural buildings in Cogan House township that are exempt from the Uniform Construction Code

  • The exemption applies only if the building meets the page's definition of agricultural building (stores farm implements, hay, feed, grain, or other farm products or houses poultry, livestock, or other farm animals, and milk house); it does not cover habitable space or places of public occupancy.

  “agriculture buildings are exempt providing they meet the following definition:”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New residences in Cogan House township that have no driveway access

  • If the driveway accesses a township road, the permit comes from the township office (570-634-3185).
  • If the driveway accesses a state road, the page directs the applicant to contact the state road office (text cut off in extraction).

  “if you are constructing a new residence that has no driveway access, you must apply for a driveway permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homeowners building in Cogan House township
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy approval for new buildings in Cogan House township
• Local zoning — Zoning inside Cogan House township, Lycoming County, PA
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Cogan House township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Cogan House 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.