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

East Buffalo Township’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building construction inside East Buffalo township, Union County, PA

  • The township elects to administer and enforce the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act within the township; administration may be by township employee, third-party agencies, or joint agreement as set by board resolution.

  “the uniform construction code (hereinafter the code), set forth in 34 pa. code, chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted as the township building code.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside East Buffalo township, Union County, PA. The township itself adopts and administers its zoning ordinance (Chapter 27 Zoning).

  • Zoning ordinance is Chapter 27 Zoning of the township code (PDF on ebtwp.org); the district text was not read because the PDF exceeded the open-page size limit.

  “east buffalo township has adopted zoning and subdivision & land development ordinances.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts of East Buffalo township

  • The township's planning page lists the districts and links a zoning map marked 'Rev 2016'; district regulations text is in Chapter 27 and was not read.

  “the zoning districts include: agricultural preservation agricultural residential bucknell university general commercial highway commercial industrial low density residential medium density residential urban residential woodland preservation”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Individual sewage disposal systems for buildings inside East Buffalo township

  • The township code enforcement officer receives applications, prescribes minimum system specifications, and signs preliminary approval; the township engineer makes or observes percolation tests and inspects mechanical systems.
  • Specifications are based on minimum standards of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources in effect at application.

  “no person or persons shall commence the construction, alteration or extension of any kind or of any nature whatsoever of an individual sewage disposal system without first making application for a certificate to the township code enforcement officer.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, alteration or extension of an individual sewage disposal system inside East Buffalo township

  • Application for a certificate is made to the township code enforcement officer; for a building, the application accompanies the building permit application.
  • Holding-tank use requires a separate township sewage permit (see off_grid_sanitation claim).

  “no person or persons shall commence the construction, alteration or extension of any kind or of any nature whatsoever of an individual sewage disposal system without first making application for a certificate to the township code enforcement officer.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Required — Individual residences, commercial or industrial buildings inside East Buffalo township where no soil absorption system is approved

    “with respect to individual residences, commercial buildings or industrial buildings where no soil absorption system is approved by the township code enforcement officer, a plan for a mechanical system of disposal shall be submitted.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Individual sewage disposal systems installed in East Buffalo township under a township building permit

  • The system may not be closed over, and may not operate, until the township code enforcement officer inspects it.

  “the disposal system constructed upon the premises in question shall not be closed and no operation of said sewage disposal system shall be permitted until said installed system has been inspected by the township code enforcement officer.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Properties inside East Buffalo township that use holding tanks for on-site sanitary sewage disposal

  • Holding-tank owners must apply for a township sewage permit under the Pennsylvania sewage permit requirements.
  • Collection and transport of sewage from holding-tank properties is under township direction and control, with disposal only at approved sites.

  “the owner of any property proposing to utilize holding tank or tanks for on-site disposal of their sanitary sewage shall: (a) apply for a township sewage permit in accordance with the pennsylvania sewage facilities act;”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside East Buffalo township

  • The township has a subdivision and land development ordinance (Chapter 22 SALDO is posted on ebtwp.org; its text was not opened).

  “east buffalo township has adopted zoning and subdivision & land development ordinances.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning and building permit process inside East Buffalo township

  • Building, plumbing and fire codes are in Chapter 5; a zoning permit is required in addition to building permits.
  • Forms and applications for the building permit process are obtained from CK-COG, which the township page lists as its code enforcement agency.

  “a zoning permit is also required in east buffalo township.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for construction inside East Buffalo township
• Inspections — Building inspections inside East Buffalo township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new buildings inside East Buffalo township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside East Buffalo township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the main single-family residential district and the agricultural or rural-residential district inside East Buffalo 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.