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

Liberty Township’s own rules

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Liberty Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

  • Susquehanna County's official municipal profile lists Liberty Township as having no zoning.

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

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot sewage facilities inside Liberty Township.

  • The Township's listed sewage-enforcement provider is JHA Companies.
  • Pennsylvania rules require local-agency sewage permits to be issued through a certified sewage enforcement officer employed or contracted by that local agency.

  “Trees Down, Roads, Cinders, Etc.: Darin DeRose Sewage Enforcement: JHA Companies Code Enforcement: NEIC Solicitor: Michael J. Giangrieco”

Rules another office applies inside Liberty Township

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Liberty Township is subject to Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code.

  • The state page states that the UCC regulates building-project codes and standards in the Commonwealth.

  “Pennsylvania's statewide building code, generally known as the Uniform Construction Code (UCC), has to be followed by builders in the state.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A building or facility in Liberty Township that is subject to the Pennsylvania UCC.

  • The certificate must be issued before the building or facility can be used.

  “A UCC certificate of occupancy must be issued before a building or facility can be used.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Off-grid sanitation arrangements inside Liberty Township.

  • A recycling, incinerating, composting, or other water-conservation toilet is permit-exempt only where the existing on-lot system will not be altered.
  • Untreated or partially treated sewage may not be discharged to the ground surface or Commonwealth waters except as specifically permitted.

  “When the installation of a recycling toilet, incinerating toilet or composting toilet is proposed for a new residence or establishment, an onlot sewage system or other approved method of sewage disposal shall be provided for treatment of washwater or excess liquid from the unit, except as provided in subsection (e).”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Liberty Township.
• Well permit — Private wells inside Liberty Township.
• Mandatory utility hookup — New homes inside Liberty Township.
• Agricultural exemption — Agricultural construction or land-use controls inside Liberty Township.
• Subdividing land — Subdivision and land development inside Liberty 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.