Bolthole Index

Blair County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Borough of Tyrone, Pennsylvania

The Borough of Tyrone, in Blair County, Pennsylvania, has its own zoning ordinance with five districts12. Building permits inside the borough follow Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code, and the borough's code lists work that needs a permit, such as decks, fences and roof replacement3. Who issues septic permits inside the borough we could not confirm; ask the borough office.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes: borough zoning ordinance with R-1, R-2, T-C, H-C and I-M districts12
Building permit
Required under the Uniform Construction Code; the borough also lists specific residential work that needs one43
Permit fees
Set by borough council resolution; see the borough's fee chapter5
Floodplain
Permit required for development in identified floodplain areas6
Septic
State law requires a permit from the local agency; who issues it inside the borough is unconfirmed7
Mobile homes
Limited: parks are a conditional use in R-28
Owner-builder
No state contractor license rule for most construction work; borough-specific rule unconfirmed9

Who to call

Building permits

Borough of Tyrone, Code Enforcement

Borough building (UCC) permits, zoning questions and code enforcement inside Tyrone borough limits

(814) 684-1330

1100 Logan Avenue, Tyrone, PA 16686

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Tyrone, PA have zoning, and what does it mean for lots and mobile homes?

Yes. The Borough of Tyrone zones its own land: Chapter 205 of the borough code was adopted by Borough Council1. The ordinance sets five districts: R-1 Low-Density Residential, R-2 Moderate-Density Residential, T-C Town Center Commercial, H-C Highway Commercial and I-M Industrial/Manufacturing2.

Rules differ by district. In R-1, a one-story or split-level house needs at least 1,000 square feet on the first floor and a two-story house needs at least 700 square feet on the first floor10. Buildings in R-1, accessory buildings included, may cover no more than 30% of the lot11, and the maximum building height in R-1 is 35 feet12.

Mobile home parks in Tyrone are a conditional use in R-2, and the borough's mobile home chapter limits where a mobile home may be located8. We could not confirm borough rules on living in an RV, tiny homes or accessory dwellings; call the borough's code enforcement office before you plan any of them.

Do you need a building permit in Tyrone, and who issues it?

Yes. Tyrone borough adopted Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code as its municipal building code, and the borough names residential work that requires a permit: roof replacement, exterior siding, porches and decks, railings and steps, public sidewalks, retaining walls over four feet and fences3. Interior repairs, plumbing and electrical work, painting and like-size window and door replacements do not need a borough permit4.

New construction and other work the UCC governs still needs a permit, and a certificate of occupancy is required before a residential building is used13. Borough Council chooses by resolution how the code is administered, whether locally, by a third party or through another arrangement14. Fees are set by Council resolution5. Blair County itself does not issue building permits15. Start with the borough's code enforcement office16.

How do septic permits work inside Tyrone, PA?

Pennsylvania law requires a permit from the local agency before a building served by an individual or community on-lot sewage system is installed, built, occupied or used7. A system must also be inspected before it is covered17.

Which agency issues that permit inside the borough we could not confirm. The Blair County Sanitary Administration Committee permits on-lot systems for its member townships, including Tyrone Township18. That is a separate municipality from the Borough of Tyrone, so do not assume the committee covers the borough. Ask the borough office whether your lot is on public sewer or needs an on-lot permit, and who issues it.

Building a home in Tyrone: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zoning district of your lot with the borough, since minimum floor area, lot coverage and height differ by district2.
  2. If you will divide land, check the borough's subdivision rules first19.
  3. Check whether the lot lies in an identified floodplain, where a development permit is required6.
  4. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code permit through the borough20.
  5. Confirm sewer or on-lot septic with the borough before you design.
  6. Get required inspections and a certificate of occupancy13.
  7. If your driveway meets a state highway, a PennDOT permit is required21.

What stays with Blair County, and what to check before you buy

Blair County does not set zoning inside Tyrone; the borough does1. The Blair County Planning Commission handles countywide planning, not building permits or zoning22. For land outside the borough, see the Blair County page.

County-level context: Blair County's effective property tax rate is 1.1%23, and its typical home value is $180,36924. We could not confirm borough rules on wells, short-term rentals or owner-built homes; Pennsylvania has no statewide contractor license for most construction work9.

Watch-outs

  • The borough's building permit list names specific residential work, and the code says it is amended from time to time, so confirm the current list with the borough before you start3.
  • Tyrone Township and the Borough of Tyrone are different municipalities with different rules; a permit or septic answer for one does not apply to the other18.
  • We could not confirm RV, tiny-home or accessory-dwelling rules inside the borough; ask the borough's code enforcement office in writing before you buy16.

Sources

  1. Chapter 205 Zoning - Borough of Tyrone, PA (Borough of Tyrone), quoted and re-checked
  2. Article IV Zoning Districts - Borough of Tyrone, PA (Borough of Tyrone), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter 71 Construction Codes, Uniform - Borough of Tyrone, PA (Borough of Tyrone), quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 71 Construction Codes, Uniform - Borough of Tyrone, PA (Borough of Tyrone), quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 71 Construction Codes, Uniform - Borough of Tyrone, PA (Borough of Tyrone), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 99 Floodplain Regulations - Borough of Tyrone, PA (Borough of Tyrone), quoted and re-checked
  7. 25 Pa. Code § 72.22. Permit issuance (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 125 Mobile Homes and Mobile Home Parks - Borough of Tyrone, PA (Borough of Tyrone), quoted and re-checked
  9. Contractor Licensing (2026 county census)
  10. Article IV Zoning Districts - Borough of Tyrone, PA (Borough of Tyrone), quoted and re-checked
  11. Article IV Zoning Districts - Borough of Tyrone, PA (Borough of Tyrone), quoted and re-checked
  12. Article IV Zoning Districts - Borough of Tyrone, PA (Borough of Tyrone), quoted and re-checked
  13. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Chapter 71 Construction Codes, Uniform - Borough of Tyrone, PA (Borough of Tyrone), quoted and re-checked
  15. Blair Township - Building Permits (UCC) (2026 county census)
  16. Borough of Tyrone, Code Enforcement (tyroneboropa.com)
  17. Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Blair County Sanitation Committee, quoted and re-checked
  19. Chapter 174 Subdivision of Land - Borough of Tyrone, PA (Borough of Tyrone), quoted and re-checked
  20. Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Apply for a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Application and Fee Information, quoted and re-checked
  23. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Borough of Tyrone

Borough of Tyrone’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Listed residential work and all other construction governed by the UCC inside Tyrone borough limits.

    • The listed permit-required residential work is roof replacement, exterior siding, porches and decks, railings and steps, public sidewalks, retaining walls over four feet high, and fences.
    • Interior repairs and replacements, floor replacement and coverings, hot water tanks, plumbing and electrical work, painting, qualifying window and door replacement, certain driveways, and qualifying private sidewalks do not require a permit.

    retaining-wall height: > 4 feet (Residential retaining walls over four feet require permits.)

    “The following residential construction/remolding shall now be governed by the UCC and, therefore, do not require a permit are as follows: interior repairs and replacements; floor replacement and coverings; hot water tanks; plumbing and electrical work; exterior and interior painting; window and door replacements that do not increase the size of the same; driveways (so long as the portion that may encompass the sidewalk is not black topped); and private property sidewalks that are not adjacent to public streets.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction inside Tyrone borough limits.

    • The incorporated UCC is amended from time to time; listed residential work has local permit treatment.
    “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 Tyrone Borough with the exception of the following residential construction which shall require permits: roof replacement; exterior siding; porches and decks; railings and steps; public sidewalks; retaining walls over four feet in height; and fences.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Tyrone borough limits.

    • Chapter 205 was adopted by Borough Council; district and use controls apply by district.
    “Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Tyrone”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Tyrone borough limits.

    • The cited Article IV identifies R-1, R-2, T-C, H-C, and I-M districts.
    “For the purpose of implementing the community development objectives of this chapter, the following zoning districts are hereby established: R-1 Low-Density Residential District R-2 Moderate-Density Residential District T-C Town Center Commercial District H-C Highway Commercial District I-M Industrial/Manufacturing District”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile home parks and mobile homes inside Tyrone borough limits.

    • Mobile home parks are a conditional use in R-2.
    • A mobile home may not be parked or located in the Borough except as Chapter 125 provides.

    mobile-home-park minimum acreage: >= 5 acres (Contiguous land suitable for development.) · maximum mobile-home lots: <= 4 lots per acre

    “Mobile home parks are permitted as a conditional use in the R-2 District, subject to the following provisions:”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    New mobile home parks inside Tyrone borough limits.

    • Public water must be available at the plat boundary or within 1,000 feet of any section of the park; otherwise, Department of Environmental Protection-approved individual or community wells are required.
    • Public sewer must be available at the plat boundary or within 1,000 feet of any section of the park.

    public-water availability distance: <= 1000 feet (Measured from any section of the mobile home park.) · public-sewer availability distance: <= 1000 feet (Measured from any section of the mobile home park.)

    “within 1,000 feet of any section of the mobile home park”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Tyrone borough limits.

    • The code contains sketch-plan, preliminary-plan, final-plan, review, recording, improvement, and fee provisions.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Tyrone 8-8-1994 by Ord. No. 1119. Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in identified floodplain areas inside Tyrone borough limits.

    • Chapter 99 contains permit, application, review, construction, special-permit, variance, and enforcement provisions.
    “§ 99-8 Permits required. § 99-9 Duties and responsibilities of the Floodplain Administrator. § 99-10 Application procedures and requirements.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    UCC administration and enforcement inside Tyrone borough limits.

    • Fees are established by Borough governing-body resolution from time to time; the cited chapter directs readers to Chapter 92, Fees.
    “Fees assessable by the Borough of Tyrone 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.”
  • Permit processPartial

    UCC construction-code administration and enforcement inside Tyrone borough limits.

    • Borough Council selects the enforcement arrangement by resolution from among listed local, third-party, intermunicipal, municipal-contract, and Labor and Industry options.
    “Administration and enforcement of the code within Tyrone Borough shall be undertaken in any of the following ways as determined by the Borough Council of Tyrone Borough from time to time by resolution:”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Tyrone

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

  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    One- and two-family houses in Tyrone Borough R-1 Low-Density Residential District.

    • For a one-story or split-level house, the stated floor area is on the first floor or within the split-level perimeter; for a two-story house it is first-floor gross floor area.

    one-story/split-level building area: >= 1000 square feet · two-story first-floor building area: >= 700 square feet

    “The building area of any lot shall provide at least 1,000 square feet of gross floor area on the first floor of a one-story house or within the perimeter of a split-level house and at least 700 square feet of gross floor area on the first floor of a two-story house.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Lots in Tyrone Borough R-1 Low-Density Residential District.

    • Includes accessory buildings and structures.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent

    “Lot coverage. All buildings, including accessory buildings/structures, shall not cover more than 30% of the lot.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Buildings in Tyrone Borough R-1 Low-Density Residential District.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet

    “Height. The maximum height of buildings within the R-1 District is 35 feet.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Tyrone borough limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Tyrone borough limits.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Tyrone borough limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Tyrone borough limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Tyrone borough limits.
8 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Short-term rentals

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 Borough of Tyrone publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Blair County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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