Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Borough of Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania

Borough of Sandy Lake’s own rules

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Dwellings in the zoning districts covered by Table 301 (R-1 area), inside Sandy Lake borough

  • Table text is jumbled in extraction; district column assignment not fully confirmed; R-2 also appears to list 900 sq. ft.

  minimum floor area of dwellings: >= 900 sq ft

  “maximum lot coverage subject to parking and loading requirements minimum floor area of dwellings 900 sq. ft. 900 sq. ft.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-2 zoning district, single family detached dwelling, inside Sandy Lake borough

  • Two-family 20,000 sq. ft.; multi-family 6,000 sq. ft. gross per unit.
  • R-1 district values not resolved.

  minimum lot area, single-family detached: 10000 sq ft

  “minimum lot area r-2 zoning district single family detached dwelling 10,000 sq. ft. two-family/duplex dwelling 20,000 sq. ft. multi-family dwelling 6,000 sq. ft. gross lot area per unit.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-2 zoning district single-family dwellings inside Sandy Lake borough

  • Side yard single family 8 ft.; rear 35 ft.; setbacks measured per Table 301 footnotes.

  front yard principal structure: 25 ft (10 ft for accessory structures)

  “single family detached dwelling multi-family dwelling 25 ft. principal structures, 10 ft. for accessory structures”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-2 zoning district principal structures inside Sandy Lake borough

  • Accessory structures not to exceed 2/3 principal height; exceptions in section 1201.1.

  maximum principal structure height: <= 35 ft (see section 1201.1)

  “maximum structure height3 principal structure 35 ft.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RV parks inside Sandy Lake borough; individual-lot RV occupancy not confirmed

  • RV parks only in the commercial district as a conditional use approved by borough council, with additional standards in the Mercer County SALDO.
  • RV park minimum lot size 2 acres.

  RV park minimum lot size: 2 acres

  “recreational vehicle parks (rv park) - permitted in the commercial zoning district and are deemed to be a conditional use wherein the park is subject to the approval of the sandy lake borough council, with additional standards set forth in the mercer county saldo.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Self-contained mobile homes on individual lots inside Sandy Lake borough

  • Lot must meet R-1 minimum lot width/area standards.
  • Floor area 900 sq. ft. or more and must conform to regulations for single-family dwellings.
  • Mobile home parks only in R-1 as a conditional use (5 acre minimum).

  minimum floor area: >= 900 sq ft

  “self-contained mobile homes on individual lots having a floor area of 900 square feet or more, provided:”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land development of listed uses inside Sandy Lake borough

  • Governed by the Mercer County Subdivision & Land Development Ordinance.

  “the following uses are also subject to specific provisions and plan requirements in mercer county subdivision & land development ordinance as amended.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  All development inside Sandy Lake borough

  • Floodplain ordinance #327 as amended; stormwater ordinance #319 (adopted 7/6/2011) also applies.

  “in addition, all development must meet requirements of the [fema] flood plain /management act ordinance #327 as adopted 5/7/2014 as may be amended.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Borough of Sandy Lake or Mercer County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits inside Sandy Lake borough
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Sandy Lake borough
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Sandy Lake borough
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy certificates inside Sandy Lake borough
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Sandy Lake borough

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.