Building permits, zoning and land rules in Union County, Pennsylvania
64Index Score / 100 #44 of 67 in Pennsylvania
Union County, Pennsylvania property owners need a building permit before starting work covered by the statewide Uniform Construction Code1. Central Keystone Council of Governments says every Union County municipality has adopted the code and that zoning requirements must be satisfied before a building permit is issued2. Zoning varies by township or borough, while local agencies issue most on-lot septic permits under state oversight345.
At a glance
Building permit
Required before work covered by Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code begins1
Building inspections
Required for covered residential construction and building systems6
Zoning
Varies by municipality; confirm the parcel's rules with its township or borough3
Septic permits
Local agencies issue most on-lot permits, with Pennsylvania DEP providing oversight45
RV or tiny-home living
Not confirmed countywide; ask the parcel's township or borough before relying on it7
Owner-builder exemption
No general waiver confirmed; a narrow code exemption applies to qualifying members of recognized religious sects8
Private well
Commercial drillers need state licensing and permits; no Union County-specific permit rule was confirmed9
Certificate of occupancy
Required before a building or facility covered by the code can be used10
Uniform Construction Code building permits and inspections for Union County municipalities, plus zoning administration where the municipality uses CKCOG
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Do you need a building permit in Union County, Pennsylvania?
Yes, for construction or building work covered by Pennsylvania's statewide Uniform Construction Code11. Property owners must obtain the permit before starting covered work, although emergency repairs or equipment replacement may proceed if the application reaches the building-code official within three business days1. CKCOG states that all Union County municipalities have adopted the state building code and will not issue a building permit until applicable zoning requirements are satisfied2. Inspections are required for covered residential construction and for changes involving electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems6. A certificate of occupancy is required before a covered building or facility can be used10. A qualifying agricultural building is excluded from the state Construction Code Act, but that exclusion does not erase municipal zoning, health, environmental, or other applicable rules12.
Who issues building permits in Union County, and how do you reach them?
Start with Central Keystone Council of Governments, the building-code contact shown for Union County municipalities. CKCOG's Union County page gives 1610 Industrial Boulevard, Suite 400A, Lewisburg, PA 17837; phone 570-522-1326, option 2; and permits@ckcog.com2. The same page places zoning approval before the building permit and requires inspections for permitted construction2. Ask CKCOG which forms, exemptions, and local fees apply. Pennsylvania publishes a Department of Labor and Industry fee schedule for permits the Department issues, but municipal or third-party charges may differ13. No general owner-builder waiver from permits or inspections was confirmed. A narrow exemption from conflicting electrical, qualifying lumber or wood, or plumbing provisions is available to qualifying members of recognized religious sects who submit the required affidavit; it is not a blanket permit exemption8. For municipal zoning questions where no officer is listed, CKCOG directs readers to the Union County Planning Commission at the UC Government Center in Lewisburg, phone (570) 524-384014.
Does Union County have zoning?
Treat zoning as a township-or-borough question, not a single countywide answer. Union County municipalities differ: the official directory identifies zoning ordinances for some and expressly lists no zoning for others3. CKCOG's Union County directory lists different zoning contacts and says to call the Union County Planning Commission when no zoning officer is listed214. We could not confirm one operative countywide rule that answers every parcel's use, setback, minimum-lot-size, building-height, or minimum-home-size question. Before designing a house or making an offer, identify the parcel's municipality and request its current ordinance, zoning map, dimensional table, and written interpretation for the intended use. Pennsylvania law allows county zoning only in municipalities lacking their own zoning ordinance and only until a municipal ordinance takes effect15.
How do septic permits work in Union County?
On-lot sewage regulation is shared: Pennsylvania DEP oversees the program, while local agencies employ Sewage Enforcement Officers and handle permitting and enforcement4. Local agencies issue permits for most retaining tanks and individual or community on-lot systems; large-volume systems are an exception5. Contact the parcel's township or borough for its current Sewage Enforcement Officer, or use DEP's active-officer directory by county16. Obtain approval before installing the system or occupying the building it serves17. The state rule includes a conditional exemption for an owner or immediate-family residence on a contiguous tract of at least 10 acres, subject to notice, siting, ownership-date, and local-ordinance conditions17. Only 18.5% of Union County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make sewage feasibility a purchase contingency18.
Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Union County?
We could not confirm a countywide rule allowing long-term RV occupancy or tiny-home occupancy on private land in Union County. Ask the parcel's township or borough zoning contact about the proposed dwelling, duration, utilities, and use during construction because zoning varies by municipality3. East Buffalo Township's rule for recreational-vehicle parks allows only intermittent recreational use and prohibits full-time residential occupancy within those parks; it does not answer whether an RV may be occupied elsewhere on private land19. Pennsylvania state-forest roadside camping is also temporary: it requires a designated site and permit, with stays capped at seven consecutive nights and a 48-hour vacancy before reapplying20. That camping rule does not authorize residential RV use on private land. A manufactured home is not a shortcut around site rules; utility connections, additions, relocation, resale, and some occupancy changes can trigger the Uniform Construction Code21.
Building a home in Union County: the steps, in order
Identify the parcel's township or borough and ask for its zoning contact, current ordinance, and parcel-specific dimensional rules3.
Obtain any required zoning approval first; CKCOG says it will not issue the building permit until zoning requirements are satisfied2.
Contact the local Sewage Enforcement Officer and secure the required on-lot sewage approval before relying on the site as buildable5.
Ask CKCOG for the applicable forms and local fees, then obtain the Uniform Construction Code building permit before covered work begins21.
Schedule each required inspection during construction6. If access involves state-highway land or a PennDOT drainage facility, obtain the separate highway occupancy permit22.
Obtain the Uniform Construction Code certificate of occupancy before using the completed building or facility10.
What should you check before buying land in Union County?
Confirm zoning, legal access, sewage feasibility, water, and floodplain status before closing. A state-highway driveway or work connecting to PennDOT drainage requires a highway occupancy permit22. Development inside a Special Flood Hazard Area requires a municipal floodplain-development permit before work begins23. For water, Pennsylvania licenses and permits commercial well drillers but exempts a farmer or homeowner drilling a well on owned or leased land from that licensing requirement; we could not confirm a separate Union County well-permit rule9. The land itself is mixed: 62.3% has a slope of 15% or less, while only 18.5% of soils lack severe conventional-drain-field limitations2418. Typical farmland value is about $12,462 per acre, but parcel price and suitability can differ sharply25.
Watch-outs
Do not start covered work before the building permit is issued; the emergency-repair exception still requires an application within three business days1.
Private-land RV living, tiny-home occupancy, setbacks, and minimum dwelling size were not confirmed countywide; zoning varies by municipality, so ask the parcel's township or borough for a written answer3.
Most Union County soils have severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so do not treat acreage alone as proof that an on-lot system will work18.
Written October 7, 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.
Union County highlighted among the Pennsylvania counties · colored by Index score
How Union County scores
Seclusion29100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency68100% ev.
Admin Boringness5890% ev.
Durability82100% ev.
Property Autonomy68100% ev.
Carry Cost53100% ev.
Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →
$299kTypical home
1.2%Property tax
$12,462Land / acre
43.6"Annual rain
0.2% of yrsSevere drought
2.8 / yr (+2.7)Mid-century 100°F days
10.9 daysMid-century dry spell
2.01" (+7.9%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.54×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$850Home insurance / yr
0.3% / yrInsurance growth
0.2%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
218,558People within 30 min
4,693,881People within 2 hr
109,178Radius comparison (15 mi)
133.1People / sq mi
0.7%Federal land
62.3%Land at 15% slope or less
18.5%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
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Cities and towns in Union County
Inside a city, town or township here, that government usually sets zoning and may issue its own building permits; the county’s rules above cover land outside them.
Not yet researched: Buffalo Township · East Buffalo Township · Gregg Township · Borough of Hartleton · Hartley Township · Kelly Township · Lewis Township · Limestone Township · Borough of Mifflinburg · Borough of New Berlin · Union Township · West Buffalo Township · White Deer Township
Answers from the rulebook for Union County
What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.
Union County rules
Local zoningVaries (with conditions)
Aggregate zoning status across Union County townships and boroughs; the actual rule-maker is the applicable municipality.
Requirements depend on the municipality and its adopted ordinance.
The official county directory lists zoning ordinances for some municipalities and expressly lists zoning as none for others.
The county-level conclusion does not mean Union County administers each municipal zoning ordinance.
“Township Subdivision/Township Zoning/Comprehensive Plan [...] MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES Township Subdivision Zoning - None”
County-wide zoningAbsent
Zoning in Pennsylvania is administered at the municipal level; several Union County municipalities (e.g. Union Township, East Buffalo Township) have adopted zoning ordinances, and zoning approval is a pre-construction requirement, coordinated via the Union County Planning Department.
Residential buildings and regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing systems in Pennsylvania municipalities enforcing the Uniform Construction Code or under third-party agency enforcement.
The permit must be obtained before covered construction begins.
Emergency repairs or equipment replacement may proceed before application only if the permit application is submitted within 3 business days.
The regulation incorporates the exceptions in § 403.1(b), including specified UCC scope exclusions and exemptions.
No permit is required for listed limited work, including fences no more than 6 feet high; retaining walls no more than 4 feet high unless supporting a surcharge; certain water tanks up to 5,000 gallons with a height-to-diameter or width ratio no greater than 2 to 1; certain sidewalks and driveways no more than 30 inches above adjacent grade; prefabricated pools less than 24 inches deep; specified playground equipment; certain window awnings; uncovered decks no more than 30 inches above grade; communications wiring; ordinary repairs; and public-service-agency equipment.
The listed exemptions apply only if the work does not violate a law or ordinance.
Ordinary repair does not include cutting load-bearing walls or structural beams, changing required means of egress, or adding or relocating listed piping, wiring, or mechanical systems.
emergency permit application deadline: 3 business days (after emergency repair or equipment replacement) · fence height exemption: <= 6 feet · retaining wall exemption height: <= 4 feet (unless supporting a surcharge) · water tank capacity exemption: <= 5000 gallons (height-to-diameter or width ratio no greater than 2 to 1) · sidewalk or driveway height exemption: <= 30 inches (not over a basement or story below) · prefabricated pool depth exemption: < 24 inches · uncovered deck height exemption: <= 30 inches
“An owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a residential building [...] shall first apply to the building code official and obtain the required permit under § 403.62a (relating to permit application).”
3 more reviewed findings on this topic
Required — Construction or building work in Union County subject to the Pennsylvania UCC.
“The UCC requires property owners to obtain a construction or building permit before starting any work.”
Required — Construction and building work in Union County subject to the Pennsylvania UCC.
“The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) regulates the codes and standards of building projects in the Commonwealth. The UCC states that before beginning any construction or building work, the property owner or an authorized representative must obtain a UCC building permit”
Required — Commercial buildings, structures, facilities, and regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing systems in Pennsylvania jurisdictions enforcing the Uniform Construction Code.
“An owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a commercial building, structure and facility [...] shall first apply to the building code official and obtain the required permit under § 403.42a (relating to permit application).”
Owner-builder exemptionConditional
An applicant for a construction permit for a dwelling unit or one-room schoolhouse used by members of a recognized religious sect, including in Union County.
The applicant must be a member of a recognized religious sect.
The sect must have established tenets or teachings conflicting with an electrical, qualifying lumber or wood, or plumbing provision of the Uniform Construction Code.
The applicant must adhere to the sect's established tenets or teachings.
A dwelling unit must be used solely as a residence for the applicant and the applicant's household.
A one-room schoolhouse must be used solely by members of the religious sect.
The application must state how the provision conflicts with the applicant's religious beliefs and include the required affidavit.
The code administrator shall grant the exemption if the application is made in accordance with the statutory requirements.
If the exempted building is later sold or leased, it must be brought into compliance unless the prospective owner or lessee files the required affidavit.
“An applicant for a construction permit for a dwelling unit or one-room schoolhouse utilized by a member or members of a recognized religious sect may file an application with a code administrator to be exempted from the Uniform Construction Code, as provided in this subsection, which conflicts with the applicant's religious beliefs.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Available — A property owner performing construction work on the owner's own primary residence in Pennsylvania without compensation, and most construction work for which Pennsylvania does not impose a statewide contractor licensure or certification requirement.
“The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania currently has no licensure or certification requirements for most construction contractors (or their employees).”
Building code adoptedAdopted
Building construction throughout Pennsylvania under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
The UCC is administered and enforced locally by municipalities that opt in, using municipal employees or certified third-party agencies.
In municipalities that opt out, the Department of Labor and Industry is responsible for commercial code enforcement, while certified third-party agencies hired by property owners or contractors enforce residential UCC requirements.
The Department has sole jurisdiction for elevators and state-owned buildings wherever located.
The 2021 accessibility updates are permanently enjoined; structures must still comply with the 2018 accessibility requirements, and the injunction does not affect enforcement of non-accessibility UCC requirements.
The revised regulations adopting the 2018 I-Code series became effective February 14, 2022. Contract-based transition rules allow certain projects with contracts signed before that date to use the UCC in effect at the time of contract if application was made by August 14, 2022 or earlier.
The 2021 I-Code accessibility provisions became effective December 25, 2021, with a contract-based transition period allowing applications by June 25, 2022 or earlier.
Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code triennial update was published November 8, 2025 and became effective January 1, 2026.
2018 I-Code regulations effective date: 2022-02-14 (For contracts signed before this date, application and permit issuance under the UCC in effect at the time of contract were allowed if application was made by 2022-08-14.) · 2021 I-Code accessibility provisions effective date: 2021-12-25 (For contracts signed before this date, application and permit issuance under the UCC in effect at the time of contract were allowed if application was made by 2022-06-25.) · 2025 triennial UCC update effective date: 2026-01-01
“Pennsylvania's statewide building code, generally known as the Uniform Construction Code (UCC), has to be followed by builders in the state.”
3 more reviewed findings on this topic
Adopted — Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code standards applicable to building projects in Union County.
“Pennsylvania's statewide building code, generally known as the Uniform Construction Code (UCC), has to be followed by builders in the state.”
Adopted (with conditions) — Building construction governed by Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code, including covered work in Union County.
“Pennsylvania's statewide building code [...] has to be followed by builders in the state.”
Adopted (with conditions) — Building construction in Union County under Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code.
“Pennsylvania's statewide building code, generally known as the Uniform Construction Code (UCC), has to be followed by builders in the state.”
InspectionsRequired
Residential construction for which a Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code permit was issued.
The permit holder must keep construction accessible and notify the construction code official when work is ready.
Required inspection areas are foundations; plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems; frame and masonry; and wallboard.
The official may conduct additional inspections for UCC or municipal-ordinance compliance.
A final inspection and final inspection report are required.
Third-party agencies under contract must submit the final inspection report to the property owner, builder, and designated lender.
“A construction code official shall inspect all construction for which a permit was issued. The permit holder shall insure that the construction is accessible for inspection.”
5 more reviewed findings on this topic
Required — Construction and changes to commercial or residential buildings and listed building systems in Union County.
“Inspections are also necessary in several cases, including construction or changes to commercial or residential buildings, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, and the installation of swimming pools or hot tubs.”
Required — Construction and specified building-system work governed by the Pennsylvania UCC, including covered work in Union County.
“Inspections are also necessary in several cases”
Required — Applicable residential, commercial, building-system, pool, hot-tub, manufactured-housing, and industrialized-housing work in Union County.
“Inspections are also necessary in several cases, including construction or changes to commercial or residential buildings, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, and the installation of swimming pools or hot tubs. Additionally, manufactured and industrialized housing projects require inspections for site preparation, foundation construction, repairs, and changes in occupancy.”
Required — UCC-regulated construction in Union County.
“Inspections are also necessary in several cases, including construction or changes to commercial or residential buildings, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, and the installation of swimming pools or hot tubs. Additionally, manufactured and industrialized housing projects require inspections for site preparation, foundation construction, repairs, and changes in occupancy.”
Required — Commercial construction governed by §§ 403.41-403.48 of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
“A construction code official shall perform inspections to insure that the construction complies with the approved permit and the Uniform Construction Code.”
Certificate of occupancyRequired
Use or occupancy of a commercial building, structure, or facility governed by the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
A building, structure, or facility may not be used or occupied without a certificate of occupancy issued by a building code official.
The certificate is issued within 5 business days after receipt of a final inspection report indicating UCC compliance.
A certificate may cover a portion that independently meets the UCC.
The certificate may be suspended or revoked for issuance in error, incorrect applicant information, or UCC violation; the owner may request a board-of-appeals hearing before revocation.
A temporary certificate may cover a portion before completion of all permitted work only if the portion may be occupied safely, and the official must set its validity period.
The certificate must include the permit number and address, permit holder information, covered portion, issuing official, applicable code edition, designated occupancy and construction classifications, special stipulations and conditions, accessibility variances, and final-inspection date.
certificate issuance deadline: 5 business days
“A building, structure or facility may not be used or occupied without a certificate of occupancy issued by a building code official.”
5 more reviewed findings on this topic
Required — Use of a building or facility in Union County subject to the Pennsylvania UCC.
“A UCC certificate of occupancy must be issued before a building or facility can be used.”
Required — Use of a building or facility governed by the Pennsylvania UCC, including covered buildings in Union County.
“A UCC certificate of occupancy must be issued before a building or facility can be used.”
Required — Use of a building or facility in Union County subject to the Pennsylvania UCC.
“A building, structure or facility may not be used or occupied without a certificate of occupancy issued by a building code official.”
Required — Buildings and facilities subject to the Pennsylvania UCC in Union County.
“A UCC certificate of occupancy must be issued before a building or facility can be used. However, emergency repairs or equipment replacements can be made without a permit as long as an application is submitted to the building code official within three business days.”
Required — Use or occupancy of a residential building governed by the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
“A residential building may not be used or occupied without a certificate of occupancy issued by a building code official.”
Zoning districtsPartial
Pennsylvania zoning requirements and district information; the official state source directs applicants to the local township, borough, or city.
Local registrations, permits, and zoning requirements must be addressed with the township, borough, or city where the activity will occur.
The source does not publish a statewide zoning-district map or a single statewide zoning-district schedule.
This claim does not identify or aggregate individual municipal zoning districts.
“Local registrations, permits, zoning requirements and related questions should be directed to the township, borough, or city where you will be operating.”
Manufactured homesLimited
Manufactured housing assembled and shipped by the manufacturer and bearing the required federal-construction-and-safety label, including changes in occupancy, resale, relocation, additions, repairs, utility connections, and grading addressed by Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code.
For new labeled manufactured housing installed in conformity with the manufacturer's approved design, the UCC does not apply except as provided in the regulation.
Construction activities or processes, including utility connections and grading, that are not addressed by the manufacturer's approved design must comply with the UCC.
The UCC applies to alterations or repairs outside the federal manufactured-home standards and manufacturer installation instructions after assembly and shipment.
The UCC applies to additions after delivery to the site.
The UCC applies to construction, alteration, repair, or change of occupancy if the manufactured housing is resold to a subsequent purchaser.
The UCC applies to construction, alteration, repair, or change of occupancy if the original purchaser relocates the manufactured housing.
Pennsylvania building-permit guidance states that manufactured housing projects require inspections for site preparation, foundation construction, repairs, and changes in occupancy.
This state construction-code rule does not resolve local zoning, land-use siting, or utility/septic approval requirements.
“Construction, alteration, repair or change of occupancy if the original purchaser relocates the manufactured housing.”
Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)
Statewide regulation and administration of on-lot sewage facilities and septic systems in Pennsylvania.
On-lot sewage permitting and enforcement are largely administered by local agencies, including individual municipalities, groups of municipalities, county departments of health, and joint county departments of health.
Local agencies issue permits for retaining tanks and individual or community on-lot sewage systems that renovate sewage effluent in a soil absorption area or spray field.
Large volume on-lot systems are an exception to the local-agency permitting responsibility identified on the DEP page.
DEP provides technical oversight and financial assistance to local agencies.
Delegated joint local agencies may receive additional DEP authority to review and approve or disapprove new land-development sewage-planning proposals, and depending on the delegation may process both on-lot and public sewerage proposals.
“Local Agencies are responsible for carrying out on-lot or onsite ("septic system") sewage treatment system permitting and enforcement activities. With certain exceptions (i.e. large volume on-lot systems), local agencies are responsible for issuing permits for retaining tanks or for individual and community on-lot sewage systems which renovate sewage effluent in a soil absorption area or spray field. [...] In some cases, Joint Local Agencies may obtain additional authority and responsibility from DEP by requesting Act 537 planning approval delegation.”
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
Mixed (with conditions) — On-lot and onsite sewage systems serving property in Union County.
“Local Agencies are responsible for carrying out on-lot [...] permitting and enforcement activities.”
Mixed (with conditions) — On-lot and onsite sewage regulation affecting Union County.
“The onlot sewage facility portion of the program is largely administered on the local government level by individual municipalities or groups of municipalities working together (including County Health Departments), which are known as local agencies and joint local agencies, respectively. Local agencies receive technical oversight and financial assistance from DEP.”
Septic permitRequired
Installation, construction, occupancy, or use of a building served by an individual or community onlot sewage system statewide.
A permit must be obtained from the local agency before installation, contracting for construction, construction, occupancy, or use.
Multiple chemical or portable toilets for temporary construction, recreation, or temporary facilities are covered by one permit.
A permit is not required for a recycling, incinerating, or composting toilet where the existing onlot system is not altered.
A permit exemption may apply to an individual onlot system serving an owner or immediate-family residence on a contiguous tract of at least 10 acres, subject to the owner-of-record date, local ordinance exception, notification, and siting requirements.
A permit is not required for a replacement dwelling when the local agency determines the size and anticipated use are the same as or less than the prior dwelling and the prior dwelling was in use within one year, except during an active malfunction investigation.
permit-exemption tract size: >= 10 acres (Only under the specific owner/immediate-family and January 10, 1987 owner-of-record conditions.) · permit-exempt siting distance: >= 200 feet (Applies to septic tanks and absorption areas from listed property, water, floodplain, and related features.) · permit-exempt utility right-of-way distance: >= 10 feet · local-agency verification fee cap: <= 25 USD (For verifying siting of a permit-exempt system.)
“without first obtaining a permit from the local agency, except as provided in subsections (c)—(e).”
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
Required — Retaining tanks and individual or community on-lot sewage systems in Union County.
“With certain exceptions (i.e. large volume on-lot systems), local agencies are responsible for issuing permits for retaining tanks or for individual and community on-lot sewage systems which renovate sewage effluent in a soil absorption area or spray field.”
Required — Retaining tanks and individual or community on-lot sewage systems in Union County.
“With certain exceptions (i.e. large volume on-lot systems), local agencies are responsible for issuing permits for retaining tanks or for individual and community on-lot sewage systems which renovate sewage effluent in a soil absorption area or spray field.”
Septic inspectionLimited
Individual and community sewage-disposal systems before concealment or covering after construction.
The system may not be covered until approval to cover is given by the original permit issuer or authorized representative.
If 72 hours have elapsed after notification of construction completion, excluding Sundays and holidays, the applicant may cover the system unless permission has been refused.
post-completion waiting period: 72 hours (Sundays and holidays excluded.)
“shall be covered from view until approval to cover the same has been given by the body which issued the original permit”
Off-grid sanitationLimited
Composting, incinerating, recycling, and similar water-conservation toilets used for residential or establishment sanitation statewide.
For a new residence or establishment, an onlot sewage system or other approved disposal method must treat washwater or excess liquid, and both facilities must be under one permit, except for the retaining-tank exception.
For an existing residence or facility with no alteration of the onlot system, no permit is required for installation.
A composting or incinerating toilet on a qualifying retaining-tank lot is treated as and permitted as a privy.
The device must meet manufacturer specifications and be operated and maintained to prevent pollution or health hazards.
Liquid discharges are prohibited unless sent to a compliant onlot sewage system or another method approved under the chapter or by DEP.
Recycling, incinerating, and composting toilets must bear the NSF Standard No. 41 seal.
“an onlot sewage system or other approved method of sewage disposal shall be provided for treatment of washwater or excess liquid from the unit”
Well permitLimited
Water-well drilling statewide, distinguishing commercial water-well drillers from farmers and homeowners drilling their own wells on owned or leased land.
Water-well drilling companies must obtain a license and permits.
The licensing requirement does not apply to farmers or homeowners who drill their own water wells on their own or leased land.
The state has construction standards for public water-supply wells but not private water wells.
Drillers must submit the well's construction details to the state and the well owner.
“Water well drilling companies must get a license and permits to drill a well in Pennsylvania.”
Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)
Qualifying agricultural buildings under Pennsylvania's Construction Code Act and Uniform Construction Code.
The exemption applies to an agricultural building as defined by the Act: a structure used to store farm implements, hay, feed, grain, or other agricultural or horticultural products; house poultry, livestock, or other farm animals; serve as a milk house; or grow mushrooms, agricultural, or horticultural products.
The definition includes a qualifying carriage house owned and used by members of a recognized religious sect for housing horses and storing buggies.
The definition includes a structure less than 1,000 square feet used to process maple sap.
The structure must not include habitable space.
The structure must not contain spaces where agricultural products are processed, treated, or packaged.
The structure is not a place of occupancy by the general public.
Other municipal land-use, zoning, fire, electrical, health, or environmental requirements may still apply; the cited exclusion is from the Construction Code Act.
maple sap processing structure area: < 1000 square feet (Must otherwise meet the statutory agricultural-building definition.)
“(b) Exclusions.--This act shall not apply to any of the following: [...] (4) Any agricultural building.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Available (with conditions) — Agricultural buildings covered by Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code Act.
““Agricultural building.” A structure utilized to store farm implements, hay, feed, grain or other agricultural or horticultural products or to house poultry, livestock or other farm animals, a milk house and a structure used to grow mushrooms. The term includes a carriage house owned and used by members of a recognized religious sect for the purposes of housing horses and storing buggies. The term shall not include habitable space or spaces in which agricultural products are processed, treated or packaged and shall not be construed to mean a place of occupancy by the general public. [...] (4) any agricultural building;”
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Subdivision and land development within Pennsylvania municipalities that enact or apply a subdivision and land development ordinance under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.
The governing body of each municipality may regulate subdivisions and land development by ordinance.
Subdivision and land-development plats must be submitted for approval to the governing body or a designated planning agency.
Where a municipality has enacted an ordinance under Article V, subdivision or land development may not proceed except in accordance with that ordinance.
A county subdivision and land-development ordinance may apply where the municipality has no subdivision and land-development ordinance in effect; a municipality may also adopt the county ordinance by reference.
The cited statute does not establish one statewide numeric subdivision standard; local ordinances and applicable county review determine the requirements.
“Section 501. Grant of Power.--The governing body of each municipality may regulate subdivisions and land development within the municipality by enacting a subdivision and land development ordinance. The ordinance shall require that all subdivision and land development plats of land situated within the municipality shall be submitted for approval to the governing body or, in lieu thereof, to a planning agency designated in the ordinance for this purpose, in which case any planning agency action shall be considered as action of the governing body.”
Driveway accessRequired
Construction or alteration of a driveway connected to Pennsylvania state highway land, including a driveway connecting to a PennDOT drainage facility.
The requirement applies to building or changing a driveway on state highway land.
A permit is also required if the driveway connects to a PennDOT drainage facility.
Paving may be considered maintenance only in some cases; PennDOT advises applicants to contact it to determine whether that exception applies.
Permits are usually given within 30 days when the needed information is provided and the application follows PennDOT regulations.
PennDOT has 60 days to review each application and aims to finish reviews within 30 days.
A minimum-use driveway is expected to be used by no more than 25 vehicles per day, or 50 average daily traffic.
minimum-use driveway traffic: <= 25 vehicles per day (Equivalent to 50 average daily traffic.)
“You need a permit when you're building or changing a driveway, road, drainage or utility facility on the state highway land.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Required — Construction or alteration of a driveway or road on Pennsylvania state highway land, and access connecting to a PennDOT drainage facility.
“You need a permit when you're building or changing a driveway, road, drainage or utility facility on the state highway land.”
Building in a floodplainRequired
Development activities within a Special Flood Hazard Area in Pennsylvania municipalities.
Municipalities must evaluate whether a project is within the SFHA and identify the type of work.
Municipalities must review permit applications and issue or deny permits for SFHA development.
Municipalities must conduct periodic inspections for compliance with proposed plans and the floodplain ordinance.
After completion, municipalities review required certificates and issue a certificate of occupancy when the development complies with the local floodplain ordinance.
Additional zoning permit requirements may apply when proposed land use changes.
“A floodplain development permit (or its equivalent) must be issued by the municipality before development activities occur within the SFHA.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — Activities subject to Pennsylvania Chapter 106 Floodplain Management permitting and authorizations.
“The site restoration permit is only for the removal of a highway obstruction or obstruction owned or maintained by the Commonwealth”
Short-term rentalsLimited
Short-term lodging rentals of rooms, apartments, or houses for fewer than 30 days to the same person in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania hotel occupancy tax rate is 6 percent.
Allegheny and Philadelphia counties have an additional 1 percent local hotel tax collected by the Department of Revenue.
Some counties impose an additional tax collected by the county treasurer.
If the taxpayer does not exclusively use a third-party booking site, or the broker does not collect and remit the hotel occupancy tax, the taxpayer must register with the Department of Revenue for a Sales, Use and Hotel Occupancy Tax License.
If a taxpayer exclusively uses a third-party booking site and the broker confirms collection and remittance, the homeowner should not register for a Sales, Use and Hotel Occupancy Tax License.
lodging duration threshold: < 30 days (To the same person.) · Pennsylvania hotel occupancy tax rate: 6 percent
“anyone who rents out their property to provide lodging for less than 30 days to the same person must collect and remit”
Permit feesPublished (with conditions)
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry UCC building fees when the Department issues the permit.
Fee schedule effective November 8, 2025.
Local municipal or third-party fees may differ.
standard fee for new buildings and additions: 414.49 USD (plus $0.84 per square foot of floor area or each fraction of floor area) · standard fee for new structures and facilities other than buildings: 1246.06 USD · standard fee for alterations, renovations, or modifications: 414.49 USD (plus $83.93 for each $1,000 of estimated cost)
“1. Permit for new buildings and additions Standard fee | $414.49 Plus $0.84 per square foot of floor area or each fraction of floor area”
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
Variable (with conditions) — PennDOT highway occupancy permits, including driveway permits, for work involving state highway land or a PennDOT drainage facility.
“Permit costs vary. Please contact the district permit manager or consult our regulations. View the Pennsylvania Code, Title 67, Chapter 441.4 or driveway fees or Chapter 459.4 for utility fees.”
Variable (with conditions) — PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit fees for driveways, local roads, and related facilities in Pennsylvania state highway rights-of-way.
“Permit costs vary. Please contact the district permit manager or consult our regulations. View the Pennsylvania Code, Title 67, Chapter 441.4 or driveway fees or Chapter 459.4 for utility fees.”
Permit processPublished (with conditions)
Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code building permits for construction and building work subject to the UCC.
A UCC building permit must be obtained before starting work.
Inspections are required in several listed cases, including commercial or residential building changes, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, swimming pools or hot tubs, and specified manufactured or industrialized housing work.
A UCC certificate of occupancy must be issued before a building or facility can be used.
Emergency repairs or equipment replacements may proceed without a permit if an application is submitted to the building code official within three business days.
“The UCC requires property owners to obtain a construction or building permit before starting any work.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Partial — Local registrations, permits, and zoning inquiries for businesses and development in Pennsylvania.
“Local registrations, permits, zoning requirements and related questions should be directed to the township, borough, or city where you will be operating.”
Campground & park staysTemporary only (with conditions)
Motorized or roadside camping in or near an RV or other vehicle at designated Pennsylvania state forest campsites, including any such state forest campsite within or serving Union County.
Camping must occur at a designated campsite identified by a name or number.
A valid camping permit is required.
The permit is valid for no more than seven consecutive nights.
Individuals must vacate the site for at least 48 hours before reapplying.
The permit holder must occupy the listed site within 24 hours of the arrival date.
Individual state forests may impose additional unique guidelines.
Additional permit conditions are provided upon reservation.
maximum permit duration: <= 7 consecutive nights · minimum vacancy before reapplying: >= 48 hours · occupancy deadline after arrival date: <= 24 hours
“A camping permit will be valid for no more than seven consecutive nights. Individuals must vacate a site for at least 48 hours before reapplying.”
2 more reviewed findings on this topic
Limited — RV use and occupancy at Pennsylvania state park campgrounds.
“maximum of two sleeping units are permitted per campsite, of which only one may be wheeled.”
Limited — Temporary camping at Pennsylvania state park campgrounds.
“Campers may camp for up to 21 consecutive nights”
county zoning authorityLimited
County zoning authority over land in Pennsylvania municipalities that lack an effective municipal zoning ordinance.
County zoning power is limited to land in municipalities wholly or partly within the county that have no zoning ordinance in effect when the county zoning ordinance is introduced and until the municipal zoning ordinance becomes effective.
A zoning ordinance enacted by a municipality other than the county repeals the county zoning ordinance pro tanto within that municipality.
The statute defines a county under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code as a county of the second through eighth class.
“The powers of the governing bodies of counties to enact, amend and repeal zoning ordinances shall be limited to land in those municipalities, wholly or partly within the county, which have no zoning ordinance in effect at the time a zoning ordinance is introduced before the governing body of the county and until the municipality's zoning ordinance is in effect. The enactment of a zoning ordinance by any municipality, other than the county, whose land is subject to county zoning shall act as a repeal protanto of the county zoning ordinance within the municipality adopting such ordinance.”
One more reviewed finding on this topic
Limited — Pennsylvania counties adopting and enforcing zoning ordinances on unincorporated land.
“Section 602. County Powers.--The powers of the governing bodies of counties to enact, amend and repeal zoning ordinances shall be limited to land in those municipalities, wholly or partly within the county, which have no zoning ordinance in effect at the time a zoning ordinance is introduced before the governing body of the county and until the municipality's zoning ordinance is in effect.”
county building authorityLimited
Pennsylvania county authority over building-code administration and enforcement for residential construction in unincorporated areas.
The general Pennsylvania Construction Code Act assigns administration and enforcement to municipalities, not counties.
A county of the second class may retain authority only if it has adopted a plumbing code and accompanying rules and regulations under the Local Health Administration Law.
The retained authority is limited to promulgating and enforcing that plumbing code and making changes that meet the minimum requirements of the Uniform Construction Code.
The official Department of Labor and Industry page states that residential UCC requirements in opt-out municipalities are enforced by certified third-party agencies hired by property owners or contractors.
“A county of the second class that has adopted a plumbing code and accompanying rules and regulations pursuant to the act of August 24, 1951 (P.L.1304, No.315), known as the Local Health Administration Law, shall retain the authority to promulgate and enforce such plumbing code and to make such changes as it deems necessary, provided that such changes meet the minimum requirements as defined in the Uniform Construction Code.”
Inside cities and towns in Union County
Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.
Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)
Recreational vehicle parks in East Buffalo Township, Union County, Pennsylvania.
The recreational vehicle park must be designed for intermittent recreational use.
Full-time residential occupancy is not permitted within the recreational vehicle park.
The park owner is responsible for maintaining internal roads, sewage disposal and water facilities, utilities, and designated open-space areas.
Recreational vehicle parks must have sewage disposal and water-supply facilities designed and constructed under applicable agency standards, East Buffalo Township regulations, and other applicable laws and ordinances.
Travel-trailer or recreational-vehicle spaces must have an individual sewer hookup at each lot or space or an on-site community dump station.
At least 10 percent of the park's gross area must be open space; if a greater area is required elsewhere, the greater requirement controls.
The maximum number of camping spaces is 15 per acre of gross park or campground area, exclusive of rights-of-way; if a lower number is required elsewhere, the lower number controls.
Each camping space must be at least 40 feet wide by 50 feet deep, abut an internal street, and have 40 feet of frontage on that street; direct access to a public road is not permitted.
Two off-street parking spaces are required for each lot or space.
minimum open space: >= 10 percent of gross area (If a greater area is required elsewhere, the greater requirement controls.) · maximum camping spaces: <= 15 per acre of gross area, exclusive of rights-of-way (If a lower number is required elsewhere, the lower number controls.) · minimum camping-space width: >= 40 feet · minimum camping-space depth: >= 50 feet · minimum off-street parking spaces: >= 2 per lot or space
“A notice shall be placed on the land development plan stating that the recreation vehicle park has been designed for intermittent recreational use, and that full-time residential occupancy shall not be permitted within such developments.”
Set by your town or city, not the county
In Pennsylvania, zoning is adopted by each town or city, so Union County has no county-wide answer on these. Find your town or city in the list of places on this page, or call its clerk or zoning administrator.
Minimum dwelling size
Minimum lot size
Setbacks
Lot coverage
Building height
Camping on your land
Tiny homes
Accessory dwellings
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.
Mandatory utility hookup — Water or sewer connection requirements for development in Union County.
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.
Living off-grid in Union County, Pennsylvania
Is Union County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?
Union County scores 64/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: a durable current and mid-century hazard profile and a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop. Watch-outs: about 218,558 people within a 30-minute drive.
Do you need a building permit in Union County, Pennsylvania?
Union County generally requires a residential building permit, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Municipal / joint local agency Sewage Enforcement Officer (Act 537), regulated by PA DEP. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.
How much does land cost in Union County, Pennsylvania?
Land in Union County runs about $12,462 per acre, based on the latest county data.
What is the water situation in Union County?
Union County gets about 43.6" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 0.2% of years.
How remote is Union County?
A representative private-land location has about 218,558 people within a 30-minute drive and 4,693,881 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.
