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

Salford Township’s own rules

• Building permitLimited

  Construction inside Salford township; the township itself issues zoning permits, not building permits

  • Building permits are not issued by the township because it opted out of the UCC.
  • Zoning permits are required for new buildings, additions and alterations, decks or porches, accessory buildings, pools, signs, solar panels, driveways (road occupancy permit) and change-of-use work.
  • Zoning permits are not required for replacement of windows or siding and roof replacement.

  “salford township issues zoning permits only.”

• Building code adoptedPartial

  Construction inside Salford township

  • Township has opted out of administering the Uniform Construction Code itself.
  • The page also states the UCC building code must be followed for all construction, electrical and plumbing projects, so state UCC requirements still apply.
  • Non-residential and multi-family projects must use L&I plan review and inspection or a third-party inspector under contract with L&I.

  “building permits - salford township has opted out of the uniform construction code.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Non-residential and multi-family construction inside Salford township

  • Single-family residential inspection requirements were not stated on the township page.
  • Inspection is provided by L&I or a third-party inspector under contract with L&I, not by the township.

  “non-residential and multi-family applicants are required to obtain plan review and inspection services from the department of labor and industry or a 3rd party inspector under contract with l&i department.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New construction inside Salford township

  • Use and occupancy permits are not required at resale.
  • Issuing authority for the use and occupancy permit is not named on the page.

  “use & occupancy permits are required for new construction and are not required at resale.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Salford township (Montgomery County, PA, Tylersport) is governed by the township's own zoning ordinance, Ordinance #133 (Zoning 2006) and its amendments.

  • Zoning permits are required by the township zoning officer for new buildings, additions, alterations, decks, accessory structures, signs, driveways and similar work.
  • Amendments listed on the township ordinances page include #141, #161, #163, #170, #172, #174, #178, #181, #184 and #185; the amended text was not opened in this research.
  • Zoning district boundaries are approximate per the township zoning map page.

  “zoning permits: salford township issues zoning permits only. ordinance #133 - zoning 2006 can be found under the "document center".”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning district map for Salford township

  • The township publishes a zoning map PDF; boundaries are approximate and the official documentation governs.
  • District names (RC, RA, RR, VR, VCR, MF) were seen in search-result text for the map, not in the opened page.

  “please click here to download the map as a pdf.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Salford township

  • Governed by the township's subdivision and land development ordinance (SDLO), amended by Ordinance #142.
  • Stormwater design criteria are in separate ordinances #131, #140 and #187 (not opened).

  “subdivision and land development ordinance ordinance #142 - amending sdlo”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New or replacement driveways inside Salford township

  • A road occupancy permit is required for driveway work (Build & Zoning Questions page).
  • Driveway interceptors are regulated by Ordinance #78 (text not opened).

  “road occupancy permit - driveway row change of use permit”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permit process inside Salford township

  • Zoning permits are reviewed and approved by the township zoning officer, who performs on-site inspections.
  • Building permits are not issued by the township; third-party or L&I inspection applies to non-residential and multi-family work.
  • Application forms and fees were not opened.

  “the zoning officer is responsible for enforcing the zoning ordinance, applicable township ordinances, reviews zoning permit applications, approvals and performs on-site inspections.”

Rules another office applies inside Salford Township

Salford Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Septic permitRequired

  Constructing or modifying an on-lot sewage system on land inside Salford township

  • Two-phase process: site evaluation (soil probes and percolation tests) first, then septic design and application for approval if the site is suitable.
  • Permit is required before constructing or modifying an on-lot system.

  “the pennsylvania sewage facilities act #537 requires residents planning to construct or modify an on-lot sewage disposal system to obtain a permit from the office of public health.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Salford township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Salford township districts
• Minimum lot size — Main single-family residential district (VR Village Residential) inside Salford township
• Setbacks — Main single-family residential district (VR Village Residential) inside Salford township
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage in Salford township districts

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.