Bolthole Index

Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Upper Burrell Township, Pennsylvania

Upper Burrell Township, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, requires a building permit approved before construction begins1. The township also has its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 3502, while Westmoreland County has no countywide zoning3. Septic permits are issued by a local sewage enforcement agency under state oversight4; we could not confirm which agency covers township parcels, so ask the township office.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; must be approved before work begins1
Building code
Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, adopted by the township5
Zoning
Township zoning ordinance (Chapter 350); the county has none23
Zoning permit
Required for projects subject to township zoning2
Driveway
Township minimum use driveway permit for driveways serving 25 or fewer vehicles per day6
Septic
Local sewage enforcement agency under state rules; confirm with the township4
Owner-builder
No state contractor license needed for your own primary residence; permit still required7
RV and tiny home living
Not confirmed; ask the township zoning office8

Who to call

Building permits

Upper Burrell Township Municipal Office

The township's municipal office; building permit and zoning applications are published on the township forms page

(724) 335-3517

3735 7th Street Rd. New Kensington, PA 15068

Zoning

Upper Burrell Township forms and permit applications

Building permit, zoning permit and minimum use driveway permit applications

Planning & zoning

Westmoreland County Department of Planning and Development

General county planning contact; confirms the county has no building-permit office or zoning ordinance and directs residents to their local municipality for both

724-830-3600

40 N Pennsylvania Ave, 5th Floor, Suite 520, Greensburg, PA 15601

Septic permits

Pennsylvania DEP Bureau of Water Quality Management (Westmoreland County)

State oversight of public sewage and on-lot septic systems; parcel permits come from a local sewage enforcement agency

724-925-5500

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 Upper Burrell Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Upper Burrell Township, Pennsylvania?

Yes. Upper Burrell Township requires a building permit for construction, alterations and structural improvements, and the permit must be approved before work begins1. The township has adopted the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code as its municipal building code5. Fees are set by township resolution rather than in the code itself, so ask the township office for the current fee schedule9.

Pennsylvania lets an owner do construction work on their own primary residence without a general contractor license, but that does not waive the permit7. We could not confirm the township's inspection stages or certificate-of-occupancy steps, so ask the township office which inspections it expects before you pour or frame.

Who issues building permits in Upper Burrell Township?

The township does, not Westmoreland County. The county says all permits are handled at the municipal level and tells residents to contact their local municipality10. Start with the11 at (724) 335-3517, and use the building permit application on the township's forms page12.

For land outside the township, see the Westmoreland County page; the county has no zoning ordinance of its own3.

Does Upper Burrell Township have zoning?

Yes. Upper Burrell Township adopted its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 350 of the township code, and its districts include R-A Agricultural Residential and R-1 Single-Family Residential28. Ask the township office whether your project needs a zoning permit before work or a change of land use begins2.

In both the R-A and R-1 districts, principal structures may be 2 1/2 stories but no more than 35 feet tall; a single-family dwelling can gain up to 10 additional feet if side and rear setbacks grow by the same number of feet1314.

Because zoning is local, we could not confirm rules on RV living, tiny homes or accessory dwellings. Ask the township zoning office before you buy; do not assume anything is allowed.

How do septic permits work in Upper Burrell Township?

Pennsylvania requires a permit for an individual or community on-lot sewage system, and local agencies issue those permits under state rules4. The state Department of Environmental Protection oversees the program, while a municipal Sewage Enforcement Officer usually handles day-to-day permitting15.

We could not confirm which agency covers Upper Burrell Township parcels. The township office is the right first call; the DEP's Bureau of Water Quality Management is the backstop at 724-925-550016. Soils matter: only a very small share of Westmoreland County soils is rated not limited for a conventional drain field, so plan on a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system17.

Do you need a driveway permit in Upper Burrell Township?

Yes, for a typical home driveway. The township requires a Minimum Use Driveway Permit for driveways serving 25 or fewer vehicles per day, to make sure the design meets township safety standards6. A driveway that connects to a state highway also needs a PennDOT highway occupancy permit18.

Building a home in Upper Burrell Township: the steps, in order

  1. Call the township municipal office at (724) 335-3517 to confirm your parcel's zoning district and what the zoning ordinance allows211.
  2. Get a septic site evaluation through the local Sewage Enforcement Officer, or confirm public sewer is available4.
  3. Apply for the building permit, and for a zoning permit if the township says your project needs one; the building permit must be approved before work begins1.
  4. If you are creating a new lot, check the township's subdivision and land development rules in Chapter 29219.
  5. Apply for the driveway permit, and a PennDOT permit if you meet a state road618.
  6. Ask the township which inspections and occupancy sign-off apply before you move in.

What to check before you buy land in Upper Burrell Township

Confirm the zoning district and whether the use you want, including an RV or tiny home, is allowed. Ask about floodplain status: the township code has a floodplain management chapter, and Pennsylvania requires a permit for development in a Special Flood Hazard Area20.

For context, Westmoreland County's median property tax bill is about $2,473 a year at an effective rate of 1.3%2122, and the typical home value is about $215,43823. These are county-level figures, not township-specific.

Watch-outs

  • Westmoreland County does not issue building permits or run zoning, so the county planning counter is the wrong office for Upper Burrell Township parcels10.
  • We could not confirm township rules on RV living, tiny homes, accessory dwellings or minimum home size; ask the township office before you buy.2
  • We could not confirm which sewage enforcement agency covers Upper Burrell Township; ask the township office before you spend on soil testing.4
  • Permit fees are set by township resolution and can change, so ask for the current fee schedule9.

Sources

  1. Upper Burrell Township Forms, Permits & Fee Schedule (Upper Burrell Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 350 Zoning — Township of Upper Burrell, PA (Upper Burrell Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Subdivision, Development & Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  4. Municipal On Lot Sewage Service Areas, quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 119 Construction Codes, Uniform — Township of Upper Burrell, PA (Upper Burrell Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Upper Burrell Township Forms, Permits & Fee Schedule (Upper Burrell Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Contractor Licensing (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 350 Zoning — Township of Upper Burrell, PA (Upper Burrell Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Chapter 119 Construction Codes, Uniform — Township of Upper Burrell, PA (Upper Burrell Township), quoted and re-checked
  10. Westmoreland County Department of Planning and Development (westmorelandcountypa.gov)
  11. Upper Burrell Township Municipal Office (upperburrelltwp.com)
  12. Upper Burrell Township Forms, Permits & Fee Schedule (Upper Burrell Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Article IV R-A Agricultural Residential District — Township of Upper Burrell, PA (Upper Burrell Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. Article V R-1 Single-Family Residential District — Township of Upper Burrell, PA (Upper Burrell Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. Westmoreland County FAQ (septic handled by state DEP) (2026 county census)
  16. Pennsylvania DEP Bureau of Water Quality Management (Westmoreland County) (westmorelandcountypa.gov)
  17. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Apply for a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Chapter 292 Subdivision and Land Development — Township of Upper Burrell, PA (Upper Burrell Township), quoted and re-checked
  20. PennsylvaniA Floodplain Development Guide (Pennsylvania statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  23. 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 Upper Burrell Township

Upper Burrell Township’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, alterations, or structural improvements inside Upper Burrell Township.

    • Permit approval must occur before work begins.
    “Required for construction, alterations, or structural improvements. Permits must be approved before work begins.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction regulated by the municipal building code inside Upper Burrell Township.

    • The referenced Uniform Construction Code is amended from time to time.
    “The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, 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 Upper Burrell Township.

    • Chapter 350 was adopted by the Township Board of Supervisors; amendments are noted where applicable.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Upper Burrell 8-3-2009 by Ord. No. 1-2009. Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Upper Burrell Township.

    • The code lists district-specific regulations, including R-A Agricultural Residential and R-1 Single-Family Residential districts.
    “Article IV R-A Agricultural Residential District [...] Article V R-1 Single-Family Residential District”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land development inside Upper Burrell Township.

    • Chapter 292 was adopted by the Township Board of Supervisors; amendments are noted where applicable.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Upper Burrell 9-5-2007 by Ord. No. 2-2007. Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveways serving 25 or fewer vehicles per day inside Upper Burrell Township.

    • The permit is for driveways serving 25 or fewer vehicles per day.
    • The application states that it ensures driveway design meets Township safety standards.

    vehicles served: <= 25 vehicles per day

    “Minimum Use Driveway Permit Application | General | Required for driveways serving 25 or fewer vehicles per day. Ensures driveway design meets Township safety standards.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Municipal construction-code administration and enforcement inside Upper Burrell Township.

    • Fees are established by Township 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 processPublished (with conditions)

    Building permits for construction, alterations, or structural improvements inside Upper Burrell Township.

    • Permits must be approved before work begins.
    “Building Permit Application | General | Required for construction, alterations, or structural improvements. Permits must be approved before work begins.”

Rules another office applies inside Upper Burrell Township

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

  • Building heightSpecified

    Principal single-family structures in the R-1 Single-Family Residential District inside Upper Burrell Township.

    • A single-family dwelling may be increased by up to 10 additional feet if side and rear setbacks increase by the same number of feet.
    • Height exceptions are governed by § 350-99.

    maximum height: <= 35 feet (maximum 2 1/2 stories)

    “All principal structures: 2 1/2 stories, but no more than 35 feet. [NOTE: Height of single-family dwelling may be increased by up to 10 additional feet, provided side and rear setbacks are increased by the same number of feet.]”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Principal single-family structures in the R-A Agricultural Residential District inside Upper Burrell Township.
      “All principal structures: 2 1/2 stories, but no more than 35 feet. [NOTE: Height of single-family dwelling may be increased by up to 10 additional feet, provided side and rear setbacks are increased by the same number of feet.]”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Upper Burrell Township.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Upper Burrell Township.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of completed residential construction inside Upper Burrell Township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Upper Burrell Township.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Upper Burrell Township.
11 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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 Upper Burrell Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Westmoreland County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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