Zoning, building permits and septic rules in East Union Township, Pennsylvania

East Union Township’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside East Union township limits.

  • The codification refers to the uniform construction code and its sub-codes administered by the building code official; the UCC chapter text itself was not opened.
  • Commonwealth of Pennsylvania UCC rules were not separately verified in this research.

  “including but not limited to the applicable edition of the uniform construction code and its sub-codes.”

• InspectionsRequired

  New construction and remodeling or renovation of existing structures inside East Union township limits.

  • Inspections are performed by the township building code official for the applicable UCC and property maintenance codes.
  • Inspection schedule and fees were not extracted.

  “performing property inspections for all new construction; remodeling or renovations of existing structures”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Property sales in East Union township: an occupancy/compliance application and inspection are required on sale.

  • The requirement is stated for the sale of a property; a separate occupancy permit for new construction was not confirmed.
  • The codification also contains a certificate of occupancy chapter under the property maintenance code; its text was not opened.

  “please be advised that the selling of a property does require the completion of the occupancy/compliance application listed below. there will be an inspection that will also need to be completed and passed.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside East Union township limits (Schuylkill County, PA): the township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance.

  • Zoning permits and inquiries go to the township zoning officer.
  • Individual district dimensions were not fully extracted; see the unknown dimensional claims.

  “the township of east union is a planned and zoned community with strictly enforced zoning regulations.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts in East Union township, including the R-1 single family residential district (section 503) and R-2 multifamily residential district (section 504).

  • The zoning map is dated 6/8/20 per the township zoning page; the map image itself was not opened.

  “section 503 - r-1 single family residential district”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Any development within 100 feet of a natural watercourse, in all zoning districts of East Union township.

  • Applies to any form of development or improvement; the single-family yard setbacks were not extracted (see unknown claim).

  riparian setback from natural watercourse: >= 100 feet

  “in all zoning districts, a minimum setback of one hundred (100) feet from any natural watercourse, (as defined in article 2) shall be required for any form of development”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Garden apartment developments (section 802.19) in East Union township; not the single-family district.

  • Garden apartments must be served by centralized sewage and a 2-acre minimum lot size.
  • Single-family district coverage limit was not extracted (see unknown claim).

  maximum building coverage on lot: <= 40 percent

  “maximum percentage of building coverage on a lot shall be 40 percent.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Planned residential developments (PRD) in East Union township only.

  • Applies only to planned residential developments; single-family district height was not extracted (see unknown claim).

  maximum building height in PRD: <= 45 feet (also no more than 2.5 stories)

  “maximum building height: no structures within a prd shall exceed 21/2 stories, with a maximum height not to exceed forty-five (45) feet.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles occupied in a campground or recreational vehicle campground in East Union township. Private-lot RV occupancy was not established.

  • Campgrounds require a minimum lot area of 5 acres and a 50-foot setback from any lot line.
  • No recreational vehicle may be occupied on a campground site for more than 6 months in any calendar year by one individual or family, other than a resident manager/caretaker.

  campground minimum lot area: >= 5 acres (resident manager/caretaker exempt from 6-month limit)

  “d. no recreational vehicle shall be occupied on the site for more than 6 months in any calendar year by any one individual or one family, other than a resident manager/caretaker.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Campgrounds and recreational vehicle campgrounds in East Union township; private-lot temporary camping was not established.

  • Campgrounds must comply with section 802.07: minimum lot area of 5 acres, retail sales on site as accessory use, and 50-foot setback from any lot line.

  campground minimum lot area: >= 5 acres

  “802.07 campground/recreational vehicle campground: a campground and/or /recreational vehicle campground shall comply with the following requirements: a. minimum lot area - 5 acres”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes in the R-2 multifamily residential district of East Union township, when placed on permanent foundations.

  • The permitted-use list allows mobile homes only on permanent foundations in R-2; R-1 and other districts were not confirmed.
  • Accessory structure and setback rules still apply.

  “single-family detached dwellings (including mobile homes on permanent foundations)”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Improved property inside East Union township whose principal building is within 150 feet of the township sewer system.

  • Connection is required within 60 days after the township gives notice to the owner.
  • A permit from the East Union Township Sewer Authority is required before making any building sewer connection.
  • No water-connection rule was extracted; the water-connection claim is unknown.

  distance to sewer system: <= 150 feet

  “the owner of any improved property accessible to and whose principal building is within 150 feet from the sewer system, shall connect such improved property with and use such sewer system, in such manner as this township may require, within 60 days after notice to such owner from this township to make such connection”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Any division of land or land development inside East Union township.

  • Subject to the East Union Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (dated 2009 per the township site).
  • Application forms: major and minor subdivision applications are listed on the township zoning page.

  “shall also be subject to the governing regulations and provisions of the east union township subdivision and land development ordinance”

• Short-term rentalsAllowed (with conditions)

  Short-term home rental as a listed permitted use in the R-1 single family residential district of East Union township (also listed in R-2).

  • Listed as a permitted use; the short-term rental definition and supplemental standards were not opened and may impose conditions.
  • Township registration or occupancy requirements for rentals were not verified.

  “place of worship short-term home rental accessory uses to the above uses permitted by special exception”

• Permit feesPublished

  Zoning and UCC permits in East Union township.

  • The township lists a zoning and UCC permit schedule of fees; the schedule amounts were not opened.

  “fee schedule zoning & ucc permit schedule of fees occupancy/compliance application”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning, land development and subdivision permits in East Union township.

  • The township zoning page lists application forms; step-by-step process and timelines were not opened.

  “zoning permit application land development application major subdivision application minor subdivision application conditional use application”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for building permits in East Union township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in East Union township.
• Minimum lot size — Single-family district (R-1) minimum lot size in East Union township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy in East Union township.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units in East Union 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.