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

Rostraver Township’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction regulated as the municipal building code inside Rostraver Township.

  • The incorporated Uniform Construction Code is amended from time to time.

  “The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of Rostraver Township.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Rostraver Township.

  • Controls vary by zoning district shown on the Township Zoning Map.

  “For the purpose of applying the provisions of this chapter, the Township of Rostraver is hereby classified and divided into the following zoning districts:”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts for land inside Rostraver Township.

  • District boundary locations are shown on the Zoning Map adopted by the Board of Commissioners and kept in the Township Secretary's office.

  “The location of the boundaries of the established zoning districts are shown on the Zoning Map adopted by the Board of Commissioners, on file in the office of the Township Secretary.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Properties in the Sweeney-Fellsburg-Pollock Run Drainage Area whose principal building is accessible to and within 200 feet of the sewer system.

  • The ordinance requires public-sewer connection after notice for covered properties; it does not establish the rule for on-lot systems outside that described area.

  distance from sewer system: <= 200 feet (Principal building must be accessible to the sewer system.)

  “The owner or owners of each property accessible to and whose principal building, heretofore and/or hereafter constructed, is within 200 feet of the sewer system shall connect therewith at any time within 60 days after notice to make such connection is served on such owner or owners by the Township Commissioners, either by personal service or by certified or registered mail.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Properties in the Sweeney-Fellsburg-Pollock Run Drainage Area of Rostraver Township whose principal building is accessible to and within 200 feet of the sewer system.

  • Connection is required within 60 days after Township Commissioners serve notice by personal service or certified or registered mail.

  distance from sewer system: <= 200 feet (Principal building must be accessible to the sewer system.) · time after notice: <= 60 days (Notice served by Township Commissioners.)

  “The owner or owners of each property accessible to and whose principal building, heretofore and/or hereafter constructed, is within 200 feet of the sewer system shall connect therewith at any time within 60 days after notice to make such connection is served on such owner or owners by the Township Commissioners, either by personal service or by certified or registered mail.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land development inside Rostraver Township.

  • The chapter contains distinct procedures for preliminary plans, final plans, and subdivisions of four lots or fewer.

  “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Rostraver 2-5-1997 by Ord. No. 339. Amendments noted where applicable.]”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Fees for Township administration and enforcement of Chapter 79 and the Uniform Construction Code.

  • Fees are established by Board of Commissioners resolution from time to time.

  “Fees assessable by Rostraver Township for the administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this chapter and the code shall be established by the Board of Commissioners of Rostraver Township by resolution from time to time.”

• Permit processPartial

  Sewer connections in the Sweeney-Fellsburg-Pollock Run Drainage Area of Rostraver Township.

  • Application is made in writing to the Township or its appointed agent; a written sewer connection permit must be obtained before the described work.

  “No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter or disturb the sewer system without first obtaining a written sewer connection permit. Owners of premises desiring or required to connect with the sewer system shall first make application therefor in writing to the Township or its duly appointed agent for such purposes, who, upon approval of the application, shall refer it to the Township Secretary.”

Rules another office applies inside Rostraver Township

Rostraver Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rental or tourist home in the A-1 Agricultural District inside Rostraver Township.

  • The use is listed under the A-1 Agricultural District special-exception uses.

  “Short-term rental, tourist home. [Added 7-7-2021 by Ord. No. 739]”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential building construction inside Rostraver Township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Rostraver Township.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Rostraver Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — New residential dwellings inside Rostraver Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential zoning districts inside Rostraver 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.

Off-grid gear

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

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.