Bolthole Index

Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Arnold, Pennsylvania

Arnold is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Arnold adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Arnold’s rules apply, not the county’s. 4 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on November 12, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Westmoreland County page.

Answers from the rulebook for Arnold

Arnold’s own rules

  • InspectionsLimited

    Property inspections inside Arnold city (rental and purchase; commercial by third-party vendor)

    • Residential inspections by appointment, 9am-3pm; purchases $100 per unit, rentals $75 per unit; no fee for first re-inspection.
    • Commercial inspections by Building Inspections Underwriting, Inc. as third-party vendor.

    purchase inspection fee: 100 USD per unit · rental inspection fee: 75 USD per unit

    “purchases are $100 per unit and rentals are $75 per unit. there will be not be a fee for the first re-inspection.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Arnold city, Westmoreland County, PA

    • Zoning hearing board handles special exceptions and variances; city council decides conditional uses.
    “zoning ordinance permits, prohibits, regulates and determines the use of land, watercourses and other bodies of water”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Zoning ordinance articles and zoning map published on city site; district contents not read

    • Article 3 (establishment of zoning district) and zoning map PDFs listed but not opened.
    “article 3 - establishment of zoning district.pdf”
  • Permit processPartial

    Zoning permit application and code enforcement inside Arnold city

    • A zoning permit application PDF is listed on the zoning page; not opened.
    “zoning permit application.pdf zoning map.pdf a table of contents.pdf adoption signatures.pdf appendix a.pdf”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Arnold or Westmoreland County directly.

  • Building permit — Building permits inside Arnold city
  • Owner-builder exemption — Inside Arnold city
  • Building code adopted — Building code inside Arnold city
  • Certificate of occupancy — Inside Arnold city
  • Minimum dwelling size — Inside Arnold city
21 more unanswered
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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 Arnold publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Westmoreland County’s page lists the county offices to call.

Off-grid gear

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

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