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

Choconut Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building activity within Choconut Township.

  • The county profile identifies Susquehanna County Council of Governments (COG) as the codes-enforcement provider.

  “Sewage Enforcement: Susquehanna County Council of Governments (COG) Codes Enforcement: Susquehanna County Council of Governments (COG) Solicitor: Michael J. Giangrieco Driveway Permit Required: Yes Building Permit: Yes Zoning: No”

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land within Choconut Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

  • The county profile also states that Choconut Township has no planning ordinance; this claim concerns zoning only.

  “Driveway Permit Required: Yes Building Permit: Yes Zoning: No Planning Ordinance: No Comprehensive Plan: Yes Flood Plain Management Ordinance: Yes”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway access within Choconut Township.

  • The source does not provide application, design, road-jurisdiction, or fee details.

  “Sewage Enforcement: Susquehanna County Council of Governments (COG) Codes Enforcement: Susquehanna County Council of Governments (COG) Solicitor: Michael J. Giangrieco Driveway Permit Required: Yes Building Permit: Yes Zoning: No”

Rules another office applies inside Choconut Township

Choconut 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)

  Sewage enforcement for land within Choconut Township.

  • The source identifies the Susquehanna County Council of Governments (COG) as the sewage-enforcement entity for Choconut Township.

  “Sewage Enforcement: Susquehanna County Council of Governments (COG)”

• Septic permitRequired

  Individual or community onlot sewage systems, and buildings served by such systems, within Choconut Township.

  • Exceptions are provided in 25 Pa. Code § 72.22(c)-(e).
  • A permit is required for specified alterations or connections under § 72.22(b).
  • A permit is not required for an unaltered existing onlot system when installing a recycling, incinerating, composting, or other water-conservation toilet/device under § 72.22(d).
  • Subject to the local-agency or municipal-ordinance exception, § 72.22(e) creates a limited exemption for qualifying owner/family residential systems on contiguous tracts of 10 acres or more, owned of record on January 10, 1987.

  “No person may install, award a contract for construction or construct an individual or community onlot sewage system, or install, construct, occupy or use a building to be served by that system without first obtaining a permit from the local agency, except as provided in subsections (c)—(e).”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Onlot/off-grid sewage disposal serving land within Choconut Township.

  • A local-agency permit is generally required before installation or construction of an individual or community onlot sewage system or a building served by it.
  • The rule excepts circumstances identified in § 72.22(c)-(e), including the limited permit exemption in § 72.22(e).

  “A permit is not required for the installation of a recycling toilet, incinerating toilet, composting toilet or other type of water conservation device where the existing onlot system will not be altered.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction within Choconut Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption applicable within Choconut Township.
• Inspections — Building inspections within Choconut Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for structures within Choconut Township.
• Septic inspection — Inspection of onlot sewage systems within Choconut 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.