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

Dimock Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building work inside Dimock Township.

  • The official township profile identifies Council of Governments (COG) as code enforcement.

  “Sewage Enforcement: Council of Governments (COG) Code Enforcement: Council of Governments (COG) Solicitor: Atty. Michael Briechle Driveway Permit: Yes Building Permit: Yes Zoning: No”

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

  • This establishes absence of a township zoning ordinance; state, county, and other applicable non-zoning controls may still apply.

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

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway access inside Dimock Township.

  “Sewage Enforcement: Council of Governments (COG) Code Enforcement: Council of Governments (COG) Solicitor: Atty. Michael Briechle Driveway Permit: Yes Building Permit: Yes Zoning: No”

Rules another office applies inside Dimock Township

Dimock 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 inside Dimock Township.

  • The authority is the Susquehanna County COG Sewage Enforcement Committee, listed by DEP as Dimock Township's joint-local-agency service provider.

  “58910 Dimock Township Susquehanna Susquehanna Co COG Sewage Enforcement Committee”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation, construction, alteration, repair, connection, or associated building occupancy involving an individual or community sewage system inside Dimock Township.

  • A same-size and same-anticipated-use replacement dwelling that had been in use within one year is excepted, except where an active malfunction investigation is under way.
  • A permit-exemption provision may apply to a qualifying owner-occupied or immediate-family residence on a contiguous tract of at least ten acres owned of record on January 10, 1987, unless a local agency or municipality requires a permit by ordinance.
  • A DEP permit may instead be required under the Clean Streams Law, or DEP may determine a permit unnecessary for public-health protection.

  “No person shall install, construct, or award a contract for construction, or alter, repair or connect to an individual sewage system or community sewage system or construct, or request bid proposals for construction, or install or occupy any building or structure for which an individual sewage system or community sewage system is to be installed without first obtaining a permit indicating that the site and the plans and specifications of such system are in compliance with the provisions of this act and the standards adopted pursuant to this act.”

• Septic inspectionLimited

  Individual or community sewage systems inside Dimock Township.

  • Inspections and tests are those necessary to carry out Section 7 of the Sewage Facilities Act.
  • A completed sewage-disposal system or structure may not be covered until the permit issuer or its representative approves covering it, unless 72 hours excluding Sundays and holidays elapse after notice of completion and permission has not been refused.

  “such inspections and tests as may be necessary”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Off-grid individual or community sewage systems inside Dimock Township.

  • A sewage permit is generally required before installation or occupancy where an individual or community sewage system is to be installed.
  • Statutory replacement-dwelling and qualifying ten-acre permit-exemption provisions may apply.

  “individual sewage system or community sewage system”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Proposed subdivisions and land developments inside Dimock Township.

  • Dimock Township is listed by the county as having no planning ordinance.
  • Plans in municipalities without a subdivision and land-development ordinance must be submitted to the Susquehanna County Planning Commission for review and action; local township review remains additional.

  “shall be submitted for review and action to the Susquehanna County Planning Commission”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Preliminary subdivision-plan submissions for land inside Dimock Township.

  • This claim concerns county subdivision-plan filing fees only; it does not establish building, driveway, sewage, or other permit fees.
  • The filing fee is established by Planning Commission resolution and is payable at initial submission.

  “filing fee as established by resolution of the Planning Commission”

• Permit processPartial

  Subdivision and land-development plan processing for land inside Dimock Township.

  • This is a published county process for subdivision and land-development plans, not a complete process for all township permits.
  • A sketch plan is encouraged but not required.
  • Preliminary-plan documents must be submitted at least 14 days before the Planning Commission meeting at which the applicant seeks the official submission date.

  preliminary-plan filing lead time: >= 14 days (Before the Planning Commission meeting at which the applicant applies for the official date of preliminary-plan submission.)

  “at least fourteen (14) days prior to the Planning Commission meeting”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Dimock Township.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Dimock Township.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Dimock Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered occupied structures inside Dimock Township.
• Well permit — Private wells inside Dimock 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.