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

Watts Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, move, demolition or change of occupancy of residential or commercial buildings inside Watts Township, Perry County, PA.

  • A zoning permit must be received before any building permit is issued.
  • A sewage permit may also be needed before a building permit is issued if municipal sewer is not used (see septic claims).
  • Permit is issued through the township's contracted administrator, Building Inspection Underwriters, Inc.

  “a zoning permit and a building permit is required if you intend to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a residential or commercial building”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction, alteration and repair of residential and commercial buildings inside Watts Township, Perry County, PA, under the Uniform Construction Code (UCC).

  • Building permits for Watts Township are administered by Building Inspection Underwriters, Inc. (contracted with Perry COG), 23 East McClure St., Suite 8, New Bloomfield, PA 17068, (717) 582-4483.
  • The page identifies the UCC as the code for electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing and swimming pool systems.

  “any electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing system or swimming pool regulated by the uniform construction code”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Watts Township, Perry County, PA: the township administers its own zoning ordinance through its zoning officer.

  • The zoning ordinance text itself was not located on an official page opened in this research; district-level rules are unknown (see zoning-related unknown claims).
  • A zoning ordinance amendment (data centers, draft dated 2026) was posted; its adoption status was not confirmed.

  “the township zoning ordinance is enforced by the township zoning officer.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  On-lot (individual) sewage systems on land inside Watts Township, Perry County, PA.

  • The township adopted an On-Lot Sewage Management Ordinance and the township sewage enforcement officer (SEO) issues the sewage permit.
  • The SEO function is provided through the Juniata Sewage Committee (SEO Walter Stoner, Honey Grove, PA), per the township's sewage page.
  • PA Department of Environmental Protection planning approvals are required before the sewage permit.

  “this permit is obtained from the township sewage enforcement officer (seo).”

• Septic permitRequired

  New homes inside Watts Township, Perry County, PA where municipal water/sewer service is not available.

  • Requires a site tested and found acceptable for an on-lot system, DEP planning approval, and an approved system design.
  • The sewage permit must be obtained before a building permit is issued.

  “if you are building a new home, and municipal water/sewer service is not available, the first permit you should obtain is the sewage permit.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  On-lot sewage systems installed for new buildings inside Watts Township, Perry County, PA.

  • The SEO may schedule inspections in addition to the final inspection required by the Sewage Facilities Act.
  • Occupancy permit depends on the final septic inspection.

  “no occupancypermitshallbe issueduntil the final inspectionof the septic systemhasbeencompletedby the sewageenforcementofficer.”

• Subdividing landRegulated

  Land subdivision and land development inside Watts Township, Perry County, PA.

  • The township has a Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance; the text itself was not opened.
  • Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors review processes apply; specific thresholds not found.

  “hard copies of the zoning ordinance and the subdivision and land development ordinance are available for $15.00 each.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Township zoning and driveway permit fees for land inside Watts Township, Perry County, PA.

  • Fees listed on the township Zoning Officer page; the building permit fee schedule was not located.
  • Sewage permit fees are set by the Juniata Sewage Committee fee schedule (not captured).

  zoning permit (residential): 130 USD · zoning permit (commercial): 400 USD · highway occupancy permit (driveway): 150 USD · sign permit: 125 USD

  “fee schedule highway occupancy permit (driveway) — $150.00 zoning permit — $130.00 sign permit– $125.00 commercial zoning permit $400.00”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits or contractor requirements in Watts Township, Perry County, PA.
• Inspections — Building inspections under the UCC for construction inside Watts Township, Perry County, PA.
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for Watts Township, Perry County, PA.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Watts Township, Perry County, PA.
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for the main single-family residential district and any agricultural or rural-residential district in Watts Township, Perry County, PA.

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.