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

Eaton Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Eaton township, Wyoming County PA, under the joint Eaton-Monroe zoning ordinance. The ordinance's definitions say the zoning hearing and planning review run through the Eaton township planning commission for uses located in Eaton township.

  • The ordinance is joint with Monroe township; Monroe township is a separate municipality and its land is not covered by this claim.
  • The copy reviewed is labeled 'zoning ordinance draft july 2022' on its cover; the township ordinances page lists it as 'eaton-monroe joint zoning as attachment a 2022-07'. Adoption date and enacted text were not confirmed.
  • The county's own 2013 list also names the joint ordinance, which is consistent with this claim but is not a substitute for the township's adopted text.
  • Zoning map not opened; the guide says to contact the zoning officer to confirm the latest version.

  “eaton-monroe joint zoning as attachment a 2022-07 (pdf) download”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts in Eaton township, Wyoming County PA, under the joint Eaton-Monroe ordinance

  • The ordinance lists Eaton-side and Monroe-side districts; Monroe-side districts apply only in Monroe township.
  • The zoning map was not opened.

  “the zoning map shows all of the zoning districts in the township.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings inside Eaton township, Wyoming County PA, under the joint schedule of development standards. The district column was not isolated in the extracted text; the Eaton-side residential district (R-E) and rural-agricultural district (RA-E) numbers still need separate confirmation.

  • Values are by water and sewage type; a lot served by on-site sewage and on-site water needs 1.00 acre for a single-family dwelling.
  • Two-family dwellings use 1.50 acres for the on-site/on-site and on-site sewage/central water rows and 0.75 acres for the central/central rows.
  • Larger lot sizes or setbacks may be required by other sections; the most restrictive standard governs.
  • Standard subdivision lot widths are 125/100/75 feet by lot-size tier (not part of this claim's numbers).

  minimum lot size, single-family, on-site sewage and on-site water: >= 1 acre (two-family dwellings 1.50 acre) · minimum lot size, single-family, on-site sewage and central water: >= 1 acre (two-family dwellings 1.50 acre) · minimum lot size, single-family, central sewage and on-site water: >= 0.5 acre (two-family dwellings 0.75 acre) · minimum lot size, single-family, central sewage and central water: >= 0.5 acre (two-family dwellings 0.75 acre)

  “on-site sewage disposal and on-site water 1.00 1.50 on-site sewage disposal and central water 1.00 1.50 central sewage and on-site water 0.50 0.75 central sewage and central water 0.50 0.75”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Front, side, rear and road setbacks for lots inside Eaton township, Wyoming County PA, under the joint schedule of development standards

  • The numeric setback values were not extracted; the schedule of development standards in article IV holds them.
  • Other sections may require greater setbacks; the most restrictive standard governs.

  “the schedule of development standards in article iv sets the minimum lot size and property line and road setback requirements.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Maximum lot coverage inside Eaton township, Wyoming County PA, under the joint schedule of development standards

  • The schedule sets maximum standards for lot coverage; the numeric value by district was not extracted.

  “establishes maximum standards for building height and lot coverage.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Maximum building height inside Eaton township, Wyoming County PA, under the joint schedule of development standards

  • The schedule sets a maximum height standard; the numeric value by district was not extracted.

  “establishes maximum standards for building height and lot coverage.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks inside Eaton township, Wyoming County PA, in districts where the schedule of uses lists them

  • Campgrounds and RV parks are special exceptions reviewed by the planning commission and zoning hearing board in the districts that list them.
  • A campground or RV park may not be used for long-term occupancy.
  • Individual camping on private land outside a campground was not addressed in the pages reviewed.

  “special exceptions planning commission / zhb -archery ranges, outdoor commercial -campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-lot sewage disposal for a lot inside Eaton township, Wyoming County PA

  • The ordinance requires sewage disposal to meet the requirements of the township and PA DEP; the township sewage enforcement officer evaluates existing on-site systems for short-term rental use.
  • State Sewage Facilities Act and DEP rules also apply and were not separately verified.
  • Permit and inspection procedures for new on-lot systems were not located.

  “the applicant shall provide an evaluation of the system performed by an individual acceptable to the township sewage enforcement officer”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Creating new lots, changing lot lines, or erecting new principal nonresidential buildings inside Eaton township, Wyoming County PA

  • The township subdivision and land development ordinance applies separately from the zoning ordinance.
  • The subdivision ordinance itself was not opened.

  “if a project involves the creation of a new lot or lots, the change of lot lines, or the erection of one or more new principal nonresidential buildings, the subdivision and land development ordinance will also apply. this ordinance is separate from the zoning ordinance.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rental units inside Eaton township, Wyoming County PA

  • Overnight occupancy is limited to three persons per bedroom.
  • Overnight RV, camper trailer and tent occupancy is not permitted at short-term rentals.
  • Sewage disposal must meet township and PA DEP requirements; the sewage tank must be pumped within two years before the zoning application.

  overnight occupancy per bedroom: <= 3 persons

  “overnight occupancy of recreational vehicles, camper trailers and tents, and outdoor overnight sleeping of occupants or quests, are not permitted.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning permit fees inside Eaton township, Wyoming County PA

  • Fees are set by board of supervisors resolution under section 1203.
  • The fee schedule is available from the zoning officer; fee amounts were not reproduced in the ordinance text reviewed.

  “fees are set by resolution of the board of supervisors per §1203 and are shown on the fee schedule available from the zoning officer.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New residential construction inside Eaton township, Wyoming County PA
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Eaton township, Wyoming County PA
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Eaton township, Wyoming County PA
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Eaton township, Wyoming County PA
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy certificates for new buildings inside Eaton township, Wyoming 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.