Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Borough of Economy, Pennsylvania

Borough of Economy’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction governed by the municipal building code inside Economy Borough.

  • The referenced UCC is as 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 the Borough of Economy.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Temporary septic holding tanks within Economy Borough.

  • This authority concerns temporary septic holding tanks and associated sewage collection, transportation, and disposal.
  • Borough rules must conform with Borough ordinances and applicable Commonwealth laws, rules, and regulations.

  “The Borough Council is hereby authorized and empowered to undertake within the Borough the control and methods of temporary septic holding tanks and the associated collection, transportation and disposal of sewage.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Temporary septic holding tanks for owners of real estate in Economy Borough's Phase II service area.

  • Only owners in the Phase II service area may apply under the stated provision.
  • Use is temporary and lasts only until sanitary sewer service is available.
  • The Borough's Sewage Enforcement Officer receives the application.

  “Owners of real estate within the Phase II service area may apply to the Borough's Sewage Enforcement Officer to install and utilize a temporary septic holding tank until sanitary sewer service is available.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  An Economy Borough property whose owner obtains permission to use a temporary septic holding tank.

  • The required connection applies regardless of distance to the sanitary sewer line.
  • The owner must use any means necessary to make the connection.

  “The connection to the sanitary sewer line must be made by a real estate owner who obtains permission to use a temporary holding tank, regardless of the distance to the sanitary sewer line and by any means that are necessary.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Fees assessed by Economy Borough for UCC administration and enforcement.

  • Fees are established by the governing body through resolutions adopted from time to time.

  “Fees assessable by the Borough of Economy for the administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this chapter and the code shall be established by the governing body by resolution from time to time.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Borough of Economy or Beaver County directly.

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Economy Borough.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Economy Borough.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Economy Borough.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential occupancy inside Economy Borough.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential and rural-agricultural districts inside Economy Borough.

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 Borough of Economy 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.

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