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

Rye Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction that changes outside dimensions of an existing structure or adds a new structure in Rye Township.

  • The listed general rule includes new homes, decks, additions, garages, sheds, pole buildings, carports, solar installations, retaining walls four feet or over, fences four feet or over, in-home businesses, and chickens.
  • Routine replacement of roof shingles, siding, storm doors, and windows needs no permit.
  • For new homes, zoning, sewage, and driveway permits are also required before the building permit issues.

  UCC-project threshold: > 1000 square feet (Projects greater than this threshold require BIU permit and inspections under the Township page.)

  “As a general rule, building and zoning permits are required for any construction which changes the outside dimensions of an existing structure or adds a new structure including, but not limited to:”

• InspectionsRequired

  Projects greater than 1,000 square feet and the other listed UCC work in Rye Township.

  • Inspections are conducted by Building Inspection Underwriters, the Township's third-party inspection agency.
  • The Township page separately identifies additions, load-bearing-wall changes, structures over 1,000 square feet, and in-ground and above-ground pools as requiring BIU permits in addition to zoning permits.

  project size: > 1000 square feet (Township page states projects greater than this size require BIU permit and inspections.)

  “All projects greater than 1000 square feet require a permit and inspections from Building Inspection Underwriters (BIU) of New Bloomfield per the Statewide Building Codes. BIU is the Township’s third party inspection agency certified to conduct inspections to insure compliance with the State UCC.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Property throughout Rye Township, Perry County, Pennsylvania.

  • A zoning permit is required for any activity requiring a building permit.
  • The applicable requirements depend on the zoning district.

  “Rye Township has a zoning ordinance that restricts usage of properties throughout the Township. Any activity that requires a Building Permit will also require a Zoning Permit, which assures that the proposed project is in compliance with the Township Zoning Ordinance 11-01, as amended.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Each dwelling unit within converted buildings in Rye Township.

  • The total land area may not be less than 15,000 square feet.

  minimum floor area per dwelling unit: >= 700 square feet (Applies to each dwelling unit within converted buildings.)

  “Each dwelling unit within converted buildings shall have not less than 5,000 square feet of land area per dwelling unit and a minimum of 700 square feet of floor area per each unit but, in no case, shall the total land area be less than 15,000 square feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Principal and accessory buildings governed by Chapter 360 § 360-58.

  • A principal building may gain one foot of height for each additional foot by which each yard exceeds the minimum yard regulation, but cannot exceed 50 feet.
  • Accessory buildings may not exceed one story or 25 feet.
  • Farm-use buildings or structures are exempt from height regulations.

  principal building height: <= 35 feet (May increase by one foot for each additional foot of each yard over its minimum; in no case over 50 feet.) · accessory building height: <= 25 feet (Also limited to one story; farm-use buildings or structures are exempt.)

  “The height of a principal building shall be no greater than 35 feet except a building may exceed the maximum permitted height by one foot for each additional foot by which the width of each yard exceeds the minimum yard regulation. In no case shall it exceed 50 feet in height. No accessory building or structure shall exceed one story, or 25 feet in height, except that buildings or structures devoted for farm use shall be exempt from height regulations.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Sewage permits for property inside Rye Township.

  • Permit applications and information are directed to Frederick Seibert Associates and the Township's named Sewage Enforcement Officer.

  “Sewage Permits are available from Frederick Seibert Associates,(FSA) by Leonard Sizer, the Sewage Enforcement Officer. Phone: Lenny Sizer @ (717) 275-2048.”

• Septic permitRequired

  All sewage-system repairs and replacements inside Rye Township.

  • Permits may be required for new construction and remodeling, particularly additions of bedrooms or bathrooms.
  • No permit is required for cleaning or pumping a tank; the Township requests a copy of the receipt for its Act 537 Plan and DEP-regulation compliance.
  • A new home also requires sewage permitting before BIU issues its building permit.

  “Sewage Permits may be required for both new construction projects and remodeling projects, especially those that include addition of new bedrooms or bathrooms. Sewage Permits are required for all repairs and replacements. No permit is required for cleaning or pumping your tank.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Farm-use buildings or structures subject to Chapter 360 height controls.

  • The available exemption is limited to the zoning height regulations stated in § 360-58; this evidence does not establish an exemption from building, zoning, sewage, or other permits.

  “No accessory building or structure shall exceed one story, or 25 feet in height, except that buildings or structures devoted for farm use shall be exempt from height regulations.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Access to Township and State roads from Rye Township property.

  • Logging companies creating new access off Township roads need temporary-use driveway permits.
  • New driveways must be paved within one year of installation.

  paving completion: <= 1 year after installation (Newly installed driveways.)

  “A Driveway Permit is required to access Township and State roads. Logging companies creating new accesses off Township roads require temporary use driveway permits. Newly installed driveways must be paved within one year of installation.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Township zoning, demolition, driveway, and related permits.

  • The fee schedule is effective February 1, 2025 and each calendar year thereafter until amended by resolution.
  • The page separately lists Building Inspection Underwriters fees as determined by BIU.

  driveway permit or renewal: 65 USD (Township fee schedule.) · temporary-use driveway permit: 65 USD (Township fee schedule.) · driveway inspection or on-site consultation: 35 USD (Township fee schedule.)

  “BE AND IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by this Board of Supervisors of Rye Township, Perry County, Pennsylvania, that pursuant to the grant of powers set forth in the Second Class Township Code, the Board does hereby establish the following Schedule of Fees for the Township of Rye, Perry County, Pennsylvania, effective February 1, 2025 and each calendar year thereafter until amended by resolution.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Township zoning, building, sewage, and driveway permitting.

  • Zoning and driveway applications are available through the Township Office.
  • Sewage permit applications are directed to the named Sewage Enforcement Officer.
  • Applicants should allow several weeks for zoning processing depending on completeness, project, and the part-time Zoning Officer's schedule.

  zoning-processing duration: several weeks (Depends on application completeness, project, and Zoning Officer schedule.)

  “Please allow adequate time in advance of construction to submit your application and process it. Issuance of the permit may take several weeks depending on the completeness of the application submitted, the project involved, and the schedule of the part time Zoning Officer.”

Rules another office applies inside Rye Township

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Builders and construction inside Rye Township under Pennsylvania's statewide Uniform Construction Code.

  • The Township states that UCC regulations are in effect throughout Pennsylvania, including Rye Township.
  • The Township uses Building Inspection Underwriters as its third-party inspection agency.

  “Pennsylvania's statewide building code, generally known as the Uniform Construction Code (UCC), has to be followed by builders in the state.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Residential buildings in Rye Township subject to Pennsylvania UCC occupancy rules.

  • A certificate may be issued for a portion of a building only if that portion independently meets the UCC.
  • A Township zoning certificate of use is also required before newly erected, substantially altered, or changed-use structures may be occupied or used.

  “A residential building may not be used or occupied without a certificate of occupancy issued by a building code official.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Rye Township.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land in Rye Township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in Rye Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in Rye Township.
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy in Rye Township.

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.