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

Buffalo Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Buffalo Township, Union County, PA (Mifflinburg address). Township-adopted zoning; zoning permits issued by the township zoning officer.

  • The township fee schedule states the zoning ordinance is administered by Central Keystone Council of Governments (CK-COG); application fees for zoning go to CK-COG.
  • Zoning district names and dimensional standards were not extracted; the zoning ordinance text was not opened within the research budget.
  • Subdivision and land development are handled separately by the township planning commission (see subdivision claim).

  “zoning ordinace is administered by central keystone cog. application fees are payable to the cog.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Individual and community sewage systems inside Buffalo Township, Union County, PA, outside any system covered by the Municipal Sewer Authority of Buffalo Township.

  • Sewage permits are issued through the township's sewage enforcement officer (listed on the officials page as Paul Rapp, alternate Justin Dashem).
  • Sewage permits covered by the municipal sewer authority are handled by that authority, not the township SEO.
  • State sewage-enforcement rules also apply; the township chapter was not checked against them within the budget.

  “sewage enforcement* officer seo, paul rapp (paxinos) (570) 339-7502 alternate, justin dashem (centre hall) (814) 933-2108 *sewage permits except those covered by the municipal sewer authority.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installing an individual or community sewage disposal system in Buffalo Township, or constructing a building in which such a system is to be installed.

  • A permit is required before installing the system or constructing the building; the permit must indicate the site and plans and specifications comply with the ordinance and applicable Pennsylvania provisions.
  • Excepted: sewage permits covered by the Municipal Sewer Authority of Buffalo Township are handled by that authority.

  “no person shall install an individual or community sewage disposal system in the township of buffalo, or construct any building in the township of buffalo in which an individual or community sewage disposal system is to be installed, without first obtaining a permit”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development of land inside Buffalo Township, Union County, PA.

  • Subdivision administration is handled by the Buffalo Township planning commission; the planning director must be contacted for subdivision or land development questions.
  • Subdivision with land development: $600.00 plus $25.00 per lot including the residual tract (fee schedule).
  • The township also publishes a land development procedures checklist per other sources; it was not opened within the budget.

  subdivision and add-on subdivision fee: 300 USD (plus $25.00 per lot including the residual tract)

  “subdivision administration is handled by the buffalo township planning commission.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Buffalo Township planning, zoning and book fees (fee schedule page).

  • The published schedule covers subdivision, land development, stormwater and books/maps fees; the zoning permit fee amount is not listed on the opened pages.
  • The fee schedule states that application fees are payable to Buffalo Township for subdivision matters and to CK-COG for zoning matters.
  • Administration services are billed at the hourly rate listed on the schedule.

  zoning ordinance or subdivision/land development ordinance book: 30 USD (printed copy price each, not a permit fee) · subdivision and add-on subdivision fee: 300 USD (plus $25.00 per lot including the residual tract) · administration hourly rate: 65 USD per hour (billed for services by persons other than the planning director/zoning officer)

  “subdivision and add-on subdivision $300.00 plus $25.00 per lot including the residual tract.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permits for construction in Buffalo Township, Union County, PA.

  • Zoning permit applications are submitted to the township zoning officer on a township form (revised 2022/06) that requires a site plan with setbacks, lot area, and building sizes.
  • The form asks for the sanitary, water and driveway permits where applicable.
  • Review timelines, approval steps and appeal steps were not stated on the opened pages; the zoning hearing board handles zoning appeals per the planning page.
  • Building permit or inspection process was not found on the opened pages.

  “*certification or permits for sanitary, water service and driveway permits are required as part of the application where applicable”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New residential construction in Buffalo Township, Union County, PA
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for building work in Buffalo Township, Union County, PA
• Building code adopted — Building construction in Buffalo Township, Union County, PA
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction in Buffalo Township, Union County, PA
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new buildings in Buffalo Township, Union County, PA

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.