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

Saville Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New homes and structures or changes to outside dimensions inside Saville township

  • Permits are required as a general rule for construction that changes the outside dimensions of an existing structure or adds a new structure, including new homes, decks, garages, sheds, additions and pools over 24 inches deep.
  • No permit is needed to replace roof shingles, or to replace siding, storm doors, and windows.
  • Building permits are good for 5 years.
  • Agriculture or non-inspectable projects receive a placard permit rather than a folder for BIU (see agricultural_exemption claim).

  “as a general rule, building permits are required for any construction which changes the outside dimensions of an existing structure or adds a new structure”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agriculture projects inside Saville township under the township permit process

  • Agriculture or non-inspectable projects do not get a BIU folder and receive a placard permit.
  • The permit fee still applies to these projects, per the same page.
  • This is a process difference, not a statement that agriculture is exempt from permits; the scope of any UCC agricultural exemption was not verified.

  “exception: agriculture or non-inspectable projects do not get a folder to take to biu.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land and land development inside Saville township

  • Listed on the township Documents page as 'subdivision and land development', adopted 1979-10 and updated 2007-05.
  • The ordinance text was not opened; platting, road, and setback standards are unverified.
  • A 2007-06 schedule of attorney fees is also listed.

  “1979-10 subdivision and land development updated 2007-05 – see below”

• Permit feesPublished

  Building permit application fees for projects inside Saville township

  • Fee is based on the amount of the project.
  • Payment must be a check payable to Saville Township; no cash or credit cards are accepted and payment is due when the application is completed.
  • A placard permit fee also applies to agriculture and non-inspectable projects and to recreational cabins.
  • The home page links a fee schedule document; its contents were not opened, so any later schedule is unverified.

  building permit fee, first thousand of project amount: 5 USD (for the first thousand of project amount) · building permit fee, each additional thousand: per 1 USD (for each thousand after the first thousand)

  “this application has a fee based on the amount of the project. $5 for the first thousand and $1 for each thousand after that.”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permit application process for projects inside Saville township

  • Contact the Saville Township secretary at 717-438-3536 to make an appointment and receive a BIU packet.
  • Inspectable projects are handled through BIU; agriculture and non-inspectable projects receive a placard permit.
  • Building permits are good for 5 years.
  • Sewage permits must be obtained before a building permit is issued for new homes.

  “to complete an application and to receive a biu packet, please contact the saville township secretary by calling 717-438-3536 to make an appointment.”

Rules another office applies inside Saville Township

Saville 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

  Construction inside Saville township, Perry County, Pennsylvania

  • The Uniform Construction Code is a state code; the township page states it applies in Saville township and the township Documents list includes a 2004-02 PA construction code (UCC) entry.
  • Enforcement is through the third-party agency Building Inspection Underwriters (BIU) named on the township home page.

  “the new uniform construction code (ucc) regulations are now in effect throughout all of pennsylvania, which includes saville township.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Inspectable construction inside Saville township, including projects over 1,000 square feet, additions, load-bearing wall changes, and pools

  • Threshold: projects greater than 1000 square feet require a permit and inspections from BIU.
  • All additions, changes in load bearing walls, structures over 1,000 square feet, and in-ground and above-ground pools require permits from BIU.
  • BIU is the township's third-party inspection agency certified to conduct inspections under the state UCC; inspections are required at key stages of construction.
  • Non-inspectable and agriculture projects do not get a BIU folder.

  “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.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New homes and certain remodeling or repairs of on-lot sewage systems inside Saville township

  • Sewage permits are required before a building permit will be issued for new homes.
  • Sewage permits may be required for new construction and remodeling, especially additions of new bedrooms or bathrooms.
  • Sewage permits are required for all repairs and replacements.
  • No permit is required for cleaning or pumping a tank, but the township asks for a copy of the receipt under its 537 plan and DEP regulations.

  “sewage permits are required before a building permit will be issued for new homes.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permit or inspection inside Saville township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Saville township
• Local zoning — Whether Saville township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance for land inside the township
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Saville township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Saville 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.