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

Richmond Township’s own rules

• InspectionsLimited

  Construction performed under a Richmond Township floodplain development permit.

  • The Floodplain Administrator or authorized official makes inspections as necessary during construction and upon completion.

  “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. He/she shall make as many inspections during and upon completion of the work as are necessary.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Richmond Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania.

  • Land and buildings must conform to the Township zoning ordinance.

  “No building or land shall hereafter be used or occupied and no building or part thereof shall be erected, moved, or altered unless in conformity with the regulations herein specified.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Semi-permanent RV or camping-trailer residences inside Richmond Township.

  • The listed semi-permanent residence is a special exception requiring Zoning Hearing Board approval and chapter procedures.

  “Semi-permanent residence is commonly referred to as "man camps" which may involve camping trailers, recreational vehicles or double-wide mobile living units set on gravel.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Minor and major subdivisions and land development inside Richmond Township.

  • The code provides separate minor-subdivision and major-subdivision/land-development procedures and a fee schedule.

  “Part 3 PROCEDURES [...] § 22-301 General Procedure. [...] § 22-302 Fee Schedule. [...] § 22-303 Minor Subdivision Procedure. [...] § 22-304 Major Subdivision and Land Development Procedure.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction or development inside Richmond Township.

  • A permit is required before construction or development.
  • Other necessary state and federal permits must be obtained before issuance.

  “A permit shall be required before any construction or development is undertaken within any area of the Township of Richmond.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Fees assessed by Richmond Township for administration and enforcement of its adopted construction code.

  • Fees are established by the governing body by resolution from time to time.

  “Fees assessable by the Municipality for the administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this Part and the Code shall be established by the governing body by resolution from time to time.”

• Permit processPartial

  Floodplain development permits inside Richmond Township.

  • Application must be in writing on Township-supplied forms.
  • The Floodplain Administrator must determine conformity with the chapter and other applicable codes and ordinances before issuing the permit.
  • A fee accompanies the application and is based on estimated construction cost as determined by the Floodplain Administrator.

  “Application for such a permit shall be made, in writing, to the Floodplain Administrator on forms supplied by the Township of Richmond.”

Rules another office applies inside Richmond Township

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

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Individual mobile homes in Richmond Township's Agricultural Residential District.

  • Mobile homes must be on a concrete pad or permanent foundation wall, skirted, and have minimal landscaping conforming to nearby residences.

  “Single-family detached dwellings including individual mobile homes; providing, mobile homes are placed on a concrete pad or permanent foundation wall and skirted and has minimal landscaping conforming to nearby residences.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — General residential construction inside Richmond Township outside floodplain-specific permitting.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Richmond Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Richmond Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Richmond Township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Richmond 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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Richmond Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.