Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Borough of Red Hill, Pennsylvania

Borough of Red Hill’s own rules

• InspectionsLimited

  Residential and commercial structures subject to a change in occupancy or use inside Red Hill borough.

  • The listed inspection is not required upon a change of title to a residential or commercial structure.
  • The inspection and compliance with Borough standards are required before an occupancy permit for a change of occupancy or use.
  • A structure deemed uninhabitable requires an inspection before re-occupancy.

  “The following inspection shall not be required upon a change of title to a residential or commercial structure; however, upon a change of occupancy by an owner or a tenant, or a change in use of any residential or commercial structure, the following inspections shall be conducted, and every item shall comply with Borough standards before an occupancy permit may be issued from the Code Enforcement Officer:”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Completed structures, specified changes in occupancy, and specified changes of use inside Red Hill borough.

  • The permit must be secured upon completion and before occupancy.
  • It is also required before specified residential, multiple-family, commercial, or industrial occupancy or use changes.
  • The zoning officer grants or refuses a completed application within 15 days after notice of completion or receipt of the application when no construction is involved.

  “Scope. An occupancy permit shall be secured from the Zoning Officer upon the completion of any structure and prior to the occupancy of that structure.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Farm buildings inside Red Hill borough.

  • The exception applies only to farm buildings placed more than 150 feet from any road line.
  • This is a zoning-permit exception, not a finding of exemption from all other permits or laws.

  distance from road line: > 150 feet (Farm buildings placed more than this distance do not require a zoning permit.)

  “No zoning permit is required for the erection of farm buildings to be placed more than 150 feet from any road line.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  New construction seeking a temporary occupancy permit inside Red Hill borough.

  • This condition applies to a temporary occupancy permit for new construction; it does not establish a general driveway-access permit rule.

  “The driveway serving the dwelling or structure on the lot, as applicable, must be completed to the stone base.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Temporary occupancy permits inside Red Hill borough.

  • The fee is established by Borough Council and may be amended by resolution from time to time.
  • Initial inspection fees must be paid in full before issuance of a temporary occupancy permit.
  • Final-occupancy reinspection fees must be paid in full before issuance of the permanent occupancy permit.

  “Fees. The fee for a temporary occupancy permit shall be established by the Borough Council, as amended by resolution from time to time.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning permit applications for construction, alterations, and changes of use inside Red Hill borough.

  • Application is made to the zoning officer with the required fee.
  • Certain matters require approval of the Zoning Hearing Board, Borough Council, and/or Planning Commission recommendations.
  • The zoning officer must issue or refuse the zoning permit within 15 days, except as specifically provided in Chapter 27.
  • The permit expires after six months unless substantial construction or utilization has commenced.

  zoning permit decision period: <= 15 days (Except as specifically provided in Chapter 27.) · zoning permit expiration: 6 months (Unless substantial construction or utilization has commenced.)

  “Persons desiring to undertake any new construction, structural or site alteration or changes in the use of a building or lot shall apply to the Zoning Officer for a zoning permit by filling out the appropriate application form and by submitting the required fee.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Borough of Red Hill or Montgomery County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Red Hill borough.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Red Hill borough limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Red Hill borough.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Red Hill borough.
• Setbacks — Structures inside Red Hill 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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Borough of Red Hill means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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