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

Thompson Township’s own rules

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Thompson Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

  • The County profile was updated February 12, 2024.

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

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Township zoning districts inside Thompson Township.

  • The profile expressly reports no zoning; this does not address non-zoning planning or floodplain ordinances.

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

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Zoning minimum dwelling size inside Thompson Township.

  • This is limited to the absence of a township zoning standard; UCC standards may still apply.

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

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Zoning minimum lot size inside Thompson Township.

  • This is limited to the absence of a township zoning standard; sewage and subdivision requirements may still apply.

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

• SetbacksNone

  Zoning setbacks inside Thompson Township.

  • This is limited to the absence of a township zoning standard; other construction and safety rules may still apply.

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

• Lot coverageNone

  Zoning lot coverage inside Thompson Township.

  • This is limited to the absence of a township zoning standard; floodplain and other development rules may still apply.

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

• Building heightNone

  Zoning building-height limits inside Thompson Township.

  • This is limited to the absence of a township zoning standard; Pennsylvania UCC and other applicable rules may still apply.

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

• Living in an RVUnrestricted

  RV occupancy as a zoning-controlled land use inside Thompson Township.

  • This conclusion addresses the absence of a township zoning rule only; Act 537 sewage, building, floodplain, and other applicable rules may still apply.

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

• Camping on your landUnrestricted

  Temporary camping as a zoning-controlled land use inside Thompson Township.

  • This conclusion addresses the absence of a township zoning rule only; sewage, building, floodplain, and other applicable rules may still apply.

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

• Tiny homesUnrestricted

  Tiny-home occupancy as a zoning-controlled land use inside Thompson Township.

  • This conclusion addresses the absence of a township zoning rule only; Pennsylvania UCC, sewage, floodplain, and other applicable rules may still apply.

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

• Manufactured homesUnrestricted

  Manufactured-home occupancy as a zoning-controlled land use inside Thompson Township.

  • This conclusion addresses the absence of a township zoning rule only; Pennsylvania UCC, sewage, floodplain, and other applicable rules may still apply.

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

• Accessory dwellingsUnrestricted

  Accessory dwelling units as a zoning-controlled land use inside Thompson Township.

  • This conclusion addresses the absence of a township zoning rule only; Pennsylvania UCC, sewage, floodplain, and other applicable rules may still apply.

  “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 matters inside Thompson Township.

  • The township profile identifies JHA as sewage enforcement; Pennsylvania Act 537 describes on-lot facilities as largely administered at the local-government level.

  “Sewage Enforcement: JHA Code Enforcement: NEIC Solicitor: Francis O'Connor Driveway Permit Required: Yes Building Permit: Yes Zoning: No”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway access inside Thompson Township.

  • The county's Thompson Township profile was updated February 12, 2024.

  “Sewage Enforcement: JHA Code Enforcement: NEIC Solicitor: Francis O'Connor Driveway Permit Required: Yes Building Permit: Yes Zoning: No”

Rules another office applies inside Thompson Township

Thompson 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 permitRequired

  Construction or building work inside Thompson Township subject to Pennsylvania's UCC.

  • Emergency repairs or equipment replacements may be made without a permit if an application is submitted to the building code official within three business days.

  “The UCC requires property owners to obtain a construction or building permit before starting any work.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building work inside Thompson Township subject to Pennsylvania's statewide UCC.

  • Pennsylvania describes the UCC as a statewide code that builders must follow.
  • parameters absent

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

• InspectionsLimited

  UCC-regulated work inside Thompson Township.

  • The state page specifies inspection cases including construction or changes to commercial or residential buildings; electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems; pools or hot tubs; and specified manufactured or industrialized housing work.

  “Inspections are also necessary in several cases, including construction or changes to commercial or residential buildings, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, and the installation of swimming pools or hot tubs.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A building or facility inside Thompson Township subject to Pennsylvania's UCC.

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

• Septic permitRequired

  Individual or community sewage-system work, or a building for which such a system is to be installed, inside Thompson Township.

  • Replacement-dwelling and qualifying ten-acre owner/family exceptions are stated in Act 537.
  • A local agency or municipality may require a permit by ordinance even where the ten-acre exemption would otherwise apply.
  • A Department permit may be required under the Clean Streams Law.

  “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.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private individual or community sewage disposal inside Thompson Township.

  • Installation, construction, alteration, repair, or connection generally requires the Act 537 permit.
  • Act 537 provides stated replacement-dwelling and qualifying ten-acre owner/family exceptions.

  “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.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Thompson Township.
• Septic inspection — On-lot sewage-system inspections inside Thompson Township.
• Well permit — Private wells inside Thompson Township.
• Mandatory utility hookup — New homes inside Thompson Township where public water or sewer may be available.
• Agricultural exemption — Agricultural construction or land development inside Thompson 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.