Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Forest Lake Township, Pennsylvania

Forest Lake Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction or development anywhere within Forest Lake Township under Ordinance No. 03-13.

  • Minor repairs to existing buildings or structures do not require this permit.
  • This is the floodplain-ordinance construction/development permit, not a finding that every possible state building-code permit has the same scope.

  “It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, business or corporation to undertake, or cause to be undertaken, any construction or development anywhere within the Forest Lake Twp unless a Permit has been obtained from the Floodplain Administrator.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction or development inside Forest Lake Township under the floodplain ordinance.

  • The inspection duty applies during the construction period and concerns compliance with the permit application and applicable municipal laws and ordinances.

  “During the construction period, the Floodplain Administrator or other authorized official shall inspect the premises to determine that the work is progressing in compliance with the information provided on the permit application and with all applicable municipal laws and ordinances.”

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Forest Lake Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

  • The county profile was updated March 6, 2024.
  • This finding concerns zoning; the profile separately identifies floodplain management and building-permit controls.

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

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Zoning minimum dwelling size inside Forest Lake Township.

  • The finding concerns zoning dimensional regulation only.

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

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Zoning minimum lot size inside Forest Lake Township.

  • The finding concerns zoning dimensional regulation only.

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

• SetbacksNone

  Zoning setbacks inside Forest Lake Township.

  • The floodplain ordinance includes separate floodplain-area siting controls.

  “Zoning: No Flood Plain Management Ordinance: Yes”

• Lot coverageNone

  Zoning lot-coverage limits inside Forest Lake Township.

  • The finding concerns zoning dimensional regulation only.

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

• Building heightNone

  Zoning building-height limits inside Forest Lake Township.

  • The finding concerns zoning dimensional regulation only.

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

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction or development anywhere within Forest Lake Township under Ordinance No. 03-13.

  • Minor repairs to existing buildings or structures are exempt.
  • No permit may issue until the Administrator determines whether other necessary state and federal permits have been obtained.
  • For identified floodplain applications, County Conservation District review and comment is required before permit issuance.

  “A Permit shall be required before any construction or development is undertaken within any area of the Forest Lake Twp.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Floodplain ordinance permits for construction or development inside Forest Lake Township.

  • The fee is payable to the municipality and is based on estimated construction cost as determined by the Floodplain Administrator.

  floodplain permit fee basis: estimated cost of proposed construction (as determined by the Floodplain Administrator)

  “Applications for Permits shall be accompanied by a fee, payable to the municipality, based upon the estimated cost of the proposed construction as determined by the Floodplain Administrator.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Floodplain permit applications for construction or development inside Forest Lake Township.

  • The application must be made in writing on forms supplied by the township.
  • The ordinance lists applicant, owner, contractor, site location, other required permits, and proposed-work/cost information.

  “Application for such a Permit shall be made, in writing, to the Floodplain Administrator on forms supplied by the Forest Lake Twp.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders constructing inside Forest Lake Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Forest Lake Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Forest Lake Township.
• Septic permit — Installation or use of sewage facilities inside Forest Lake Township.
• Septic inspection — Septic or holding-tank inspections inside Forest Lake 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.