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

Jackson Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Jackson township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. The township's own zoning ordinance applies within its boundaries; it does not apply to land outside the township.

  • The ordinance was adopted 6/6/2018 and is the copy hosted by the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission; no later amendment was located in this research.
  • Uses are allowed only as the district and use provisions state (see the R-1, R-2, B and I district claims).

  “jackson township is hereby divided into the following zoning districts”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Jackson township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania

  • Four districts are named in the ordinance: R-1 rural residential-agricultural, R-2 residential-one family, B business-travel service, and I industrial.
  • District boundaries are on the official zoning map, which the ordinance says is kept by the township zoning officer and township secretary; the copy in the ordinance is for reference only.

  “the boundaries of the zoning districts shall be as shown on the zoning map”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Dwelling units in the R-1 rural residential-agricultural district in Jackson township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania

  • The 720 sq ft minimum is stated in the R-1 article only; the R-2 article was checked for a parallel floor-area rule and none was found in the excerpt read.

  minimum residential floor area, all dwelling units: >= 720 square feet

  “403.8: minimum floor area minimum residential floor area for all dwelling units shall be 720 square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-2 residential-one family district in Jackson township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania: single-family and all other uses

  • Street right-of-way is not counted toward minimum lot area.
  • Minimum lot area depends on the water and sewage services available: 20,000 sq ft for on-lot water or on-lot sewage; 15,000 sq ft for public or community sewage with a private well; 10,000 sq ft where both public or community water and sewer are available.
  • Section 1001.3 lot-of-record exception applies.

  minimum lot area, on-lot water or sewage: 20000 square feet (applies where water supply or sanitary sewage disposal is on-lot) · minimum lot area, public sewer with private well: 15000 square feet (public or community sanitary sewage disposal and private well water supply) · minimum lot area, public water and sewer: 10000 square feet (both public or community water and public or community sanitary sewage disposal available)

  “c. 10,000 square feet where both public or community water supply and a public or community sanitary sewage disposal are available.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — R-1 rural residential-agricultural district in Jackson township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania: single-family dwellings and other permitted uses

    “403.1: minimum lot area, excluding road right-of-way 1. single-family dwelling – 20,000 square feet 2. other permitted uses – 20,000 square feet.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 rural residential-agricultural district in Jackson township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania

  • Setback is measured from the road centerline. Interstate setback is 100 feet from centerline on the official street map.
  • Corner lots have two front yards, each with the full front setback.
  • Side yard 10 feet each side for single-family and other permitted uses; rear yard 35 feet for principal and 10 feet for accessory structures.

  front building setback, other roads: 50 feet (measured from road centerline; 100 feet on interstates) · side yard, single-family dwelling: 10 feet (each side) · rear yard, principal structure: 35 feet · rear yard, accessory structure: 10 feet

  “403.4: minimum building setback building setback line shall be 100 feet on all interstates on the official street map of the township and 50 feet on all other roads. measurements are to begin at the centerline of the road.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — R-2 residential-one family district in Jackson township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania

    “503.6: minimum side yard 1. where minimum lot area is 20,000 square feet - 10 feet on each side 2. where minimum lot area is 15,000 square feet - 10 feet on each side 3. where minimum lot area is 10,000 square feet - 8 feet on each side”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 rural residential-agricultural district in Jackson township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania

  • The percentage includes principal and accessory structures combined.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 25 percent (principal and accessory structures combined)

  “403.3: maximum percentage of lot coverage 1. 25% including principal and accessory structures combined.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — R-2 residential-one family district in Jackson township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania

    “503.3: maximum percentage of lot coverage 35% including principal and accessory structures combined.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-2 residential-one family district in Jackson township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania

  • Agricultural storage buildings are not limited in height.
  • One-story accessory structures may equal the principal structure height.

  maximum height, principal structure: <= 40 feet (also maximum 3 stories) · maximum height, accessory structure: <= 35 feet (2/3 of principal structure height; one-story exception)

  “2. accessory structures shall not exceed 2/3 the height of the principal structure or 35 feet in height, except for one story structures, in which the height shall not exceed the height of the principal structure.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — R-1 rural residential-agricultural district in Jackson township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania

    “1. principal structures shall not exceed 3 stories or 40 feet in height. 2. accessory structures shall not exceed 2/3 the height of the principal structure, except for 1 story structures in which the height shall not exceed the height of the principal structure.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Use of a recreational vehicle as a permanent dwelling in Jackson township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania

  • Parking or storage of one recreational vehicle is an accessory use in the residential districts, provided it is not used for human habitation.
  • Campground and recreational vehicle park uses are separate conditional uses and are not addressed by this claim.

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

• Tiny homesLimited

  Small dwellings (tiny homes) in Jackson township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, in the R-1 district

  • The ordinance has no tiny-home definition or separate tiny-home use. A dwelling under 720 sq ft does not meet the R-1 minimum floor area; this is a reading of the floor-area rule, not a stated tiny-home rule.
  • Lot, setback and coverage rules also apply.

  minimum residential floor area: >= 720 square feet

  “403.8: minimum floor area minimum residential floor area for all dwelling units shall be 720 square feet.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile home parks in Jackson township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Single manufactured homes on individual lots are not addressed in the excerpt read.

  • Mobile home parks are conditional uses that must comply with the Mercer County subdivision and land development regulations.
  • Stormwater must comply with the Jackson Township stormwater ordinance.
  • A copy of the final plan showing Mercer County Regional Planning Commission approval must be filed with the zoning officer before a permit issues.
  • Single-family dwelling minimum floor area (720 sq ft) applies to all dwelling units.

  “20. mobile home parks, provided: (a) they shall comply with all applicable provisions of the mercer county subdivision and land development regulations. (b) stormwater management shall comply with the jackson township stormwater ordinance. (c) a copy of the final plan of the mobile home park indicating approval by the mercer county regional planning commission shall be submitted to the zoning officer prior to issuance of a permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for construction in Jackson township, Mercer County
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for Jackson township, Mercer County
• Building code adopted — Uniform Construction Code adoption/enforcement for Jackson township, Mercer County
• Inspections — Building inspections in Jackson township, Mercer County
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy in Jackson township, Mercer County

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.