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

Coolspring Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Coolspring township, Mercer County, PA: the township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Ordinance #89, amended December 4, 2023), so county zoning does not apply inside the township.

  • Zoning governs uses by district; uses not listed in a district are prohibited (section 105.03).
  • Dimensional and use details are in the ordinance; several topics below remain unknown pending extraction of Article 4 and Article 5 tables.

  “amended by ordinance 2023-96 of board of supervisors of the township of coolspring, mercer county, pennsylvania on december 4, 2023.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Coolspring township (Mercer County, PA), as named in Ordinance #89.

  • Districts named in the text: A (agricultural), R-1 and R-2 residential (table header 'ag r-1 r-2'), C commercial, I industrial.
  • Section 301 says land annexed after adoption is classified as R-1 residential single family.
  • The zoning map is said to be a reproduction for reference only; the official map was not opened.

  “a - agricultural uses – primarily larger properties for farming and related uses.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Recreational vehicles on land inside Coolspring township (Mercer County, PA), all districts as far as the definition and general rule go.

  • A recreational vehicle is defined as a unit designed for temporary living quarters; the ordinance bars permanent dwelling or business use.
  • Recreational vehicle parks are a separate use: minimum lot size 2 acres and subject to land development plan requirements under the Mercer County subdivision and land development ordinance (section 610.02).
  • Permitted-use table status for RV parks by district not extracted.

  minimum lot size, recreational vehicle park: >= 2 acres

  “no recreational vehicle shall be used as a permanent dwelling or business.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile home parks inside Coolspring township (Mercer County, PA). Placement of an individual manufactured home on a single lot is not established by this claim.

  • Mobile home parks require a minimum lot size of 5 acres and land development plan review under the Mercer County subdivision and land development ordinance (section 610.03).
  • Permitted-use table status not extracted.

  minimum lot size, mobile home park: >= 5 acres

  “610.03. mobile home park – minimum lot size – 5 acres.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Residential uses in Coolspring township's residential districts (R-1, R-2).

  • The zoning text makes residential uses dependent on availability of public sewer and water.
  • No mandatory connection rule (distance or availability) was located in the zoning text; sewer ordinance #5 and water rules not opened.

  “r - residential uses – including single family and multiple-unit residences dependent upon availability of public sewer and water.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permitting inside Coolspring township (Mercer County, PA).
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption inside Coolspring township (Mercer County, PA).
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new buildings inside Coolspring township (Mercer County, PA).
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the R-1 residential single family district and the agricultural (A) district of Coolspring township (Mercer County, PA).
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the R-1 residential single family district and the agricultural (A) district of Coolspring township (Mercer County, PA).

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.