Bolthole Index

Union County, Pennsylvania

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Union County, Pennsylvania

64Index Score / 100
#44 of 67 in Pennsylvania

Union County, Pennsylvania property owners generally need a construction or building permit before starting work covered by the statewide Uniform Construction Code1. Central Keystone Council of Governments says every Union County municipality has adopted the code and that zoning requirements must be satisfied before a building permit is issued2. Zoning details depend on the township or borough, while on-lot septic permits come from local agencies34.

At a glance

Building permit
Required before work covered by Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code begins1
Building inspections
Required for covered residential construction and building systems5
Zoning
Handled locally; confirm the parcel's rules with its township or borough3
Septic permits
Local agencies issue permits for most individual and community on-lot systems4
RV or tiny-home living
Not confirmed countywide; ask the parcel's township or borough before relying on it3
Owner-builder exemption
We could not confirm one; ask the building-code official whether the project qualifies for any exemption6
Private well
Commercial drillers need state licensing and permits; no Union County-specific permit rule was confirmed7
Certificate of occupancy
Required before a building or facility covered by the code can be used8

Who to call

Building permits

Central Keystone Council of Governments (CKCOG)

Uniform Construction Code building permits and inspections for Union County municipalities, plus zoning administration where the municipality uses CKCOG

570-522-1326

[email protected]

1610 Industrial Boulevard, Suite 400A, Lewisburg, PA 17837

Online permits →

Planning & zoning

Union County Planning Commission

County planning contact for municipalities where CKCOG lists no zoning officer

(570) 524-3840

UC Government Center, 155 N. 15th Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837

Septic permits

Municipal Sewage Enforcement Officer

The parcel's local on-lot sewage permitting contact; use the state directory or ask the township or borough for its current officer

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 27, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Union County, Pennsylvania?

Yes, for construction or building work covered by Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code. Property owners must obtain the permit before starting covered work, although emergency repairs or equipment replacement may proceed if the application reaches the building-code official within three business days1. CKCOG states that all Union County municipalities have adopted the state building code and will not issue a building permit until applicable zoning requirements are satisfied2. Inspections are required for covered residential construction and for changes involving electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems5. A qualifying agricultural building is excluded from the state Construction Code Act, but that exclusion does not erase municipal zoning, health, environmental, or other applicable rules9.

Who issues building permits in Union County, and how do you reach them?

Start with Central Keystone Council of Governments, the building-code contact shown for Union County municipalities. CKCOG's Union County page gives 1610 Industrial Boulevard, Suite 400A, Lewisburg, PA 17837; phone 570-522-1326, option 2; and [email protected]2. The same page organizes the process as zoning first, building permit second, and inspections third, and warns that one project can require multiple inspections scheduled by the permit holder2. Ask CKCOG to confirm the correct enforcing jurisdiction and forms for the parcel because the reviewed permit rule makes local enforcement and project exemptions parcel-specific1. For municipal zoning questions where no officer is listed, CKCOG directs readers to the Union County Planning Commission at the UC Government Center in Lewisburg, phone (570) 524-384010.

Does Union County have zoning?

Treat zoning as a township-or-borough question, not a single countywide answer. Pennsylvania directs local permit and zoning questions to the township, borough, or city where the activity will occur3. CKCOG's Union County directory lists different zoning contacts and requirements by municipality and says to call the Union County Planning Commission when no zoning officer is listed210. We could not confirm one operative countywide zoning rule that answers every parcel's use, setback, minimum-lot-size, building-height, or minimum-home-size question. Before designing a house or making an offer, identify the parcel's municipality and request its current ordinance, zoning map, dimensional table, and written interpretation for the intended use. Pennsylvania law allows county zoning only in municipalities lacking their own zoning ordinance and only until a municipal ordinance takes effect11.

How do septic permits work in Union County?

Local agencies issue permits for most retaining tanks and individual or community on-lot sewage systems in Union County; large-volume systems are an exception to that local responsibility4. Contact the parcel's township or borough for its current Sewage Enforcement Officer, or use Pennsylvania DEP's active-officer directory by county12. A permit generally must be obtained before installing or constructing the system or occupying a building that it serves13. Do not cover the completed system until the original permit issuer or an authorized representative approves it; state law provides a limited waiting procedure after notice of completion14. Only 18.5% of Union County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so make the soil evaluation and system feasibility part of the purchase contingency15.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Union County?

We could not confirm a countywide rule allowing long-term RV occupancy or tiny-home occupancy on private land in Union County. Ask the parcel's township or borough zoning contact about the proposed dwelling, duration of occupancy, utility connections, and use during construction because Pennsylvania sends zoning questions to the municipality where the activity occurs3. State-park camping limits do not create a right to live in an RV on private property; those limits apply only in Pennsylvania state park campgrounds16. A manufactured home also is not a shortcut around site rules: work outside its approved design, utility connections, additions, relocation, resale, and some occupancy changes can trigger the Uniform Construction Code17. CKCOG or the Union County Planning Commission can direct you to the appropriate municipal contact210.

Building a home in Union County: the steps, in order

  1. Identify the parcel's township or borough and ask for its zoning contact, current ordinance, and parcel-specific dimensional rules3.
  1. Obtain any required zoning approval first; CKCOG says it will not issue the building permit until zoning requirements are satisfied2.
  1. Contact the municipality's Sewage Enforcement Officer and secure the required on-lot sewage approval before relying on the site as buildable4.
  1. Apply for the Uniform Construction Code building permit before covered work begins1.
  1. Schedule each required inspection during construction5. If access involves state-highway land or a PennDOT drainage facility, obtain the separate highway occupancy permit18.
  1. Obtain the Uniform Construction Code certificate of occupancy before using the completed building or facility8.

What should you check before buying land in Union County?

Confirm zoning, legal access, sewage feasibility, water, and floodplain status before closing. A state-highway driveway or work connecting to PennDOT drainage requires a highway occupancy permit18. Development inside a Special Flood Hazard Area requires a municipal floodplain-development permit before work begins19. For water, Pennsylvania licenses and permits commercial well drillers but exempts a farmer or homeowner drilling a well on owned or leased land from that licensing requirement; we could not confirm a separate Union County well-permit rule7. The land itself is mixed: 62.3% has a slope of 15% or less, while only 18.5% of soils lack severe conventional-drain-field limitations2015. Typical farmland value is about $12,462 per acre, but parcel price and suitability can differ sharply21.

Watch-outs

  • Do not start covered work before the building permit is issued; the emergency-repair exception still requires an application within three business days1.
  • Private-land RV living, tiny-home occupancy, setbacks, and minimum dwelling size were not confirmed countywide; ask the parcel's township or borough for a written answer3.
  • Most Union County soils have severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so do not treat acreage alone as proof that an on-lot system will work15.

Sources

  1. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  2. Central Keystone Council of Governments (CKCOG) (ckcog.com)
  3. Local Registrations, Permits, Zoning (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. Municipal On-Lot Sewage Service Areas, quoted and re-checked
  5. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  6. (2026 county census)
  7. Apply for a Water Well Drillers License and Rig Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit, quoted and re-checked
  9. Pennsylvania Construction Code Act — Chapter 1 (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Union County Planning Commission (ckcog.com)
  11. Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Municipal Sewage Enforcement Officer (pa.gov)
  13. 25 Pa. Code § 72.22. Permit issuance (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  16. RV and Tent Campsites (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Apply for a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. PennsylvaniA Floodplain Development Guide (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data

Written September 27, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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County locator

Union County in Pennsylvania

64
County map
Union County highlighted among the Pennsylvania counties · colored by Index score

How Union County scores

Seclusion29100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency68100% ev.
Admin Boringness5890% ev.
Durability82100% ev.
Property Autonomy68100% ev.
Carry Cost53100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$299kTypical home
1.2%Property tax
$12,462Land / acre
43.6"Annual rain
0.2% of yrsSevere drought
2.8 / yr (+2.7)Mid-century 100°F days
10.9 daysMid-century dry spell
2.01" (+7.9%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.54×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$850Home insurance / yr
0.3% / yrInsurance growth
0.2%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
218,558People within 30 min
4,693,881People within 2 hr
109,178Radius comparison (15 mi)
133.1People / sq mi
0.7%Federal land
62.3%Land at 15% slope or less
18.5%Septic soil without severe limits
35,677 acWorkable land screen
62.1%Wooded land
73.9 tonsBiomass / forest ac
50°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Union County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Union County rules

  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    Zoning in Pennsylvania is administered at the municipal level; several Union County municipalities (e.g. Union Township, East Buffalo Township) have adopted zoning ordinances, and zoning approval is a pre-construction requirement, coordinated via the Union County Planning Department.

    Union County Planning - Zoning Information ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Pennsylvania rules that apply here

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction or building work in Union County subject to the Pennsylvania 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.
    • Local enforcing jurisdiction and applicable exemptions must be confirmed for the specific project.
    “The UCC requires property owners to obtain a construction or building permit before starting any work.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction throughout Pennsylvania under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.

    • The UCC is administered and enforced locally by municipalities that opt in, using municipal employees or certified third-party agencies.
    • In municipalities that opt out, the Department of Labor and Industry is responsible for commercial code enforcement, while certified third-party agencies hired by property owners or contractors enforce residential UCC requirements.
    • The Department has sole jurisdiction for elevators and state-owned buildings wherever located.
    • The 2021 accessibility updates are permanently enjoined; structures must still comply with the 2018 accessibility requirements, and the injunction does not affect enforcement of non-accessibility UCC requirements.
    • The revised regulations adopting the 2018 I-Code series became effective February 14, 2022. Contract-based transition rules allow certain projects with contracts signed before that date to use the UCC in effect at the time of contract if application was made by August 14, 2022 or earlier.
    • The 2021 I-Code accessibility provisions became effective December 25, 2021, with a contract-based transition period allowing applications by June 25, 2022 or earlier.
    • Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code triennial update was published November 8, 2025 and became effective January 1, 2026.

    2018 I-Code regulations effective date: 2022-02-14 (For contracts signed before this date, application and permit issuance under the UCC in effect at the time of contract were allowed if application was made by 2022-08-14.) · 2021 I-Code accessibility provisions effective date: 2021-12-25 (For contracts signed before this date, application and permit issuance under the UCC in effect at the time of contract were allowed if application was made by 2022-06-25.) · 2025 triennial UCC update effective date: 2026-01-01

    “Pennsylvania's statewide building code, generally known as the Uniform Construction Code (UCC), has to be followed by builders in the state.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted — Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code standards applicable to building projects in Union County.
      “Pennsylvania's statewide building code, generally known as the Uniform Construction Code (UCC), has to be followed by builders in the state.”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Building construction governed by Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code, including covered work in Union County.
      “Pennsylvania's statewide building code [...] has to be followed by builders in the state.”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Construction and building work in Pennsylvania, including Union County, subject to the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
      “The Uniform Construction Code applies to the construction, alteration, repair, movement, equipment, removal, demolition, location, maintenance, occupancy or change of occupancy of every building or structure which occurs on or after April 9, 2004, and all existing structures that are not legally occupied.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction and specified building-system work governed by the Pennsylvania UCC, including covered work in Union County.

    • Inspections are necessary for construction or changes to commercial or residential buildings and for electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems.
    • Manufactured and industrialized housing projects require inspections for site preparation, foundation construction, repairs, and changes in occupancy.
    • Special inspections and structural observations may require a completed UCC-6 form.
    • If required UCC-6 documents are unavailable at the first inspection, the inspection will not occur, work may not continue, and a stop-work order may issue.
    “Inspections are also necessary in several cases”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Construction and changes to commercial or residential buildings and listed building systems in Union County.
      “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.”
    • Required — Applicable residential, commercial, building-system, pool, hot-tub, manufactured-housing, and industrialized-housing work in Union County.
      “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. Additionally, manufactured and industrialized housing projects require inspections for site preparation, foundation construction, repairs, and changes in occupancy.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Use of a building or facility governed by the Pennsylvania UCC, including covered buildings in Union County.

    • A UCC certificate of occupancy 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.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Use of a building or facility in Union County subject to the Pennsylvania UCC.
      “A UCC certificate of occupancy must be issued before a building or facility can be used.”
    • Required — Use of a building or facility in Union County subject to the Pennsylvania UCC.
      “A building, structure or facility may not be used or occupied without a certificate of occupancy issued by a building code official.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Pennsylvania zoning requirements and district information; the official state source directs applicants to the local township, borough, or city.

    • Local registrations, permits, and zoning requirements must be addressed with the township, borough, or city where the activity will occur.
    • The source does not publish a statewide zoning-district map or a single statewide zoning-district schedule.
    • This claim does not identify or aggregate individual municipal zoning districts.
    “Local registrations, permits, zoning requirements and related questions should be directed to the township, borough, or city where you will be operating.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured housing assembled and shipped by the manufacturer and bearing the required federal-construction-and-safety label, including changes in occupancy, resale, relocation, additions, repairs, utility connections, and grading addressed by Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code.

    • For new labeled manufactured housing installed in conformity with the manufacturer's approved design, the UCC does not apply except as provided in the regulation.
    • Construction activities or processes, including utility connections and grading, that are not addressed by the manufacturer's approved design must comply with the UCC.
    • The UCC applies to alterations or repairs outside the federal manufactured-home standards and manufacturer installation instructions after assembly and shipment.
    • The UCC applies to additions after delivery to the site.
    • The UCC applies to construction, alteration, repair, or change of occupancy if the manufactured housing is resold to a subsequent purchaser.
    • The UCC applies to construction, alteration, repair, or change of occupancy if the original purchaser relocates the manufactured housing.
    • Pennsylvania building-permit guidance states that manufactured housing projects require inspections for site preparation, foundation construction, repairs, and changes in occupancy.
    • This state construction-code rule does not resolve local zoning, land-use siting, or utility/septic approval requirements.
    “Construction, alteration, repair or change of occupancy if the original purchaser relocates the manufactured housing.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    On-lot and onsite sewage systems serving property in Union County.

    • DEP oversees the statewide Act 537 program.
    • Local Agencies, defined under Act 537, perform on-lot permitting and enforcement.
    • Local Agencies may be municipalities, combinations of municipalities, county departments of health, or joint county departments of health.
    • Large-volume on-lot systems are an exception to the ordinary local-agency permitting rule.
    • Delegated Joint Local Agencies may receive additional authority from DEP.
    “Local Agencies are responsible for carrying out on-lot [...] permitting and enforcement activities.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation, construction, occupancy, or use of a building served by an individual or community onlot sewage system statewide.

    • A permit must be obtained from the local agency before installation, contracting for construction, construction, occupancy, or use.
    • Multiple chemical or portable toilets for temporary construction, recreation, or temporary facilities are covered by one permit.
    • A permit is not required for a recycling, incinerating, or composting toilet where the existing onlot system is not altered.
    • A permit exemption may apply to an individual onlot system serving an owner or immediate-family residence on a contiguous tract of at least 10 acres, subject to the owner-of-record date, local ordinance exception, notification, and siting requirements.
    • A permit is not required for a replacement dwelling when the local agency determines the size and anticipated use are the same as or less than the prior dwelling and the prior dwelling was in use within one year, except during an active malfunction investigation.

    permit-exemption tract size: >= 10 acres (Only under the specific owner/immediate-family and January 10, 1987 owner-of-record conditions.) · permit-exempt siting distance: >= 200 feet (Applies to septic tanks and absorption areas from listed property, water, floodplain, and related features.) · permit-exempt utility right-of-way distance: >= 10 feet · local-agency verification fee cap: <= 25 USD (For verifying siting of a permit-exempt system.)

    “without first obtaining a permit from the local agency, except as provided in subsections (c)—(e).”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Retaining tanks and individual or community on-lot sewage systems in Union County.
      “With certain exceptions (i.e. large volume on-lot systems), local agencies are responsible for issuing permits for retaining tanks or for individual and community on-lot sewage systems which renovate sewage effluent in a soil absorption area or spray field.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Individual and community sewage-disposal systems before concealment or covering after construction.

    • The system may not be covered until approval to cover is given by the original permit issuer or authorized representative.
    • If 72 hours have elapsed after notification of construction completion, excluding Sundays and holidays, the applicant may cover the system unless permission has been refused.

    post-completion waiting period: 72 hours (Sundays and holidays excluded.)

    “shall be covered from view until approval to cover the same has been given by the body which issued the original permit”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Composting, incinerating, recycling, and similar water-conservation toilets used for residential or establishment sanitation statewide.

    • For a new residence or establishment, an onlot sewage system or other approved disposal method must treat washwater or excess liquid, and both facilities must be under one permit, except for the retaining-tank exception.
    • For an existing residence or facility with no alteration of the onlot system, no permit is required for installation.
    • A composting or incinerating toilet on a qualifying retaining-tank lot is treated as and permitted as a privy.
    • The device must meet manufacturer specifications and be operated and maintained to prevent pollution or health hazards.
    • Liquid discharges are prohibited unless sent to a compliant onlot sewage system or another method approved under the chapter or by DEP.
    • Recycling, incinerating, and composting toilets must bear the NSF Standard No. 41 seal.
    “an onlot sewage system or other approved method of sewage disposal shall be provided for treatment of washwater or excess liquid from the unit”
  • Well permitLimited

    Water-well drilling statewide, distinguishing commercial water-well drillers from farmers and homeowners drilling their own wells on owned or leased land.

    • Water-well drilling companies must obtain a license and permits.
    • The licensing requirement does not apply to farmers or homeowners who drill their own water wells on their own or leased land.
    • The state has construction standards for public water-supply wells but not private water wells.
    • Drillers must submit the well's construction details to the state and the well owner.

    driller license year: June 1-May 31 · annual driller license fee: 60 USD · rig permit fee: 20 USD

    “Water well drilling companies must get a license and permits to drill a well in Pennsylvania.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Qualifying agricultural buildings under Pennsylvania's Construction Code Act and Uniform Construction Code.

    • The exemption applies to an agricultural building as defined by the Act: a structure used to store farm implements, hay, feed, grain, or other agricultural or horticultural products; house poultry, livestock, or other farm animals; serve as a milk house; or grow mushrooms, agricultural, or horticultural products.
    • The definition includes a qualifying carriage house owned and used by members of a recognized religious sect for housing horses and storing buggies.
    • The definition includes a structure less than 1,000 square feet used to process maple sap.
    • The structure must not include habitable space.
    • The structure must not contain spaces where agricultural products are processed, treated, or packaged.
    • The structure is not a place of occupancy by the general public.
    • Other municipal land-use, zoning, fire, electrical, health, or environmental requirements may still apply; the cited exclusion is from the Construction Code Act.

    maple sap processing structure area: < 1000 square feet (Must otherwise meet the statutory agricultural-building definition.)

    “(b) Exclusions.--This act shall not apply to any of the following: [...] (4) Any agricultural building.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land development within Pennsylvania municipalities that enact or apply a subdivision and land development ordinance under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

    • The governing body of each municipality may regulate subdivisions and land development by ordinance.
    • Subdivision and land-development plats must be submitted for approval to the governing body or a designated planning agency.
    • Where a municipality has enacted an ordinance under Article V, subdivision or land development may not proceed except in accordance with that ordinance.
    • A county subdivision and land-development ordinance may apply where the municipality has no subdivision and land-development ordinance in effect; a municipality may also adopt the county ordinance by reference.
    • The cited statute does not establish one statewide numeric subdivision standard; local ordinances and applicable county review determine the requirements.
    “Section 501. Grant of Power.--The governing body of each municipality may regulate subdivisions and land development within the municipality by enacting a subdivision and land development ordinance. The ordinance shall require that all subdivision and land development plats of land situated within the municipality shall be submitted for approval to the governing body or, in lieu thereof, to a planning agency designated in the ordinance for this purpose, in which case any planning agency action shall be considered as action of the governing body.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Construction or alteration of a driveway or road on Pennsylvania state highway land, and access connecting to a PennDOT drainage facility.

    • A permit is required when building or changing a driveway, road, drainage, or utility facility on state highway land.
    • A permit is also required when the work connects to a PennDOT drainage facility.
    • Permits are usually given within 30 days when the application contains all needed information and complies with PennDOT regulations.
    • The claim does not establish a universal permit requirement for driveways not involving state highway land or a PennDOT drainage facility.

    usual review or issuance time: 30 days (The source states “usually” and conditions this on complete information and compliance with PennDOT regulations.)

    “You need a permit when you're building or changing a driveway, road, drainage or utility facility on the state highway land.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development activities within a Special Flood Hazard Area in Pennsylvania municipalities.

    • Municipalities must evaluate whether a project is within the SFHA and identify the type of work.
    • Municipalities must review permit applications and issue or deny permits for SFHA development.
    • Municipalities must conduct periodic inspections for compliance with proposed plans and the floodplain ordinance.
    • After completion, municipalities review required certificates and issue a certificate of occupancy when the development complies with the local floodplain ordinance.
    • Additional zoning permit requirements may apply when proposed land use changes.
    “A floodplain development permit (or its equivalent) must be issued by the municipality before development activities occur within the SFHA.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry UCC building fees when the Department issues the permit.

    • Fee schedule effective November 8, 2025.
    • Local municipal or third-party fees may differ.

    standard fee for new buildings and additions: 414.49 USD (plus $0.84 per square foot of floor area or each fraction of floor area) · standard fee for new structures and facilities other than buildings: 1246.06 USD · standard fee for alterations, renovations, or modifications: 414.49 USD (plus $83.93 for each $1,000 of estimated cost)

    “1. Permit for new buildings and additions Standard fee | $414.49 Plus $0.84 per square foot of floor area or each fraction of floor area”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code building permits for construction and building work subject to the UCC.

    • A UCC building permit must be obtained before starting work.
    • Inspections are required in several listed cases, including commercial or residential building changes, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, swimming pools or hot tubs, and specified manufactured or industrialized housing work.
    • A UCC certificate of occupancy must be issued before a building or facility can be used.
    • Emergency repairs or equipment replacements may proceed 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.”
  • Campground & park staysLimited

    RV use and occupancy at Pennsylvania state park campgrounds.

    • Use must occur at a state park campground and comply with campsite rules.
    • Campers may stay up to 14 consecutive nights from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
    • Campers may camp up to 21 consecutive nights during the remainder of the year.
    • Campers must vacate and remove all equipment for 48 hours between reservations.
    • A maximum of two sleeping units is permitted per campsite, of which only one may be wheeled.
    • Campsite occupancy is limited to one family unit or one non-family unit limited to five persons per site.
    • The page does not establish statewide permission for long-term or residential RV occupancy outside state park campgrounds.

    maximum stay, Memorial Day to Labor Day: 14 consecutive nights · maximum stay, remainder of year: 21 consecutive nights · equipment-removal interval between reservations: 48 hours · maximum sleeping units per campsite: 2 units (Only one may be wheeled.) · maximum non-family occupancy: 5 persons per site (One family unit is permitted instead.)

    “maximum of two sleeping units are permitted per campsite, of which only one may be wheeled.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Temporary only (with conditions) — Motorized or roadside camping in or near an RV or other vehicle at designated Pennsylvania state forest campsites, including any such state forest campsite within or serving Union County.
      “A camping permit will be valid for no more than seven consecutive nights. Individuals must vacate a site for at least 48 hours before reapplying.”
    • Limited — Temporary camping at Pennsylvania state park campgrounds.
      “Campers may camp for up to 21 consecutive nights”
  • county zoning authorityLimited

    Pennsylvania counties adopting and enforcing zoning ordinances on unincorporated land.

    • The Municipalities Planning Code defines county for this authority as any county of the second class through eighth class.
    • County zoning power is limited to land in municipalities wholly or partly within the county that have no zoning ordinance in effect when the county ordinance is introduced and until the municipality's zoning ordinance becomes effective.
    • A municipality's later zoning ordinance repeals the county zoning ordinance pro tanto within that municipality.
    “Section 602. County Powers.--The powers of the governing bodies of counties to enact, amend and repeal zoning ordinances shall be limited to land in those municipalities, wholly or partly within the county, which have no zoning ordinance in effect at the time a zoning ordinance is introduced before the governing body of the county and until the municipality's zoning ordinance is in effect.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from UCC permitting or inspection requirements in Union County.
  • Local zoning — Local zoning across Union County municipalities.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size requirements in Union County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot-size requirements in Union County.
  • Setbacks — Setback requirements in Union County.
8 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Living off-grid in Union County, Pennsylvania

Is Union County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Union County scores 64/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: a durable current and mid-century hazard profile and a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop. Watch-outs: about 218,558 people within a 30-minute drive.

Do you need a building permit in Union County, Pennsylvania?

Union County generally requires a residential building permit, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Municipal / joint local agency Sewage Enforcement Officer (Act 537), regulated by PA DEP. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Union County, Pennsylvania?

Land in Union County runs about $12,462 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Union County?

Union County gets about 43.6" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 0.2% of years.

How remote is Union County?

A representative private-land location has about 218,558 people within a 30-minute drive and 4,693,881 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

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

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How Union compares in Pennsylvania

Compare side-by-side →See all 67 Pennsylvania counties ranked →