WAYNE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 60 CONKLIN HILL ROAD, DAMASCUS, PA 18415 |
CONSTRUCTION CODE
LOCAL DESIGN CRITERIA: Ground Snow Load: 50 psf Basic Wind Speed: 115 mph Seismic Design: B Weathering Probability: Severe Frost Depth: 42 inches Termite Infestation: Moderate to Heavy Winter Design Temp: -5 F Ice Barrier Underlayment Required: Yes Flood Hazard: Site specific Air Freezing Index: 2000 Mean Annual temp: 40 degrees |
LOCAL
REGULATIONS: MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT: 35 FEET ALL ZONES BUILDING SETBACKS (PRIMARY STRUCTURES) RURAL RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT: FRONT: 35 feet from road right of way SIDES & REAR - 30 feet NEIGHBOROOD DEVELOPMENT ZONING DISTRICT: FRONT: 40 feet from road right of way SIDES AND REAR: 15 feet INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT: FRONT: 60 feet from road right of way SIDES AND REAR: 30 feet RIVER ZONING DISTRICT: FRONT: 50 feet from road right of way SIDES AND REAR: 40 feet DELAWARE RIVER 100 feet from river |
If you have any questions about the building code PLEASE contact the Township Office. The UCC Regulations are complicated and changes may not be reflected in the information presented on this website.
Emergency Repairs - An emergency repair or replacement of equipment may be made without first applying for a permit if a permit application is submitted to the building code official within 3 business days of the repair or replacement. An emergency repair does not include forgetting to obtain a permit, but is just that, an emergency that would prevent a residence to be occupied until the repair is made.
Exclusions - Residential:
— The following structures if the structure has a
building area less than 1000 square feet and is accessory to a detached
one-family dwelling:
o
Carports
o Detached private
garages
o
Greenhouses
o
Sheds
— Agricultural buildings defined under section
103 of 35 P.S. § 7201.103
— Manufactured or
industrialized housing shipped from the factory under section 901(a) of the act
(35 P.S. § 7210.901(a)) as provided in § 403.25 (relating to manufactured and
industrialized housing). Note: Footings, foundations, additional plumbing
and plumbing connections to the manufactured unit, additional mechanical items
and electrical service connections, and any additional building, structure,
electrical, mechanical and plumbing work are not excluded and must be
inspected.
— New buildings or renovations to existing
buildings for which an application for a building permit has been made to the
municipality prior to the effective date of the regulations promulgated under
this act (April 9, 2004);
— New buildings or
renovations to existing buildings on which a contract for design or construction
has been signed prior to the effective date of the regulations promulgated under
this act on projects requiring department approval (April 9,
2004);
— Installation of tubing, piping, propane gas
burning appliances, equipment or fixtures related to liquefied petroleum gas
under the Propane and Liquefied and Petroleum Gas Act (35 P.S. §§ 1329.1 -
1329.19). Installers must be certified to make the installation or
repair.
— Construction of individual sewage disposal
systems under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 73 (relating to onlot sewage treatment
facilities). Sewage disposal facilities and connections must have a valid
permit issued by the Township Sewage Enforcement Officer, and be inspected by
the Township Sewage Enforcement Officer - this is not included under the
UCC.
— A permit issued under construction regulations
before April 9, 2004, remains valid and the construction of the building or
structure may be completed in accordance with the approved permit. The permit is
invalid unless the construction commenced within 18 months of permit issuance by
Damascus Township. The permit holder shall acquire a new permit under section
104(c) of the act (35 P. S. § 7210.104(c)) if the permit was not actively
prosecuted during this time period.
— Construction may
be completed without a permit under section 104(c)(2) of the act where
construction of a building or structure commenced before April 9, 2004, and a
permit was not required at that time.
— The legal
occupancy of a structure existing on April 9, 2004, may continue without change
except where the Uniform Construction Code provides
otherwise.
— An electrical provision of the Uniform
Construction Code does not apply to a dwelling unit utilized by a member of a
recognized religious sect if a code administrator grants an exemption under
section 901(b) of the act (35 P. S. § 7210.901(b)) as
follows:
o The permit
applicant shall file an application with the code administrator stating the
manner in which an electrical provision of the Uniform Construction Code
conflicts with the applicant's religious beliefs. The application shall also
contain an affidavit by the applicant
stating:
--- The
permit applicant is a member of a religious
sect.
--- The
religious sect has established tenets or teachings which conflict with an
electrical provision of the Uniform Construction
Code.
--- The
permit applicant adheres to the established tenets or teachings of the
sect.
--- The
dwelling unit will be used solely as a residence for the permit applicant and
the applicant's
household.
oThe code
administrator shall grant the application for the exemption if made in
accordance with paragraph
(1).
oIf the permit applicant
receives an exemption for a dwelling unit under section 901(b) of the act and
the applicant subsequently sells or leases the dwelling unit, the applicant
shall bring the dwelling unit into compliance with the provision of the Uniform
Construction Code from which it was exempted prior to the dwelling unit being
sold or leased unless the prospective subsequent owner or lessee files an
affidavit in compliance with paragraph
(1).
— Fences that are not more than 8 feet
high.
— Retaining walls that are not more than 4 feet
in height measured from the lowest level of grade to the top of the wall, unless
the wall supports a surcharge.
— Water tanks supported
directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5000 gallons and the ratio
of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2 to
1.
— Sidewalks and driveways that are 30 inches or
less above adjacent grade and not placed over a basement or story below
it.
— Exterior or interior painting, papering, tiling,
carpeting, flooring, cabinets, counter tops and similar finishing
work.
— Prefabricated swimming pools that are less
than 24 inches deep, including inflatable
pools,
— Swings and other playground equipment
accessory to a one- or two-family dwelling.
— Window
awnings supported by an exterior wall which do not project more than 54 inches
from the exterior wall and do not require additional
support.
— Replacement glass in any window or door.
The replacement glass shall comply with the minimum requirements of the
International Residential Code.
— Installation and
replacement of a window, door, garage door, storm door in the same opening if
the dimensions or framing of the original opening are not altered. The
installation of means of egress and emergency escape windows may be in the same
opening, without altering the dimensions or framing of the original opening if
the required height, width or net clear opening of the previous window or door
assembly is not reduced.
— Replacement of existing
roof material that does not require repair or replacement of sheathing or
structural material.
— Replacement of existing
siding.
— Repair or replacement of any part of a porch
or stoop which does not structurally support a roof located above the porch or
stoop.
— Installation of additional roll or batt
insulation.
— Replacement of exterior rain water
gutters and leaders.
— Installation of an uncovered
deck where the floor of the deck is not more than 30 inches
high.
— Utility and miscellaneous use structures that
are accessory to detached one-family dwellings and are less than 1000 square
feet
— Any agricultural
building
— Alterations to residential buildings which
do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress. For purposes of
this paragraph, a structural change does not include a minor framing change
needed to replace existing windows or doors
— Repairs
to residential buildings
— Any recreational cabin
if:
o the cabin is
equipped with at least one smoke detector, one fire extinguisher and one carbon
monoxide detector in both the kitchen and sleeping quarters;
and
o the owner of
the cabin files with the municipality
either:
---
an affidavit on a form prescribed by the department attesting to the fact that
the cabin meets the definition of a "recreational cabin" in section 103; or
---
a valid proof of insurance for the recreational cabin, written and issued by an
insurer authorized to do business in this commonwealth, stating that the
structure meets the definition of a "recreational cabin" as defined in section
103.
- continuity
of
exclusion.--
---
if a recreational cabin is subject to exclusion under subsection (b)(7), upon
transfer of ownership of the recreational cabin, written notice must be provided
in the sales agreement and the deed that the recreational
cabin:
- is exempt from this
act;
- may not be in conformance with the uniform construction code;
and
- is not subject to municipal
regulation.
---
failure to comply with the notice requirement under paragraph (1) shall render
the sale voidable at the option of the purchaser.
Note: Under definitions
contained with the UCC Code and amendments, a "Recreational cabin" is a
structure which is:
- utilized principally for
recreational activity;
- not utilized as a
domicile or residence for any individual for any time
period;
- not utilized for commercial
purposes;
- not greater than two stories in
height, excluding basement;
- not utilized by
the owner or any other person as a place of
employment;
- not a mailing address for bills
and correspondence; and
- not listed as an
individual's place of residence on a tax return, driver's license, car
registration or voter registration.
Download a Recreational Cabin form click here.
Be Advised: That misrepresentation of any facts during the application
process may result in legal action.
Note: The Uniform Construction Code
applies to the construction of a residential building or structure governed by a
homeowner's or community association under section 104(d)(2)(ii) of the
act.
When more or new information is available it will be put on this web site. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact the Township Secretary by telephone (570-224-4410), by Fax (570-224-4940) or by e-mail , or contact the Building Code Official at the Township office.
The Uniform Construction Code (UCC) does not apply to any project for which application has been made for a building permit or for which there is a signed design contract or a signed construction contract predating the effective date of the UCC.
Please check back here again for any updates or new information that has become available.