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

Rush Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting or adding to a structure, adding a use, or changing a use/occupancy inside Rush township (zoning permit)

  • Applications go to ARRO Consulting, Inc. (Orwigsburg) or the township at 104 Mahanoy Avenue, Tamaqua; zoning fees by check or money order only.
  • Issuance of a zoning permit does not authorize construction until all required permits are obtained (uniform construction code, sewage, water, driveway, and others listed in the packet).
  • Permits expire if work does not begin within 6 months or is not completed within 2 years of issuance.
  • Packet fee line is blank; the zoning fee amount is not stated on the packet.

  “important: issuance of a zoning permit does not authorize construction until all required permits are obtained.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Inspections of permitted work inside Rush township by the township zoning officer

  • The packet says the zoning officer may inspect; right of entry for inspections is a condition of permit issuance.
  • The packet does not state a general mandatory inspection schedule for all construction; UCC inspection responsibilities were not confirmed.

  “the zoning officer may conduct inspections during construction. right of entry for inspections is a condition of permit issuance.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Residential occupancy of a new or altered dwelling inside Rush township

  • Listed in the packet as a separate permit that may be required.
  • Issuance details and fees for the occupancy permit were not stated in the packet.

  “occupancy permit (required prior to residential occupancy)”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Rush township's limits, Schuylkill County, PA, under the township's Chapter 335 Zoning Ordinance

  • The eCode text says the chapter is the township's own zoning ordinance, adopted on the township comprehensive plan.
  • Unverified search lead: a 2026 Rush township resolution appears to refer to an Eastern Schuylkill regional zoning ordinance as the zoning ordinance applying to the township. This conflict was not resolved within the research budget; check which text is in force before relying on any district figure.
  • Zoning permits are issued by the zoning officer and must be approved before work starts.

  “the zoning officer may conduct inspections during construction.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot (on-site) sewage disposal inside Rush township

  • The township sewage enforcement officer handles on-site septic enforcement; the packet lists a separate on-lot sewage contact.
  • Sewage permits are a separate permit in the packet checklist.

  “the sewage enforcement officer handles on-site septic sewer enforcement in the township.”

• Septic permitRequired

  A sewage (on-lot) permit for new construction served by on-site disposal inside Rush township

  • The packet lists a 'sewage' permit among the other required permits, and a 'sewage permit#' field on the zoning form.
  • Permit details, fees and the SEO's review standards were not opened.

  “all other required permits obtained: o ucc o sewage o water o driveway”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater (with conditions)

  Certain properties in Rush township with a principal structure within 150 feet of the Tamaqua Area Water Authority water system

  • Ordinance 221 (Sept. 23, 2025) requires connection for the listed properties; the ordinance body text was not opened, so further exceptions are unverified.
  • Applies only to the distance-based group described in the ordinance title.

  distance from water system: <= 150 feet (principal structure within this distance of the Tamaqua area water authority water system)

  “ordinance of rush township, schuylkill county, commonwealth of pennsylvania, requiring and mandating that certain properties located in rush township with a principal structure within one hundred fifty feet of the water system of the tamaqua area water authority connect to said water”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Sewer connection fees in Rush township (Rush/Lake Hauto sewer connection); zoning fee not stated

  • The packet states the sewer tapping fee; the Northeastern Schuylkill JMA tapping fee ($2,000.00) is set by that authority.
  • The zoning permit fee amount is blank on the packet; the fee schedule was not located.
  • Grinder pump easement and operation fees are set by a separate executed agreement.

  sewer tapping fee (Rush/Lake Hauto): 5000 USD (Rush township / Lake Hauto sewer connection)

  “rush township / lake hauto sewer connection o tapping fee: $5,000.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning permit process inside Rush township

  • Zoning permits are issued or denied within 30 days of a completed application.
  • A 30-day appeal period applies to issued permits; work started during appeal is at the applicant's risk.
  • Zoning fees payable by check or money order to Rush Township; cash not accepted.

  decision time: 30 days (from completed application submission)

  “zoning permits are issued or denied within 30 days of the completed application submission.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from contractor requirements for work inside Rush township
• Building code adopted — Which building code applies to construction inside Rush township
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for Rush township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Rush township districts
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for the single-family residential district and any agricultural or rural district in Rush 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.