Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Robinson Township, Pennsylvania

Robinson Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction of any building or structure, or an addition to an existing building or structure, inside Robinson Township.

  • Permit is obtained from the Township Zoning Officer.

  “required to obtain a permit from the Township Zoning Officer”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction regulated as the municipal building code within Robinson Township.

  • The adopted Uniform Construction Code is amended from time to time.

  “adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of this municipality.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Robinson Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania.

  • Chapter 420 was amended in its entirety on July 8, 2019; subsequent amendments are noted where applicable.

  “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Robinson 11-7-1983 by Ord. No. 1-1983; amended in its entirety 7-8-2019 by Ord. No. 3-2019 (Ch. 27 of the 1985 Code of Ordinances). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Robinson Township.

  • The published zoning chapter identifies Special Conservation, Agricultural, R-1A Rural Residential, R-1B Single-Family Residential, R-2 General Residential, Commercial, Light Industrial, and Industrial district sections.

  “Special Conservation [...] Agricultural [...] R-1A Rural Residential [...] R-1B Single-Family Residential [...] R-2 General Residential [...] Commercial [...] Light Industrial [...] Industrial”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater (with conditions)

  Occupied residential, commercial, or industrial structures inside Robinson Township that are capable of utilizing pressurized water.

  • The structure must be within 150 feet of a public water line.
  • Connection is required within 90 days of notice.
  • Owner connects at the owner's cost under Pennsylvania Water Company regulations.
  • Buildings used solely for agricultural purposes are excluded.

  distance from public water line: <= 150 feet (Buildings utilized solely for agricultural purposes are excluded.) · time after notice to connect: <= 90 days

  “but not buildings utilized solely for agricultural purposes [...] within 150 feet of a public water line, within 90 days of notice be required to connect”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision and land-development activity inside Robinson Township.

  • Chapter 380 contains separate procedures for preliminary plans, final subdivision plans and final site-plan approval, and minor subdivisions.

  “Article V Preliminary Plans [...] Article VI Final Subdivision Plans and Final Site Plan Approval [...] Article VII Minor Subdivision”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Municipal fees for construction-code administration and enforcement inside Robinson Township.

  • Fees are established by the governing body by resolution from time to time.

  “established by the governing body by resolution from time to time.”

• Permit processPartial

  Township building-permit applications for construction or additions.

  • Application is made by the owner or authorized agent to the Township Zoning Officer.
  • The listed application contents include owner and contractor information, property location, construction description, estimated price, and estimated commencement and completion times.

  “An application shall be made by the owner or his authorized agent”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Robinson Township.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Robinson Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside Robinson Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Robinson Township.
• Minimum lot size — New lots inside Robinson Township.

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 Robinson Township 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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