Zoning, building permits and septic rules in South Strabane Township, Pennsylvania

South Strabane Township’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction governed by South Strabane Township's building-code ordinance.

  • The Uniform Construction Code is incorporated as amended from time to time.

  “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 "Township Building Code of South Strabane Township."”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwellings in the R-1 Neighborhood Residential District inside South Strabane Township.

  • Listed as a conditional accessory use in R-1.
  • Subject to § 245-106.

  “Accessory dwelling, subject to § 245-106.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions and land development inside South Strabane Township.

  • The chapter includes an approval-required article and separate procedures for minor subdivisions, major subdivisions, and land development.

  “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of South Strabane 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. 2-2011. Amendments noted where applicable.]”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Plan examination, building permits, inspections, and related UCC administration inside South Strabane Township.

  • Appendix B is on file in Township offices.
  • The Board of Supervisors may revise the schedule by properly adopted resolution.

  “A fee for each plan examination, building permit, inspection and the like associated with the enforcement and administration of this article and the referred to building codes is hereby adopted and attached hereto, made a part hereof and identified as Appendix B.”

• Permit processPartial

  Conditional-use applications inside South Strabane Township.

  • Written application must be submitted to the Zoning Officer or designee at least 21 calendar days before the regular Planning Commission meeting.
  • Requirements include the materials listed in § 245-103(A)(1), including the Chapter 245-208 application fee.

  application lead time: >= 21 calendar days (before regular Planning Commission meeting)

  “A written application for conditional use approval is submitted to the Zoning Officer or his or her designated representative no less than 21 calendar days prior to the regular meeting of the Planning Commission.”

Rules another office applies inside South Strabane Township

South Strabane Township 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

  Single-family dwellings in South Strabane Township's R-1 Neighborhood Residential District.

  • Without sewers: one acre (43,560 square feet).
  • With sewers: 0.5 acre (21,780 square feet).
  • R-1 regulations may be modified by express standards for the specified conditional uses and uses by special exception.

  minimum lot area without sewers: 1 acre (single-family dwelling) · minimum lot area with sewers: 0.5 acre (single-family dwelling)

  “Without sewers: one acre (43,560 square feet).”

• Building heightSpecified

  Principal residential structures in South Strabane Township's R-1 Neighborhood Residential District.

  • Height exceptions are governed by § 245-174.
  • Accessory structures have a separate one-story, 20-foot maximum.

  maximum principal-structure height: <= 35 feet (also limited to 2 1/2 stories)

  “All principal structures: 2 1/2 stories, but no more than 35 feet.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside South Strabane Township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside South Strabane Township.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside South Strabane Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of structures inside South Strabane Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside South Strabane 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 South Strabane 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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