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

Borough of Charleroi’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction subject to Charleroi Borough's Municipal Building Code.

  • The UCC is adopted 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 the Borough.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Construction work permitted under the Borough floodplain ordinance.

  • The Floodplain Administrator or authorized official makes inspections during construction and at completion as necessary.

  “During the construction period, the Floodplain Administrator or other authorized official shall inspect the premises to determine that the work is progressing in compliance with the information provided on the permit application and with all applicable municipal laws and ordinances. He/she shall make as many inspections during and upon completion of the work as are necessary.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Charleroi borough limits.

  • Zoning districts and the official zoning map govern applicable parcel regulations.

  “The Borough is divided into the following zoning districts as shown in the official zoning map attached hereto and incorporated herein.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  All land inside Charleroi borough, as shown on the official zoning map.

  • Official zoning map is incorporated into the chapter and is on file in the Borough office.

  “The Borough is divided into the following zoning districts as shown in the official zoning map attached hereto and incorporated herein. The following types of zoning districts are hereby established:”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction or development within any area of Charleroi borough under the Borough floodplain-management ordinance.

  • Permit issuance requires conformity with the chapter and other applicable codes and ordinances.
  • The administrator must first determine that necessary state and federal permits have been obtained.

  “A permit shall be required before any construction or development is undertaken within any area of the Borough of Charleroi.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Borough occupancy permits.

  • Inspection and permit fees are set from time to time by Borough Council resolution.

  “Upon completion of the application, the Borough Code Enforcement Officer or Health Inspector is authorized and empowered to inspect said premises (subject to an inspection fee in an amount as set from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council), and should said premises and application comply with all ordinances of the Borough of Charleroi and all other laws, then, and in that event, the aforesaid Secretary shall forthwith issue a permit of occupancy upon payment of a permit fee in an amount as set from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council.”

• Permit processPartial

  Borough occupancy permits.

  • The application contains specified identity, property, use, and residential-occupant information.
  • Issuance follows compliance inspection and payment of Council-set fees.

  “Every person, owner, operator or real estate agent of real property seeking a permit to allow any person, firm or corporation to occupy any premises owned by said property owner shall file an application with the Secretary of the Borough of Charleroi setting forth the occupant's or proposed occupant's name(s), telephone number(s), the location of the premises, the owner's name, address and telephone number, and a description of the nature of the proposed use of the house, dwelling, structure of any kind, building, appurtenance or vacant realty, and, if for any residence purposes, the names and ages of the occupants.”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Charleroi

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

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  SFR Single-Family Residential District; separately applies east and west of Lincoln Avenue.

  • Table 1 applies except as modified by express standards and criteria for permitted, conditional, or special-exception uses.

  minimum lot area east of Lincoln Avenue: 2000 square feet · minimum lot area west of Lincoln Avenue: 3000 square feet

  “Lot area per dwelling unit (minimum) | 2,000 s.f. | 3,000 s.f.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Charleroi borough.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings in Charleroi borough zoning districts.
• Living in an RV — Residential occupancy of RVs on private land inside Charleroi borough.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Charleroi borough.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Charleroi 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 Charleroi 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.

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.