Bolthole Index

Erie County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic in North East Borough, Erie County, Pennsylvania

North East Borough, Pennsylvania has its own zoning ordinance, and the Borough Office issues zoning certificates12. Building permits under the Uniform Construction Code go through the North East Area Code Administration (NEACA)34. Most land inside the borough must connect to public water and sewer5. Any on-lot septic question goes to the Erie County Department of Health6.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, the Borough has its own zoning ordinance1
Zoning certificates
Issued by the Borough Office2
Building permits
Uniform Construction Code; NEACA handles building permits34
Water and sewer
All uses must connect to public water and sanitary sewer unless the Zoning Hearing Board finds it impractical5
Septic
On-lot systems in Erie County are administered by the County Department of Health6
R-A and R-B setbacks
Front yard 30 feet, rear yard 40 feet, one side yard 10 feet78
Maximum height
35 feet in R-A and in R-B single-family910
Floodplain
All uses must comply with the Borough's floodplain and stormwater chapters11

Who to call

Zoning

North East Borough Office (zoning administrator)

Zoning certificates and zoning occupancy permits inside North East Borough

(814) 725-8611

info@northeastborough.com

31 West Main Street, North East, PA 16428

Building permits

North East Area Code Administration (NEACA)

Uniform Construction Code building permits for construction inside North East Borough

(814) 725-8606

10300 West Main Road, North East, PA 16428

Septic permits

Erie County Department of Health

On-lot septic and sewer systems in Erie County

814-451-6700

ecdhinfo@eriecountypa.gov

606 West Second Street, Erie, PA 16507

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 North East means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does North East Borough have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. North East Borough adopted its own zoning ordinance, and the Borough publishes a zoning map with named districts112. Zoning here covers how land and structures are used; building construction standards are handled separately2.

In the R-A Residential District, the minimum front yard is 30 feet, one side yard is 10 feet, the two side yards together total 24 feet, and the rear yard is 40 feet7. Maximum building height is 35 feet and maximum lot coverage is 30 percent913.

For a single-family detached house in the R-B Residential District, the front yard is 30 feet, one side yard is 10 feet, the side yards together total 24 feet, and the rear yard is 40 feet8. Height tops out at 35 feet and lot coverage at 30 percent1014.

We could not confirm what the borough's ordinance says about RV living, tiny homes or accessory dwellings. Ask the Borough Office before you plan on any of them.

Do you need a building permit in North East Borough, and who issues it?

North East Borough has adopted Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code as its municipal building code3. Pennsylvania requires an owner or authorized agent to obtain a permit before constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving or demolishing a regulated building15.

The Borough's zoning page says the North East Area Code Administration (NEACA) administers the Uniform Construction Code for the borough4. Get the zoning certificate first: NEACA will not typically issue a building permit without an approved zoning certificate or a letter from the Zoning Administrator saying none is needed4.

Building permit fees are set by Borough resolution from time to time, so ask NEACA for the current schedule16. We could not confirm the exact threshold at which a small project needs a permit, so call before you start.

How do septic permits work inside North East Borough?

Most properties inside the borough will not have a septic system at all. The Borough's zoning ordinance requires all uses in all districts to connect to public water, stormwater and sanitary sewer systems5.

The exception is narrow. If the Zoning Hearing Board decides connection is impractical, minimum lot sizes double, minimum lot width and side yards grow by 50 percent, and maximum lot coverage drops by 50 percent5.

On-lot septic and sewer systems across Erie County are administered through the Erie County Department of Health6. Pennsylvania's Sewage Facilities Act lets a municipality or a group of municipalities act as the local agency, so we could not confirm who issues an on-lot permit for a parcel inside North East Borough17. Call the Erie County Department of Health and the Borough Office before you assume either answer18.

Building a home in North East Borough: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district on the Borough zoning map and check setbacks, height and lot coverage for that district12.
  2. Ask the Borough Office about public water and sewer connection, which the ordinance requires of all uses52.
  3. Apply to the Borough Office for a zoning certificate2.
  4. Take the approved certificate to NEACA for the building permit4.
  5. Check floodplain and stormwater rules, which apply to all uses11.
  6. If you are dividing land, expect subdivision and land development rules19.
  7. Pennsylvania requires inspections of permitted construction and a certificate of occupancy before a residential building is used2021.

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

Septic oversight sits with the Erie County Department of Health rather than the Borough6. For land outside the borough, see the Erie County page, because township rules, not the borough's, apply there.

Before you buy, ask the Borough Office whether the parcel is in a floodplain, since all uses must comply with the Borough's floodplain management and stormwater chapters11. Erie County's effective property tax rate is 1.6 percent, with a median bill of $2,754 a year2223. Erie County's typical home value is $228,45924.

Watch-outs

  • The Borough's zoning page states that building permits come from NEACA, not the Borough Office, so budget two stops4.
  • We could not confirm whether an owner-builder exemption, a driveway permit or a short-term rental rule applies inside North East Borough; ask the Borough Office2.
  • The Borough's posted code shows zoning amendments adopted April 6, 2026 and August 3, 2026, so confirm the current text with the Borough Office12.
  • Water and sewer connection is expected of all uses, which can change the lot-size math if the Zoning Hearing Board excuses a connection5.

Sources

  1. Chapter 500 Zoning - Borough of North East, PA (Borough of North East), quoted and re-checked
  2. North East Borough Office (zoning administrator) (northeastborough.com)
  3. Chapter 210 Construction Codes, Uniform - Borough of North East, PA (Borough of North East), quoted and re-checked
  4. North East Area Code Administration (NEACA) (northeastborough.com)
  5. Article IV: District Regulations - Borough of North East, PA (Borough of North East), quoted and re-checked
  6. Erie County Three-Year Plan 2022-2024 — Environmental Health Services, quoted and re-checked
  7. Schedule A, Borough of North East Lot and Yard Requirements Table (Borough of North East), quoted and re-checked
  8. Schedule A, Borough of North East Lot and Yard Requirements Table (Borough of North East), quoted and re-checked
  9. Schedule A, Borough of North East Lot and Yard Requirements Table (Borough of North East), quoted and re-checked
  10. Schedule A, Borough of North East Lot and Yard Requirements Table (Borough of North East), quoted and re-checked
  11. Article IV: District Regulations - Borough of North East, PA (Borough of North East), quoted and re-checked
  12. Chapter 500 Zoning - Borough of North East, PA (Borough of North East), quoted and re-checked
  13. Schedule A, Borough of North East Lot and Yard Requirements Table (Borough of North East), quoted and re-checked
  14. Schedule A, Borough of North East Lot and Yard Requirements Table (Borough of North East), quoted and re-checked
  15. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Chapter 210 Construction Codes, Uniform - Borough of North East, PA (Borough of North East), quoted and re-checked
  17. Municipal On-Lot Sewage Service Areas, quoted and re-checked
  18. Erie County Department of Health (eriecountypa.gov)
  19. Chapter 400 Subdivision and Land Development - Borough of North East, PA (Borough of North East), quoted and re-checked
  20. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Part XIV, Uniform Construction Code, Chapter 403 Administration (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Median property tax bill: 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 North East

Borough of North East’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction inside North East Borough limits.

    • The Pennsylvania Construction Code is as amended from time to time.
    “The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa Code Chapters 401 to 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of this municipality.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside North East Borough limits.

    • The chapter was adopted by Borough Council and has amendments noted where applicable.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of North East 9-4-2018 by Ord. No. 903. Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside North East Borough limits.

    • The chapter identifies later zoning amendments adopted April 6, 2026 and August 3, 2026.
    “Article III Zoning Map, Districts, and Boundaries”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    All uses in all zoning districts inside North East Borough limits.

    • Connection is excused only if the Zoning Hearing Board determines it is impractical.
    • When connection is impractical, minimum lot sizes double, minimum lot width and side yards increase 50%, and maximum lot coverage is reduced 50%.

    minimum-lot-size-adjustment-when-connection-impractical: 2 multiplier (Only if impractical as determined by the Zoning Hearing Board) · minimum-lot-width-and-side-yard-adjustment-when-connection-impractical: 50 percent (Only if impractical as determined by the Zoning Hearing Board) · maximum-lot-coverage-adjustment-when-connection-impractical: 50 percent reduction (Only if impractical as determined by the Zoning Hearing Board)

    “All uses in all districts shall connect to public water, stormwater, and sanitary sewer systems. If such connection is impractical as determined by the Zoning Hearing Board, minimum lot sizes shall be doubled, minimum lot width and minimum side yards shall be increased by 50% and maximum lot coverage shall be reduced by 50%.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land development inside North East Borough limits.

    • The chapter has amendments noted where applicable.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of North East 7-6-2000 by Ord. No. 796. Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    All uses in all zoning districts inside North East Borough limits.

    • All uses must comply with Chapter 253, Floodplain Management, and Chapter 388, Stormwater Management.
    “All uses in all districts shall comply with the Chapter 253, Floodplain Management, and Chapter 388, Stormwater Management, of the Code of the Borough of North East..”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Uniform Construction Code administration and enforcement inside North East Borough limits.

    • Fees are established by Borough governing-body resolution from time to time.
    “Fees assessable by the municipality 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

    Uniform Construction Code administration and enforcement inside North East Borough limits.

    • The governing body may select the stated administration/enforcement method by resolution from time to time.
    • The Borough code specifically authorizes an intermunicipal agreement with North East Township and/or Greenfield Township.
    • A Department of Labor and Industry agreement may cover plan review, inspections, and enforcement of structures other than one- or two-family dwellings and utility and miscellaneous use structures.
    “Administration and enforcement of the Code within this municipality shall be undertaken in any of the following ways as determined by the governing body of this municipality from time to time by resolution:”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of North East

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

  • SetbacksSpecified

    All uses in the R-A Residential District inside North East Borough limits.

    • A connection-impracticality determination under § 500-16A increases minimum side yards by 50%.

    front-yard: 30 feet (R-A Residential, all uses) · one-side-yard: 10 feet (R-A Residential, all uses) · total-side-yards: 24 feet (R-A Residential, all uses) · rear-yard: 40 feet (R-A Residential, all uses)

    “R-A Residential All uses 10,000 80 30 10 24 40 35 30%/4”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    All uses in the R-A Residential District inside North East Borough limits.

    • A connection-impracticality determination under § 500-16A reduces maximum lot coverage by 50%.

    maximum-lot-coverage: 30 percent (R-A Residential, all uses)

    “R-A Residential All uses 10,000 80 30 10 24 40 35 30%/4”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    All uses in the R-A Residential District inside North East Borough limits.

    maximum-building-height: 35 feet (R-A Residential, all uses)

    “R-A Residential All uses 10,000 80 30 10 24 40 35 30%/4”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Residential construction inside North East Borough limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside North East Borough limits.
  • Inspections — Residential construction inside North East Borough limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — New or altered buildings inside North East Borough limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in the R-A and R-B districts inside North East Borough limits.
11 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • 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 North East publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Erie County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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