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

Conemaugh Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA. Conemaugh Township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Zoning Ordinance No. 678 with amendments).

  • The ordinance defines the township as Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
  • The ordinance states it takes precedence over county ordinances or other regulations in conflict with it.
  • Effective or adoption date was not stated on the pages opened; effective_at left null. The search snippet listed an adoption date of October 20, 2010 for Ordinance 678 but that page was not opened and is not relied on.

  “zoning officer - the agent appointed by the legislative body of the township who is herein charged with the administration and enforcement of the zoning ordinance, or his duly authorized representative.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Land inside Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA (zoning districts under Zoning Ordinance No. 678).

  • Section 201.01 lists nine districts: C, RR, R1, R2, R3, CN, CT, LI, HI.
  • The zoning map is declared part of the ordinance (Section 201.03). The map itself was not opened.
  • Parcel boundary questions are resolved under Section 201.02 and the map.

  “conemaugh township is hereby classified and divided into nine districts designated as follows”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific

  C conservation district (Section 401), the rural/agricultural district, in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.

  • Minimum is habitable living area as defined in the ordinance.

  one-story dwelling habitable area: >= 1400 sq ft · two-story dwelling habitable area: >= 1800 sq ft

  “every one story dwelling hereafter erected shall contain a minimum 1400 square feet of habitable living area. every two-story dwelling hereafter erected shall contain a minimum of 1800 square feet of habitable living area.”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • District specific — R1 residential single-family district (Section 403) in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.

    “403.08. dwelling standards. every one story dwelling hereafter erected shall contain a minimum 1400 square feet of habitable living area. every two-story dwelling hereafter erected shall contain a minimum of 1800 square feet of habitable living area.”

  • District specific — RR rural residential district (Section 402) in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.

    “every one story dwelling hereafter erected shall contain a minimum 1400 square feet of habitable living area. every two-story dwelling hereafter erected shall contain a minimum of 1800 square feet of habitable living area.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific

  R1 residential single-family district (Section 403) in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.

  • Figures are the section 403.06 area regulations as restated by the later amendment text in the same ordinance.
  • Setback and other district controls apply in addition to lot area.

  minimum lot area: >= 20000 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 80 ft

  “403.06. area regulations a. minimum lot area. there shall be a minimum lot area of not less than 20,000 square feet. each lot shall have a minimum width of not less than eighty (80) feet.”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • District specific — RR rural residential district (Section 402) in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.

    “402.06. area regulations a. minimum lot area. there shall be a minimum lot area of not less than one (1) acre. each lot shall have a minimum width of not less than one hundred and twenty (120) feet.”

  • District specific — C conservation district (Section 401), the rural/agricultural district, in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.

    “401.06. area regulations a. minimum lot area. there shall be a minimum lot area of not less than ten (10) acre. each lot shall have a minimum width of not less than three hundred (300) feet.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific

  C conservation district (Section 401), the rural/agricultural district, in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.

  • The 100-foot yard applies to all structures from the front, side and rear lot lines as written in Section 401.06(b).

  yard area from front, side and rear lot lines: >= 100 ft

  “b. yard areas. there shall be a minimum yard area / setback for all structures of not less than one hundred (100) feet from the front, side and rear lot lines.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  C conservation district (Section 401), the rural/agricultural district, in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.

  • Covers all buildings including accessory uses.

  maximum building area as share of lot: <= 20 percent

  “all buildings, including accessory uses, shall cover not more than 20% of the area of the lot.”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — R1 residential single-family district (Section 403) in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.

    “403.09. building area. all buildings, including accessory uses, shall cover not more than 40% of the area of the lot.”

  • Specified — RR rural residential district (Section 402) in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.

    “all buildings, including accessory uses, shall cover not more than 35% of the area of the lot.”

• Building heightSpecified

  C conservation district (Section 401), the rural/agricultural district, in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.

  • Measured to the highest point of the roof.
  • Accessory building height is 25 feet under the same section.

  maximum height single-family dwelling: <= 35 ft (measured to highest point of roof)

  “401.07. height. the maximum height, to the highest point of the roof, of buildings hereafter erected or altered shall be as follows: a. b. c. d. e. single-family dwelling: 35 feet”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — R1 residential single-family district (Section 403) in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.

    “403.07. height. the maximum height, to the highest point of the roof, of buildings hereafter erected or altered shall be as follows: (1) single-family dwelling: 35 feet (2) farm – primary building: 45 feet (3) church - primary building: 45 feet (4) accessory building: 25 feet (5) recreation facility or other similar use building: 45 feet”

  • Specified — RR rural residential district (Section 402) in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.

    “the maximum height, to the highest point of the roof, of buildings hereafter erected or altered shall be as follows: a. b. c. d. e. single-family dwelling: 35 feet”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New uses and construction inside Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.

  • The ordinance does not state a distance-based public water or sewer connection rule that was opened.
  • No approval may issue unless the designated authorities have approved required sanitary sewage and water facilities.
  • The township operates a sewer system (sewer page), but whether a new home must connect to public sewer or water was not established.

  “no approval shall be issued for any use or construction unless the applicant shall submit written proof that the designated authorities have granted approval of required sanitary sewage and water facilities.”

Rules another office applies inside Conemaugh Township

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

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot sewage systems for land inside Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA, as stated on the township's own sewer page.

  • The township page names the Cambria County Sewage Enforcement Agency as the township's sewage enforcement officer. The township's page does not say which Conemaugh Township it covers.
  • The agency is a multi-municipal local agency under Ordinance 685, not a county department of Somerset County.
  • Ordinance 685 and the agency's own service area were not opened; confirm before relying on this claim.
  • Address on the page is 1120 Tire Hill Road, Johnstown PA, which is the same township site that names Somerset County in its zoning ordinance.

  “the conemaugh township supervisors have adopted ordinance no. 685 authorizing participation with other municipalities in a multi-municipal local agency i.e. the cambria county sewage enforcement agency, which will administer on behalf of the municipality regulations and requirements regarding act 537, the pa sewage facilities act.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permit for new home construction in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a homeowner building their own home in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.
• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, PA.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land in Conemaugh Township, Somerset 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.