Bolthole Index

Washington County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in South Franklin Township, Pennsylvania

South Franklin Township is a township in Washington County, Pennsylvania. South Franklin Township adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits South Franklin Township’s rules apply, not the county’s. Septic permits inside South Franklin Township come from South Franklin Township. 16 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on November 1, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Washington County page.

Answers from the rulebook for South Franklin Township

South Franklin Township’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    All land inside South Franklin township's municipal boundaries, under the township's own joint South Franklin & Green Hills Borough multi-municipal zoning ordinance (adopted by South Franklin township and Green Hills Borough together; not a county ordinance).

    • The ordinance is a joint ordinance with Green Hills Borough; it applies to both municipalities' boundaries.
    • The PDF is labeled updated July 2022; the source states the ordinance effective date as June 1, 2013.
    • Which parcels fall in which district is governed by the zoning map, which was not opened.
    “(b) the provisions of this ordinance shall apply to all zoning districts, lots, structures, land developments and subdivisions within the municipal boundaries of south franklin township and green hills borough, washington county, pennsylvania.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Land inside South Franklin township under the joint zoning ordinance: the district dimensional tables (A-1 agricultural, R-1 rural residential, R-2 medium density residential, and the other districts listed in the TOC).

    • Districts named in the TOC include A-1, R-1, R-2, MU, C-1, I/C, IO, SD, an airport overlay and a floodplain overlay; only A-1, R-1 and R-2 tables were read.
    • The zoning map was not opened.
    “the following table iii.2b illustrates lot size, setbacks, building heights, and other dimensional requirements in the r-1 rural residential district”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Land in South Franklin township's A-1 agricultural district (joint ordinance with Green Hills Borough; the zoning map governs which parcels are in this district)

    • Agriculture requires 10 acres; cemeteries 10 acres; all other uses 2 acres.
    • Source table is titled A-1 agricultural district.

    minimum lot area, detached single-family dwelling: 1 acre · minimum lot area, agriculture: 10 acre · minimum lot area, all other uses: 2 acre

    “minimum lot area agriculture 10 acres cemeteries 10 acres dwelling, detached single family 1 acre all other uses 2 acres”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Land in South Franklin township's R-2 medium density residential district (joint ordinance with Green Hills Borough)

    • Side yard shown is for detached single-family dwellings; all other principal uses have a 25-foot side yard.
    • Front yard applies to principal and accessory structures.

    minimum front yard: 50 feet · minimum side yard, detached single-family dwelling: 15 feet · minimum side yard, all other principal uses: 25 feet · minimum rear yard: 25 feet

    “minimum front yard principal and accessory structures 50 feet minimum side yard dwelling, detached single family all other principal uses 15 feet 25 feet minimum rear yard principal and accessory structures 25 feet”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Land in South Franklin township's A-1 agricultural district (joint ordinance with Green Hills Borough)

    maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent

    “maximum building height principal structures accessory structures 35 feet (3 1/2 stories) 65 feet (6 1/2 stories) maximum lot coverage 30%”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Land in South Franklin township's A-1 agricultural district (joint ordinance with Green Hills Borough)

    maximum building height, principal structures: <= 35 feet (3 1/2 stories) · maximum building height, accessory structures: <= 65 feet (6 1/2 stories)

    “maximum building height principal structures accessory structures 35 feet (3 1/2 stories) 65 feet (6 1/2 stories)”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Onlot sewage disposal for land inside South Franklin township

    • The township adopted its own Sewage Management Ordinance.
    • The ordinance does not state on its face whether the sewage enforcement officer is a township employee or a county-level officer; the employer was not verified.
    “"sewage enforcement officer (seo)" shall mean a person certified by dep who is employed by the township or wcsc.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New buildings that will contain sewage-generating facilities in South Franklin township

    • Sewage permit must be obtained from a sewage enforcement officer before a building or occupancy permit is issued.
    “d. no building or occupancy permit shall be issued for a new building which will contain sewage generating facilities until a valid sewage permit has been obtained from a sewage enforcement officer.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Onlot sewage systems serving new buildings in South Franklin township

    • A final inspection is required under the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act; the township may add inspections at the applicant's construction schedule.
    • Inspections are performed by a sewage enforcement officer.
    “inspection(s), in addition to the final inspection required by the sewage facilities act, may be scheduled and performed by a sewage enforcement officer”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — General building permit process for new homes in South Franklin township outside the sewage-permit condition
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption in South Franklin township
  • Building code adopted — Building code adoption for construction inside South Franklin township
  • Inspections — Building inspections for new construction in South Franklin township
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in South Franklin township
15 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that South Franklin Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Washington County’s page lists the county offices to call.

Off-grid gear

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

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